4 ms·

You’re way more likely to stop making any new memories.

by VeninVidiaVicii 2y ago

rbanffy 2y ago
Then it’d be eternal dementia, a fate probably much worse than death.
- kiba 2y ago
  We already forget people, places, events, and things even as young adults.
cannonpr 2y ago
I don’t think you have any evidence to say that. Our understanding of memory and complex evolved neural networks like the mind is fairly poor. On top of that, we have more evidence of the mind still acquiring new memories and choosing to compact or drop irrelevant memories while it remains healthy.
otikik 2y ago
You must have a very good memory, then. I was made painfully aware of how not great mine was yesterday. I met this woman through my wife. It turns out I already met this person 5 years ago, because we share a common friend. She remembered me quite clearly, but I had completely forgotten her, as well as the event where we met. So far all good, it was 5 years ago after all. However, she also told me that we had met before that! 20 years ago! Through a work acquaintance of mine this time. We apparently did some hiking through the countryside together. I remember nothing of that. I don't remember that second acquaintance either. Apparently it was the same situation 5 years ago; she told me all of this, I apologized for forgetting her and everything around meeting her. And then I forgot her. And that was only the first time. To me my memory is not a "bucket that eventually gets full". It's more like a "dark corridor". Memories are on the walls. As I move forwards, the parts of the corridor behind me get eventually darker, until only the brightest memories remain visible. I have forgotten most of my highschool classmates. I have forgotten most of my past coworkers. I have some memories from my childhood, still. But only the very bright ones. And they are continuously dimming. I am completely fine with this. I am still me. I think forgetting is part of what makes us human. Or at least, of what makes me human. Going back to this person that I forgot twice. Apparently she remembers everyone she has ever met, even if just once. I have met at least another person with this capacity. I can't but consider those people freaks of nature, and in consequence a potential danger for society. We should watch them closely. And perhaps we should watch you closely as well. At least until I forget all of you again. I have no doubt in my mind that my memory will never "fill up". More like the opposite: the danger is that it empties too fast at some point.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

You’re way more likely to stop making any new memories.

rbanffy 2y ago

Then it’d be eternal dementia, a fate probably much worse than death.

kiba 2y ago
We already forget people, places, events, and things even as young adults.

cannonpr 2y ago

I don’t think you have any evidence to say that. Our understanding of memory and complex evolved neural networks like the mind is fairly poor. On top of that, we have more evidence of the mind still acquiring new memories and choosing to compact or drop irrelevant memories while it remains healthy.

otikik 2y ago

You must have a very good memory, then. I was made painfully aware of how not great mine was yesterday. I met this woman through my wife. It turns out I already met this person 5 years ago, because we share a common friend. She remembered me quite clearly, but I had completely forgotten her, as well as the event where we met. So far all good, it was 5 years ago after all. However, she also told me that we had met before that! 20 years ago! Through a work acquaintance of mine this time. We apparently did some hiking through the countryside together. I remember nothing of that. I don't remember that second acquaintance either. Apparently it was the same situation 5 years ago; she told me all of this, I apologized for forgetting her and everything around meeting her. And then I forgot her. And that was only the first time. To me my memory is not a "bucket that eventually gets full". It's more like a "dark corridor". Memories are on the walls. As I move forwards, the parts of the corridor behind me get eventually darker, until only the brightest memories remain visible. I have forgotten most of my highschool classmates. I have forgotten most of my past coworkers. I have some memories from my childhood, still. But only the very bright ones. And they are continuously dimming. I am completely fine with this. I am still me. I think forgetting is part of what makes us human. Or at least, of what makes me human. Going back to this person that I forgot twice. Apparently she remembers everyone she has ever met, even if just once. I have met at least another person with this capacity. I can't but consider those people freaks of nature, and in consequence a potential danger for society. We should watch them closely. And perhaps we should watch you closely as well. At least until I forget all of you again. I have no doubt in my mind that my memory will never "fill up". More like the opposite: the danger is that it empties too fast at some point.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]