3 ms·

I wonder if it's social interaction that human cognitive health is predicated upon, or just the ability to externalize one's thoughts along with a feedback mech

by bm3719 4y ago

I wonder if it's social interaction that human cognitive health is predicated upon, or just the ability to externalize one's thoughts along with a feedback mechanism. I've done a few lengthy stints of social isolation, and while real-time social skills invariably suffered, I was cognizant of this topic here and took steps to counteract it. The main tactic I used was writing long posts on forums and blogs. I conjectured externalizing/organizing thoughts was the core benefit from real-time, in-person social interaction. In fact, if you don't care about a decline in social skills, it seems this is a more efficient way of doing so and I'd go as far to say that my periods of isolation were of net benefit to me. The only caveat I can think of now is that many of the outlets for such interaction online are perhaps less useful for such purposes at present, and perhaps even counterproductive. For example, I'd recommend doing so anonymously and without being nudged by karma/upvote systems; like starting an anonymous blog would be a safe bet.

agumonkey 4y ago
I'd bet solid money it's both. Biology might be wired to reward us to share and communicate with others regardless of the intellectual outcome of the interaction. It's a primal need.
kirse 4y ago
the ability to externalize one's thoughts If you're truly stuck in that scenario I'd agree. I'd add that physically writing helps [1] even more than typing, since you're slowing down the externalizing and writing was one of the first means of expression you mastered unconsciously at an early age. I personally spend enough time expressing myself into code/"the internet" that writing feels less formal and it gets me away from screen burn. Even further, thinking about how God, family, and friends would describe your events or provide their input also provides some of that cognitive boost. Like imagine writing the same journal entry but from five different perspectives. That said I really don't try to invite social isolation into my life for long. Talking to a friend for 20min is better than any VR, Zoom, journal, etc. Part of the reason is it's also an opportunity to give back to friends... Give encouragement, give your time, give energy, give perspective. You can only love others so much through a journal, and as one Jesus once said "it is more blessed to give than to receive" [1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170601-can-writing-about-pain-make-you-heal-faster https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170601-can-writing-abou...
z9znz 4y ago
I'm going to guess that your younger experiences involved some meaningful human connections. For me it seems like an early investment yields a greater tolerance for later isolation. > I'd recommend doing so anonymously I think a better way of getting this is to travel. You can be anonymous but still interact. You stay a week or a month, make some very light or light or even intimate connections, and then you move on. It's still probably not as valuable as a quality fixed location scenario, but it's a much lower threat way.
eastbound 4y ago
Corollary, if we invent a true AI, then we might face a bug where, if left alone, it starts nooping and ruminating, and the presence of an outer world might actually be a necessary component of one’s intelligence. The frontier of that delimits one individual from another is then more fuzzy than just the skin delimitation…
polishdude20 4y ago
If you think about it from an evolutionary historical sense, some of the most congnitively intense tasks for early humans were and I'd argue still are, to interact with other humans.
Volrath89 4y ago
Writing is quite different as compared to speaking. When you write, you have time to think, you can delete your last word, re-read, re-write every sentence, etc. Writing also externalizes your thoughts, yes. But in a person to person interaction you need to basically "get out of your own head" and externalize your thoughts in real time. You also get to read the body language of the other person, feel the "vibes", etc. I think person to person interactions, especially if they are important relationships (significant other, family, friends) is what makes us human and I am actively trying to mindfully cut back my screen time both in PC and Phone and just start interacting more. Quite difficult being an introvert and shy person but I think it's worth it.

by bm3719 4y ago

agumonkey 4y ago

I'd bet solid money it's both. Biology might be wired to reward us to share and communicate with others regardless of the intellectual outcome of the interaction. It's a primal need.

kirse 4y ago

the ability to externalize one's thoughts If you're truly stuck in that scenario I'd agree. I'd add that physically writing helps [1] even more than typing, since you're slowing down the externalizing and writing was one of the first means of expression you mastered unconsciously at an early age. I personally spend enough time expressing myself into code/"the internet" that writing feels less formal and it gets me away from screen burn. Even further, thinking about how God, family, and friends would describe your events or provide their input also provides some of that cognitive boost. Like imagine writing the same journal entry but from five different perspectives. That said I really don't try to invite social isolation into my life for long. Talking to a friend for 20min is better than any VR, Zoom, journal, etc. Part of the reason is it's also an opportunity to give back to friends... Give encouragement, give your time, give energy, give perspective. You can only love others so much through a journal, and as one Jesus once said "it is more blessed to give than to receive" [1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170601-can-writing-about-pain-make-you-heal-faster https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170601-can-writing-abou...

z9znz 4y ago

I'm going to guess that your younger experiences involved some meaningful human connections. For me it seems like an early investment yields a greater tolerance for later isolation. > I'd recommend doing so anonymously I think a better way of getting this is to travel. You can be anonymous but still interact. You stay a week or a month, make some very light or light or even intimate connections, and then you move on. It's still probably not as valuable as a quality fixed location scenario, but it's a much lower threat way.

eastbound 4y ago

Corollary, if we invent a true AI, then we might face a bug where, if left alone, it starts nooping and ruminating, and the presence of an outer world might actually be a necessary component of one’s intelligence. The frontier of that delimits one individual from another is then more fuzzy than just the skin delimitation…

polishdude20 4y ago

If you think about it from an evolutionary historical sense, some of the most congnitively intense tasks for early humans were and I'd argue still are, to interact with other humans.

Volrath89 4y ago

Writing is quite different as compared to speaking. When you write, you have time to think, you can delete your last word, re-read, re-write every sentence, etc. Writing also externalizes your thoughts, yes. But in a person to person interaction you need to basically "get out of your own head" and externalize your thoughts in real time. You also get to read the body language of the other person, feel the "vibes", etc. I think person to person interactions, especially if they are important relationships (significant other, family, friends) is what makes us human and I am actively trying to mindfully cut back my screen time both in PC and Phone and just start interacting more. Quite difficult being an introvert and shy person but I think it's worth it.