The tiger's toe is not random

Eenie-Meanie-Minie-Mo
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go
My mother told me to pick the very best one and you are not it.

This is a playground meme that children catch much like a virus. It is contagious because children falsely assume that it is a random generator. You use it to make decisions, to choose between two things. On the first three lines, you point your finger at each item alternating every second beat or word. On the last line, you alternate with every syllable. The last word eliminates one of the choices. Children use it to make decisions because they falsely assume that it randomizes the choice. They falsely believe that they have a magic formula that will make a decision for them. However, since the number of syllables is always the same -- children are very strict in following the formula precisely -- the decision is really made by the child with the very first choice of which item to point to. Because the phrase is so long and takes effort to remember, the child focuses on the recitation. By the end of the formula, the child has forgotten which item was pointed at first.

Memes can survive and spread for reasons contrary to what the hosts believe they do.