Chronic Memories

One of those answering question topics again! Maybe I should do it on a weekly basis? ?_?

This time, I'd just like to ask about something that some of us are very weak at: remembering things! ^^() Eek. Well, I'm really bad at remembering things, at least...

How are you, memory-wise? Forget things the instant they're said?


There are all those stereotypes about guys forgetting birthdays and anniversaries and such, but so far, guys I know have a very good memory for such things. ^^

...However, there's always times where people forget to return things, or forget to lend you things, or to meet you at certain places at such and such a time.... X_X

How do you usually react with people around you forget something important?

[The Missing Link]

Well, I've been through a lot of psychology classes and facts. Things I've learned is that oftentimes the trick to remembering something is to have a memory key. Just as a key can unlock a deadbolt, a key of a different sort can unlock a memory.

Most keys come in three flavours. I'll give examples of them:
Auditory -- Someone tells you directions on how to get somewhere. As soon as you hear it, you'll always be able to get to that destination.
Visual -- Someone draws you a map on how to get somewhere. As soon as you see it, you'll always be able to get to that destination.
Kinesthetic -- You actually travel to the destination once with help. As soon as you travel it, you'll always be able to get to that destination.

My problem is that I am sucky with auditory keys. For whatever reason, auditory information goes in one ear and out the other. Rather, my brain is triggered to visual and kinesthetic input. If I see something once, I can remember it.

(Visual) During the course of a quarter, I can tell you specifically where the teacher was in the classroom during a lecture that happened weeks ago, and quite possibly what he was doing. (Kinesthetic) Once I drive to any location, no matter how far it is away, I can always find the way back to that location. I have a friend who lives 450-some miles away that I've visited once, and the route from here to there is crystal clear in my memory. (Auditory) For the life of me, names don't stick with me; since names of your IRL friends are usually said aloud, I have the policy that you know you're a good friend when I can get your name right 9 times out of 10! I can forget the names of my own roommates sometimes!

So as such, since at least 40% of the world is auditory input, I miss out on quite a bit of information, and so forgetting information is something that... well, I understand, because I do it. Most of the time, it's not something to get overly concerned about. However, then again, I'm a laid-back guy myself... X)

So there you have it.


"There are some who call me... Link?"
"Carpe Gaium Domesticum!" (Seize the Cucco!)
Zelda: The Grand Adventures | Triforce MUCK
ザ行方不明リンク
悪いユウモアの賢人

Like TML, my auditory is very lousy, but usually only if the input is really long, or confusing, or 90% of the time, not very detailed.

I'm very good at remembering names, even for unfamiliar people, and I taught myself to remember all sorts of dates. I've never really had trouble committing those to memory.

Never been good with directions or locating crap, though. [img]redface.gif[/img]

[The Missing Link]

^ The annoying thing about meeting people is that I will remember your face from the moment I've seen you, even if it's changed (e.g., grown a beard or something). Names... they just can't come to me. Likewise, if someone's asking if I've met so-and-so, they try to describe them for me, but being auditory input, I can't condense the words into being an actual picture, and so I just tell people... "I'd have to see them."


"There are some who call me... Link?"
"Carpe Gaium Domesticum!" (Seize the Cucco!)
Zelda: The Grand Adventures | Triforce MUCK
ザ行方不明リンク
悪いユウモアの賢人

I'm not an auditory person either. O_o I have been known to fall asleep quite a few times during boring lectures. I need to, during that time, doodle, or play with my GBA. Eheheh. Don't tell the teacher. >_>()

[Dee Emm]

Originally posted by Za Yukuefumei Rinku:
The annoying thing about meeting people is that I will remember your face from the moment I've seen you, even if it's changed (e.g., grown a beard or something). Names... they just can't come to me. Likewise, if someone's asking if I've met so-and-so, they try to describe them for me, but being auditory input, I can't condense the words into being an actual picture, and so I just tell people... "I'd have to see them."

Exactly.

Hmmm lesse... I'm pretty good remembering faces, but also good at names, especially if I've read it. I can recognise and put a name/person to a voice and I find it sooooo easy to recall tunes and lyrics. Conversations, both verbal and through IM aren't always very good to remember. Trying to recall what I did during the day is an impossibility unless I really think about it. I guess it all depends how important the thing is to me, so I'll remember something better than others just because of a higher meaning behind it. Understand? oO

An odd thing about me: I can usually remember a person's name if there's nobody else I know that has a similar name, or if that name is a nickname that I made up myself. So, basically, I'll only remember a unique name.

Also, you might as well forget about historic dates. I still can't remember when the Declaration of Independence was signed...1772, I think? Well, I can remember some dates, like how the Civil war was in 1862-1865, and some general dates that I find interesting, like the premiere of Super Mario Bros., and my own Birthday...but if you try and ask me when ANY of my sibling's birthdays are, the best I can do is give you a month, and that's at best.

I dunno about directions. I mean, if I had to go somewhere, I could probably find my way there, but if I had to give you directions, I'd lose track of how to get there in my head. Or if I haven't been there myself.

So, I'm not really sure, but I think it goes like this...

Auditory -- Well, I can probably remember something you tell me, if you tell me while I'm actually paying attention. If I'm only half-listening (which I do often [img]redface.gif[/img] ), then you ain't got much chance.
Visual -- I can usually remember the general idea of something written or something demonstrated, though sometimes I can lose track when it goes too fast, and can't quite remember how it goes)
Kinesthetic -- If I do something, I'll almost always remember how to do it again. Although this doesn't seem to work with remembering names...eh...whatever.

So I guess neutral for all...perhaps. I dunno. But basically, I'll only remember something if it's something interesting. Just random bits and pointless facts, I'll probably forget. Unless, of course, it's random bits and facts I'd like to know myself. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Edit: ^0_o...wow, that totally makes sense and everything! Like, the same way I remember stuff, too! Weird...

[ February 18, 2004, 08:32 PM: Message edited by: Introbulus ]

[Heroine of the Dragon]

I had some memory issues when I was very sick a long while ago but am glad that I'm better now and things remain in my memory for longer than two seconds... it's no fun being out-done by a goldfish! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I tend to remember directions (I can see pictures of the way in my head) and numbers (like phone numbers) quite well (not history dates though).

I've been known to forget what day it was when I've been busy only to find out half-way through lunch it was my birthday. [img]redface.gif[/img]

I don't know why but I am SO bad at remembering lyrics...

I'm pretty bad with remembering numbers, so dates are out.. I can sure as hell remember the month, though. I remember abstracts pretty well... but put a measurement on it, and it slips my mind.