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I can't help but feel rather put off by the reporting in the article, if not by the entire subject matter. Mostly because it seems to imply that those of us wi

by gdp 17y ago

I can't help but feel rather put off by the reporting in the article, if not by the entire subject matter. Mostly because it seems to imply that those of us with two fully-functional hemispheres are somehow deeply unhappy people, incapable of peaceful quiet. Also, she appears to have made some reasonably large leaps in terms of what damage to one hemisphere has done to her personality and behaviour. A lot of those traits are whole-brain processes. It seems rather reductionist to suggest that the left hemisphere is some sort of ball-and-chain holding us all away from enlightenment and bliss. And really, if the goal is to convince us to relinquish the control that our left hemispheres have over us, then why frame in neo-spiritualist terms that are so utterly unappealing to most left-hemisphere-dominant people?

anigbrowl 17y ago
Consider that if you were trained from youth in mystical or magical ways of thinking, you'd likely be pretty unreceptive to reductionist arguments and glorification of the scientific method - at least, that's been my experience with hippies, astrologers and such folk. For a variety of reasons, a lot of these people seem deficient to me in terms of left-hemisphere functioning, although I am only an amateur psychologist and this is based purely on anecdotal observations. On the other hand, such people are quite functional is most regards, even though you and I would regard their thinking patterns as somewhat maladaptive. I find Dr Taylor's views and attitude easy to appreciate, since I've had similar experiences and turning points, though not through such dramatic circumstances. I believe she makes excellent points, worth hearing - but I don't feel like any less of a materialist or believer in the utility of logic and scientific method.
- electromagnetic 17y ago
  Your opinions seem quite prejudiced and insulting. Hippies and Astrologers, just like any Scientist is left-hemisphere dominant if they're right handed, it doesn't change and you cannot do anything that affects it (aside from maybe a stroke). Astrologers believe in something you don't, and it's very ignorant to say they're deficient in basic mental processes. I'm sure many hippies are, but that's called drug abuse. Scientists can be equally as misled as any astrologer to facts, just read up on the amazing work done by many of our cold-fusion scientists who ignore fundamental scientific concepts like the conservation of mass and energy. Personally, I think astrologers are a lot smarter than any cold-fusion/free energy scientist out there, and those scientists somehow got their hands onto Ph.D's. I'm right-hemisphere dominant, I'm extremely logical, sceptical and I have a high IQ. I scored amazingly in math and science, I'm completely non-religious to the point that I find atheists disturbingly religious in their activities, and I've also worked as a writer. Your brain works the way it works, the way your genes and life have designed it to work. I'm somehow right-hemisphere dominant and out-perform nearly every left-hemisphere dominant people I know at tasks they're supposed to be good at. That's the irony of life. I find Dr Taylor's views to be psycho crackpot work and I give them less credence than my horoscope. She's claiming a lack of left-hemisphere dominance is good, which I'm sorry but personally I really like writing (as anyone can tell from my comments, including this one) and losing the left-hemisphere kind of ruins that whole fun, also talking. She apparently had a stroke, probably lost very minor functioning in her brain and had a religious experience, just like thousands of other people do every year when they have a heart attack, stroke, cancer, hit by a car, girlfriend kicked them in the crotch . . . okay I added the last one, but religious experiences don't necessarily come in the same form. She likely wasn't very religious, so when she had hers she didn't attribute it to god. The whole process of near-death usually helps people not worry about the mundane problems, like your boss being a jerk. At least for a few months.
electromagnetic 17y ago
The mere suggestion of left-hemisphere dominance causing all of societies problems is rather ridiculous. The lack of left-hemisphere dominance is known to greatly increase your chances for depression and for emotional and mental problems, all of which plague the right-hemisphere dominant left-handers. I'm left-handed, so's my wife, and so are several of my extended family and several of my friends. I know left-handers who are deeply spiritual, and personally I'm deeply sceptical. We have all the same problems as everyone else, and then high prevalences of bipolar, schizophrenia and everything else to boot. What she appears to be reasoning is that the loss of the analytical, logical, numerical verbal and certain language centres of your brain will remove all of life's problems. I'm sure it will when you're rolling in the money and your memoirs are being features in the NY times, but for everyone else I'm sure being unable to think analytically, logically or losing your grammar and vocabulary centres of your brain will only cause more problems, like the complete inability to be employed and probably the complete inability to concentrate on filling out welfare forms. Seriously, if you're right-handed (left-hemisphere) dominant, feel lucky. Just remember that being righties, you might want to take a break more often than you think you do. Have a margaritas or two, I'm sure it'll get you to euphoria faster and safer than having a stroke!

