Re: How to open jars

Jonathan L Cunningham <spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tina Hall <Tina_Hall@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Jonathan L Cunningham <spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tina Hall <Tina_Hall@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Jonathan L Cunningham <spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm currently trying to write something where omniscient,

Or was that someone else?

Something else. I've already got more ideas (for settings) than I
could use in a lifetime, but if I don't write down new ideas they
get forgotten when another new idea comes along. I can keep about
three

Do you remember them better after making a note?

No. I forget them when I write them down.

Writing things down is a good way to clear them from my mind. Once
they are on paper, I don't *need* to remember them.

Odd (but interesting). I find writing something down settles it better
(still depending on what it is) in my memory.

I still know what (one particular) transistor circuit looks like because
I drew one every time it turned up on the blackboard (for a calculation
or whatever). It was always the same 3 or so circuits, but I drew them
every time.

It's much easier to just write what I want, and find the reasons as
I go.

I believe that human beings have a "propaganda" section of their
brain, for inventing reasons why they do things (after they have done
them). This ability is obviously very useful for writing fiction.
(And deceiving spouses etc.)

Well, I agree for the writing fiction. :)

For things I've done, the device seems to be faulty. I know when I'm
being stubborn, and when I really see nothing wrong.

One of the reasons I believe this, is a report of an experiment with
hypnotism. Some guy (or woman), H, was hypnotised, and given a
post-hypnotic suggestion to "open a window when person X coughs" but
not to remember the hypnotic suggestion.

Then, after the session, several people including X and H were
sitting in a waiting room, ostensibly for some other reason. X
coughed. H then got up and opened a window.

The experimenters asked H why he/she opened the window. "Because it
was getting stuffy in here," was the reply.

H was unaware of the post-hypnotic suggestion, but was quite happy to
invent (and totally believe) a reason.

But then, if someone coughs, it might trigger some ancient instinct
about bad air. A better (convincing) trigger would have been scratching
his bum or something else unrelated to air and breathing.

Not too long ago I've seen a documentary where someone deliberately
coughed in the library, and it prompted the unaware folks to cough, too.

Much like yawning, which is 'infectious', too.

So I look at your example with some doubt.

Another reason for believing this comes from examples of patients who
are suffering from Korsakov's syndrome - which is a memory disorder.
They tend to "confabulate" - come up with explanations - which aren't
true, because of their disability. I don't have time to explain this
in detail, but there are examples in books by Oliver Sacks.

Shame, it sounds interesting.

It's clear - there is a lot of evidence - that people invent reasons
to explain their own behaviour under many circumstances.

Makes me think of lame excuses, and unwillingness to face reality.

I know this offends people (including you)

Not the way you phrase it here. It's not a general "everyone works this
way", you are just pointing at things that suggest it (and that makes it
interesting rather than offending), not claim it's true.

- but it's another reason why I think that people do *not* know how
their own minds work. Or even why they are doing things. There is a
*lot* of evidence that they don't - they fool themselves into thinking
it. But experimental evidence suggests otherwise.

Suggests otherwise than them fooling themselves? :)

I have no problem with saying some (or even many) don't know what
they're doing. It's what I observe, too. I have no problem with being
unaware of some areas, but an overall everyone 100% simply doesn't
apply. And rather than you claiming 'you don't know', I'd be interested
in hearing 'this way you can learn'. Tell me, so I can check, and
improve.[*] If I find you're right in one or the other area, I'll freely
admit it, but I'll also insist that, if I find you're wrong in one or
the other area, admit that it doesn't apply in this particular case.
(Well, insist is the wrong word, I just think that you 'ought', while
knowing there's no obligation.)

Many people don't think about what they or others do. I do.

[*] Perhaps it's a bit like critting a story. Saying it's crap is
useless, saying here and there <that> can be done to improve it is
useful.

--
Tina
WIP: Space: 5365 words
WISuspension: Seasons & Elements trilogy | Magic Earth series
Posted to Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.composition.

.

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