4 ms·

Whenever I shoot pool, I play really well in the middle of the evening, never at the start or end. It's just the right amount of inebriation to not think but st

Whenever I shoot pool, I play really well in the middle of the evening, never at the start or end. It's just the right amount of inebriation to not think but still execute.

runlevel1 4y ago
That would be "state-dependent memory": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-dependent_memory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-dependent_memory
- djmips 4y ago
  That's interesting and maybe it is related somehow but I don't think it's what the parent is describing. In my own example - I play a certain sport but my best game I ever played - I hadn't slept for two nights from working on a deadline - went to a game and scored 5 goals and the whole thing was amazing. But I can guarantee that I never learned to play my sport while in that state of sleep deprivation. It was just something about that state that allowed me to execute at a continuous high level. I believe that inebriation can have similar effect.
  - runlevel1 4y ago
    Based on their comment, I was presuming (perhaps wrongly) that they played pool at a bar, and so their skill would have developed in the presence of some form of alcohol. State-dependent memory isn't the only factor, though. Things like relaxation could well have an even larger impact.
    - karmakaze 4y ago
      State-dependent memory is fascinating and likely a factor. I don't play all that much pool and not always in similar conditions (e.g. game room in condo). I can relate another time I had unexpected good performance playing Halo (a rare activity for me) while socializing. For the mid portion of the evening, I was an extremely good sniper getting top scores that I never usually do. Being a one-off case, it's uncertain but I'd say that being relaxed and not thinking about it at all to be a necessary but not sufficient factor. These times feels almost like beginners luck when you barely have any context and just trying things--like hitting that tiny bonus target while axe throwing for the first time as a hail mary, 'why not go for it?' shot.
- elevaet 4y ago
  Or it could be related to the famous Ballmer Peak: https://xkcd.com/323/ https://xkcd.com/323/

Whenever I shoot pool, I play really well in the middle of the evening, never at the start or end. It's just the right amount of inebriation to not think but still execute.

runlevel1 4y ago

That would be "state-dependent memory": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-dependent_memory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-dependent_memory

djmips 4y ago
That's interesting and maybe it is related somehow but I don't think it's what the parent is describing. In my own example - I play a certain sport but my best game I ever played - I hadn't slept for two nights from working on a deadline - went to a game and scored 5 goals and the whole thing was amazing. But I can guarantee that I never learned to play my sport while in that state of sleep deprivation. It was just something about that state that allowed me to execute at a continuous high level. I believe that inebriation can have similar effect.
- runlevel1 4y ago
  Based on their comment, I was presuming (perhaps wrongly) that they played pool at a bar, and so their skill would have developed in the presence of some form of alcohol. State-dependent memory isn't the only factor, though. Things like relaxation could well have an even larger impact.
  - karmakaze 4y ago
    State-dependent memory is fascinating and likely a factor. I don't play all that much pool and not always in similar conditions (e.g. game room in condo). I can relate another time I had unexpected good performance playing Halo (a rare activity for me) while socializing. For the mid portion of the evening, I was an extremely good sniper getting top scores that I never usually do. Being a one-off case, it's uncertain but I'd say that being relaxed and not thinking about it at all to be a necessary but not sufficient factor. These times feels almost like beginners luck when you barely have any context and just trying things--like hitting that tiny bonus target while axe throwing for the first time as a hail mary, 'why not go for it?' shot.
elevaet 4y ago
Or it could be related to the famous Ballmer Peak: https://xkcd.com/323/ https://xkcd.com/323/