by gdp 17y ago

anigbrowl 17y ago

Consider that if you were trained from youth in mystical or magical ways of thinking, you'd likely be pretty unreceptive to reductionist arguments and glorification of the scientific method - at least, that's been my experience with hippies, astrologers and such folk. For a variety of reasons, a lot of these people seem deficient to me in terms of left-hemisphere functioning, although I am only an amateur psychologist and this is based purely on anecdotal observations. On the other hand, such people are quite functional is most regards, even though you and I would regard their thinking patterns as somewhat maladaptive. I find Dr Taylor's views and attitude easy to appreciate, since I've had similar experiences and turning points, though not through such dramatic circumstances. I believe she makes excellent points, worth hearing - but I don't feel like any less of a materialist or believer in the utility of logic and scientific method.

electromagnetic 17y ago
Your opinions seem quite prejudiced and insulting. Hippies and Astrologers, just like any Scientist is left-hemisphere dominant if they're right handed, it doesn't change and you cannot do anything that affects it (aside from maybe a stroke). Astrologers believe in something you don't, and it's very ignorant to say they're deficient in basic mental processes. I'm sure many hippies are, but that's called drug abuse. Scientists can be equally as misled as any astrologer to facts, just read up on the amazing work done by many of our cold-fusion scientists who ignore fundamental scientific concepts like the conservation of mass and energy. Personally, I think astrologers are a lot smarter than any cold-fusion/free energy scientist out there, and those scientists somehow got their hands onto Ph.D's. I'm right-hemisphere dominant, I'm extremely logical, sceptical and I have a high IQ. I scored amazingly in math and science, I'm completely non-religious to the point that I find atheists disturbingly religious in their activities, and I've also worked as a writer. Your brain works the way it works, the way your genes and life have designed it to work. I'm somehow right-hemisphere dominant and out-perform nearly every left-hemisphere dominant people I know at tasks they're supposed to be good at. That's the irony of life. I find Dr Taylor's views to be psycho crackpot work and I give them less credence than my horoscope. She's claiming a lack of left-hemisphere dominance is good, which I'm sorry but personally I really like writing (as anyone can tell from my comments, including this one) and losing the left-hemisphere kind of ruins that whole fun, also talking. She apparently had a stroke, probably lost very minor functioning in her brain and had a religious experience, just like thousands of other people do every year when they have a heart attack, stroke, cancer, hit by a car, girlfriend kicked them in the crotch . . . okay I added the last one, but religious experiences don't necessarily come in the same form. She likely wasn't very religious, so when she had hers she didn't attribute it to god. The whole process of near-death usually helps people not worry about the mundane problems, like your boss being a jerk. At least for a few months.

electromagnetic 17y ago

The mere suggestion of left-hemisphere dominance causing all of societies problems is rather ridiculous. The lack of left-hemisphere dominance is known to greatly increase your chances for depression and for emotional and mental problems, all of which plague the right-hemisphere dominant left-handers. I'm left-handed, so's my wife, and so are several of my extended family and several of my friends. I know left-handers who are deeply spiritual, and personally I'm deeply sceptical. We have all the same problems as everyone else, and then high prevalences of bipolar, schizophrenia and everything else to boot. What she appears to be reasoning is that the loss of the analytical, logical, numerical verbal and certain language centres of your brain will remove all of life's problems. I'm sure it will when you're rolling in the money and your memoirs are being features in the NY times, but for everyone else I'm sure being unable to think analytically, logically or losing your grammar and vocabulary centres of your brain will only cause more problems, like the complete inability to be employed and probably the complete inability to concentrate on filling out welfare forms. Seriously, if you're right-handed (left-hemisphere) dominant, feel lucky. Just remember that being righties, you might want to take a break more often than you think you do. Have a margaritas or two, I'm sure it'll get you to euphoria faster and safer than having a stroke!