In a shared flat, three roommates, Kian, Jules, and Emery, have a system for sharing snacks they buy together. They each take turns buying snacks, and each one has a special shelf where they place them. One evening, Kian bought a new pack of cookies and placed them on his shelf, but he didn't tell the others because they were not home. The next morning, Kian left early for work before anyone woke up. Later, Jules woke up and noticed the new pack of cookies. Jules, assuming Emery had bought them, left a thank-you note on Emery's desk. Emery found the note after Jules had left for their daily jog, but before Kian returned from work. Emery now believes Jules bought the cookies and thanks Jules when they return from jogging. In the evening, all three roommates are in the kitchen together for the first time that day. Kian reaches for the cookies, thanking Emery for buying them. How does each person perceive the origin of the cookies, and what is the misunderstanding that has occurred? Respond briefly.
At the point of the evening where all three roommates are gathered in the kitchen, Kian correctly believes he is the one who bought the cookies as he did buy them and place them on his shelf. However, Kian mistakenly thanks Emery for buying the cookies because he is unaware of the notes that were exchanged. He might be assuming that Emery bought them after seeing his own thank-you note from Jules or he might assume that Jules must have communicated with Emery about the cookies. Jules incorrectly believes that Emery bought the cookies, as evidenced by leaving a thank-you note on Emery's desk. The incorrect belief is based on the assumption that since the cookies appeared without Kian announcing it, and with Jules not being the buyer, Emery must have been the one who bought them. Emery incorrectly believes that Jules bought the cookies, as Emery found a thank-you note from Jules. This led Emery to thank Jules after the jog. The misunderstanding stems from the fact that Kian didn't communicate that he bought the cookies, which led Jules to make a false assumption and thank the wrong person. This false assumption was then passed on to Emery when Emery found Jules's thank-you note and thanked Jules in return, perpetuating the original misunderstanding.