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This is quite a specific test, but I often get creeped out by how well "sleeping on it" works. I don't even have to actively think many hards problem (in my usu
by petercooper 12y ago
This is quite a specific test, but I often get creeped out by how well "sleeping on it" works. I don't even have to actively think many hards problem (in my usual problem domain, naturally) but a day or two later a solution will appear in a flash. This annoys some people, because they'll ask "how shall we do X?" and I'll want it to sit and compost for a few days as I know the solution will be better than something forced!
- narag 12y agoI often try the negative hypothesis: maybe it's just that X (sleep in this case) removes something that was preventing Y, instead of X causing Y. Sometimes there's something in our mind that interferes with clear thinking. Sleep cleans that something, that could be simply trying too hard.
- __david__ 12y agoOh me too. I've often the real smart person in my life was my subconscious. Like you said though, the downside is there is no progress reporting and it can take a really long time. But I would say many of the slick solutions to programming problems have come from my subconscious, either after sleeping or just taking a break and eating some food or something.
- bostonpete 12y ago> I've often the real smart person in my life was my subconscious. I think you accidentally a word. Your subconscious must not have written that sentence... :-)
- __david__ 12y agoOr my silly new phone keyboard I was testing :-). But yes, "I've often thought" or "I've often felt" is probably what I meant.