An old legend tells of a farmer who had a beautiful daughter who was courted by a variety of young men, all wanting to marry her.  So, the farmer promised the hand of his daughter in marriage to the young man who could walk through his field of corn, never backtracking, and select the largest, most perfect ear of corn in the entire field.  And did it work?  No, the beautiful daughter, so goes the myth, ended up unmarried.  Here's why.