Asking questions. It gives me more time to think and more information with which to come to a conclusion. I think a lot of what is sometimes called slowness is really analysis paralysis. Not caused by lack of thinking, any more than gridlock is caused by lack of cars. As you know, the person who makes confident, knee-jerk decisions looks highly competent, but usually isn't.
Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
171–180 of 280 posts
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#172if I had to analyze the way my brain works in communication (I have been diagnosed Autistic) it would be something like: checking my surroundings => filter check => no good => return to start until appropriate outcome/reaction is most likely to occur. I could make a flow chart about it. However when it's raw input, say a reaction to something dangerous I let my brain do it's thing avoiding hazardous situations (Environments, Automobile wrecks, etc...)
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#173Sorry OP, for a bit of a diversion. I notice a lot of folks saying that "quick wit" or fast thinking or whatever, is just advance preparation (perhaps subconscious) or a memorized script, etc. It may be, but for those who think it always is, it definitely isn't. My son is/was quite bright - reading at 3, reading the Economist and understanding 20% of it at 5, teaching himself calculus at 7. He got terrible grades in…
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#174Earlier quoted context omitted.
I put in random facts and categorize them. Topic of reading comes up, I can never remember books I’ve read. I started making Anki flash cards of book summaries. I review this and other topics for 15 minutes a day
I had an idea like this for helping introverts with icebreaking small talk. Flash style cards for each person, with info on what you spoke about last time, and a pre-prepared opener for the next time you bump into them. With the card info being updated each time you meet them.
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#175Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#176Earlier quoted context omitted.
It was live. But I would've expected that they had a conversation discussing possible topics / questions beforehand (large and established radio station with over 2 million listeners). These awkward pauses would've been spotted then already. Maybe they had, and he was more relaxed and eloquent there, or maybe his schedule didn't allow for a pre-interview meeting.
Even if there wasn't time, he should have practiced interviews before and so been comfortable even if the exact topic is new. He should always be prepared to talk about his first interest in music. His first time touching a piano. Why he choose piano (which may have been his parents forcing it at first). What other instruments he plays. What is favorite music is. Details about whatever piece is performing now (maybe…
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#177Sorry OP, for a bit of a diversion. I notice a lot of folks saying that "quick wit" or fast thinking or whatever, is just advance preparation (perhaps subconscious) or a memorized script, etc. It may be, but for those who think it always is, it definitely isn't. My son is/was quite bright - reading at 3, reading the Economist and understanding 20% of it at 5, teaching himself calculus at 7. He got terrible grades in…
E.g. https://neurosciencenews.com/iq-decision-speed-23377/ "Researchers discovered that people with higher IQs are quicker when solving simple tasks but slower when dealing with complex problems."
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#178In high school I got really into drama and improv, to succeed at improv AT ALL I had to effectively have to be in an altered mental state. When I am being quick witted my brain is literally functioning differently, there is no truth, no data, no thoughtfulness, it's stream of conscious ejected straight from my brain.
Mentally it's not unlike skiing a steep slope but the single internal directive isn't "oh shit, stay up" but "oh shit, entertain", it's not even an active thought per se, just an internal bent.
Fortunately my inner dialog and thought life isn't racist, evil or cruel, as no filter is no filter.
Before I learned that I had the capacity for this mental modality, I didn't even know it existed, I finally made the break through during "improv training" sessions and the "flight" response that caused me to stutter and choke just spontaneously disappeared, I'm not sure if everyone has the capacity.
I usually engage in slow thinking, in highly social situations where I'm "On", it still feels like flying down a ski slope, fun, very mentally "on" and damn scary.
Re: Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?
#179Sorry OP, for a bit of a diversion. I notice a lot of folks saying that "quick wit" or fast thinking or whatever, is just advance preparation (perhaps subconscious) or a memorized script, etc. It may be, but for those who think it always is, it definitely isn't. My son is/was quite bright - reading at 3, reading the Economist and understanding 20% of it at 5, teaching himself calculus at 7. He got terrible grades in…
Any chance he might have dyscalculia and/or ADHD? Though I guess he’d might have already been tested.
[0]: http://www.psychologysalon.com/2012/01/overpathologization-d...