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Interesting blog about the ways people think, and ways their brain "tricks" them. Most of them will be ones you've seen or heard before, but this poster one is just brilliant.
You are not so smart
Sounds about right. The things I like can usually be traced down to their proximity to important life events. I like that song because it was playing on the car radio the first time I got laid, or I like that movie because I remember watching it with my Grandmother before she died. And then that other song or movie I like because it's similar to the first song or movie mentioned in the prior sentence, and now I've established a preference for an entire genre.
It's more about the chemical state of our brains at the time we experience something than the something we experience. If we were in a good state, then we'll likely seek out similar experiences again in search of that same good state. Conversely over time such repeated circumstances can also train our brains to release those good chemicals upon perceiving those familiar and preferred experiences, reinforcing the conditioning even further.
It's all very Pavlovian.
It's more about the chemical state of our brains at the time we experience something than the something we experience. If we were in a good state, then we'll likely seek out similar experiences again in search of that same good state. Conversely over time such repeated circumstances can also train our brains to release those good chemicals upon perceiving those familiar and preferred experiences, reinforcing the conditioning even further.
It's all very Pavlovian.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Yeah, I still love Big Fish cuz it reminds me of my grand-dad, and I just happened to watch it right after he passed away, so it has a strong connection.
I really liked Gas, Food, Lodging the first time I saw it (on a first or second date with a hot chick in college), and remembered it fondly. I saw it again about 2 years later and was like "God, this movie sucks balls - wtf?"
I really liked Gas, Food, Lodging the first time I saw it (on a first or second date with a hot chick in college), and remembered it fondly. I saw it again about 2 years later and was like "God, this movie sucks balls - wtf?"
It's not me, it's someone else.
Watched "Robin Hood : Men in Tights" a few months ago. That movie hasn't aged well. "Spaceballs" is still entertaining, though.
There are some things that you seemingly & inexplicably like, despite the fact that should hate them, and vice-versa. To add to the confusion, those opinions are likely to change over time, so you probably never nail down the proper reason unless you exhibit some Zero Cool-like detachment and observation.
Certainly there's events that fall into this category. Your right brain is good at making up quick, little lies on demand at a moment's notice. The problem, as the writing points out, almost always occurs when your left brain has to think about why you felt that way.
The really interesting part is when you feel strongly about something that's virtually moot as far as your existence goes.
Edited By Malcolm on 1275591617
There are some things that you seemingly & inexplicably like, despite the fact that should hate them, and vice-versa. To add to the confusion, those opinions are likely to change over time, so you probably never nail down the proper reason unless you exhibit some Zero Cool-like detachment and observation.
The things I like can usually be traced down to their proximity to important life events.
Certainly there's events that fall into this category. Your right brain is good at making up quick, little lies on demand at a moment's notice. The problem, as the writing points out, almost always occurs when your left brain has to think about why you felt that way.
The really interesting part is when you feel strongly about something that's virtually moot as far as your existence goes.
Edited By Malcolm on 1275591617
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
My point is that I do find one thing at odds with the article: when I examine why I like something I rarely find myself wanting to say things like "I like the gestalt of the bias lines" or "the balance of colors is revealing of a striking honesty" or other such crap. I find myself wanting to say things like "because she looks like my college friend that I was hung up on" or "because it's like that other thing I like which I like because it reminds me of that time at the zoo".
But maybe I'm just weird.
I do agree with the conclusion that most critics are full of shit.
But maybe I'm just weird.
I do agree with the conclusion that most critics are full of shit.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
The author drilled two major points.
There will always be miscommunication between the right & left brains. & most people are scared to death when they realize there's something they do or think & they don't really understand why. They badly want a justified reason, but any reason at all usually suffices (as most people's minds can readily be molded). They don't want to know why, they just want to be comfy with the consequences.
This is also huge. Most people will crack under social pressure, even if there's only one other person in the room.
When you ask people why they do or do not like things, they must then translate something from a deep, emotion, primal part of their psyche into the language of the higher, logical, rational world of words and sentences and paragraphs.
There will always be miscommunication between the right & left brains. & most people are scared to death when they realize there's something they do or think & they don't really understand why. They badly want a justified reason, but any reason at all usually suffices (as most people's minds can readily be molded). They don't want to know why, they just want to be comfy with the consequences.
Also, when you attempt to justify your decisions or emotional attachments, you start worrying about what your explanation says about you as a person.
This is also huge. Most people will crack under social pressure, even if there's only one other person in the room.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."