3 ms·

I think it’s best when one doesn’t disclose such “advantages”. Accept it as a passive and leverage the heck out of it.

astrange 3y ago
It's pretty obvious when you have this. Semi-popular video game journalist Tim Rogers has it, and you wouldn't mistake anyone else's work for his as a result. (There was a time maybe 10 years ago when people tried to do something called "new games journalism" basically imitating him, and it was mostly just embarrassing for everyone involved, because normal people can't construct a review of something entirely out of personal anecdotes.)
krono 3y ago
Its uncontrollability makes it as much of a blessing as a curse in a way not dissimilar to ADHD's hyperfocus phenomenon. Memories are the brain's interpretation of reality and therefore not always reliable, the ability cannot be switched on or off at will, and other people don't always appreciate or understand it which leads to many awkward situations.
- whatscooking 3y ago
  You can switch hyperfocus on and off at will
  - krono 3y ago
    Personally I'm not able to do so and never heard anyone else claim to possess that ability either. That is not to say I don't believe it might be possible to some - I just haven't come across it. Before my own ADHD diagnosis and treatment my hyperfocus used to kick in at the most random times and it often lead me to spend far too much time on tangential or superfluous tasks or topics. My medication allows me to channel the hyperfocus into more productive directions, but it still happens when it happens.
    - whatscooking 3y ago
      Hmmm I’be always been able to, although I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD. It’s like a superhero really…school was effortless for me
arbitrage 3y ago
It doesn't really work that way. For instance, if you're discussing something with your boss, and you have perfect recall about what was discussed 6+ months ago, but your boss disagrees with you, they will just use their version of previous events as the reference of record. People tend to get angry when you disagree with their version of past events. It's a lot like the myth of Cassandra -- doomed to be able to foretell the future, but nobody believed her. Doomed to remember the past, but nobody ever believes you. Everyone is 100% committed to their own version of the past that lives in their head. What's the advantage?
- toast0 3y ago
  > For instance, if you're discussing something with your boss, and you have perfect recall about what was discussed 6+ months ago, but your boss disagrees with you, they will just use their version of previous events as the reference of record. This is a misunderstanding of the situation. Even if there's a record of the old conversation, the boss wants something else now, and you're judged on doing what the boss wants, regardless of if that's consistent. It isn't great if you have an inconsistent boss, but a paper trail wouldn't help much.

It's pretty obvious when you have this. Semi-popular video game journalist Tim Rogers has it, and you wouldn't mistake anyone else's work for his as a result. (There was a time maybe 10 years ago when people tried to do something called "new games journalism" basically imitating him, and it was mostly just embarrassing for everyone involved, because normal people can't construct a review of something entirely out of personal anecdotes.)

krono 3y ago

Its uncontrollability makes it as much of a blessing as a curse in a way not dissimilar to ADHD's hyperfocus phenomenon. Memories are the brain's interpretation of reality and therefore not always reliable, the ability cannot be switched on or off at will, and other people don't always appreciate or understand it which leads to many awkward situations.

whatscooking 3y ago
You can switch hyperfocus on and off at will
- krono 3y ago
  Personally I'm not able to do so and never heard anyone else claim to possess that ability either. That is not to say I don't believe it might be possible to some - I just haven't come across it. Before my own ADHD diagnosis and treatment my hyperfocus used to kick in at the most random times and it often lead me to spend far too much time on tangential or superfluous tasks or topics. My medication allows me to channel the hyperfocus into more productive directions, but it still happens when it happens.
  - whatscooking 3y ago
    Hmmm I’be always been able to, although I’ve never been diagnosed with ADHD. It’s like a superhero really…school was effortless for me

arbitrage 3y ago

It doesn't really work that way. For instance, if you're discussing something with your boss, and you have perfect recall about what was discussed 6+ months ago, but your boss disagrees with you, they will just use their version of previous events as the reference of record. People tend to get angry when you disagree with their version of past events. It's a lot like the myth of Cassandra -- doomed to be able to foretell the future, but nobody believed her. Doomed to remember the past, but nobody ever believes you. Everyone is 100% committed to their own version of the past that lives in their head. What's the advantage?

toast0 3y ago
> For instance, if you're discussing something with your boss, and you have perfect recall about what was discussed 6+ months ago, but your boss disagrees with you, they will just use their version of previous events as the reference of record. This is a misunderstanding of the situation. Even if there's a record of the old conversation, the boss wants something else now, and you're judged on doing what the boss wants, regardless of if that's consistent. It isn't great if you have an inconsistent boss, but a paper trail wouldn't help much.