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I don't. I know a friend who doesn't as well. Both of us mainly think through an awareness of some kind of graph structure (non-visual). But what's more intere

I don't. I know a friend who doesn't as well. Both of us mainly think through an awareness of some kind of graph structure (non-visual). But what's more interesting is that through talking with others we've discovered one interesting thing about what it's like for other people to hear a voice in their heads: In most people's dreams, when someone talks, they can hear the voice, which has a specific pitch, rasp, etc. For me and my friend, in our dreams we can never characterize the voice. We just become aware of the sentence spoken and the time passed (even though in a way it feels immediate), but if we focus, it's clear that we cannot recall any sensation of hearing a voice in any way. It blew our minds off when we realized that other people's dreams are different in such a way. I can think of sentences. But they are not spoken in my head. There is no voice, which would be male or female etc. And I only do that when the sentences are the goal. They are not the means.

mrweasel 5y ago
That is amazing, I had no idea. It's not something I ever thought about, I just assumed that everyone thinks in the same way.
skydhash 5y ago
I’m the same. When I’m reading, it’s more like a silent with blurred shapes than me speaking in my head. A few friends say they can’t read subtitles while watching a movie. For me, they’re just an overlay to the scene until I grasp the meaning, kinda like you realized: This is a square and this is a circle. It makes reading more enjoyable as it feels like you’re in an holographic projection, but that can make some scenes quite disturbing.
rocketbop 5y ago
> In most people's dreams, when someone talks, they can hear the voice, which has a specific pitch, rasp, etc. For me and my friend, in our dreams we can never characterize the voice. I’m not sure that this is true. I think in terms of my dreams they are closer to what you describe as your experience; mostly visual, with speech something that’s more often understood than heard. I imagine most people have something similar, and not so analogous to real life. I do have an inner monologue in my waking hours though, and it’s very interesting to think about what it would be like to not have one!

mrweasel 5y ago

That is amazing, I had no idea. It's not something I ever thought about, I just assumed that everyone thinks in the same way.

skydhash 5y ago

I’m the same. When I’m reading, it’s more like a silent with blurred shapes than me speaking in my head. A few friends say they can’t read subtitles while watching a movie. For me, they’re just an overlay to the scene until I grasp the meaning, kinda like you realized: This is a square and this is a circle. It makes reading more enjoyable as it feels like you’re in an holographic projection, but that can make some scenes quite disturbing.

rocketbop 5y ago

> In most people's dreams, when someone talks, they can hear the voice, which has a specific pitch, rasp, etc. For me and my friend, in our dreams we can never characterize the voice. I’m not sure that this is true. I think in terms of my dreams they are closer to what you describe as your experience; mostly visual, with speech something that’s more often understood than heard. I imagine most people have something similar, and not so analogous to real life. I do have an inner monologue in my waking hours though, and it’s very interesting to think about what it would be like to not have one!