Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

Post by snicky » Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 5:28 AM UTC

reddit_clone wrote: post #22

iambateman wrote: post #11

Honestly, I’m glad my memory isn’t better. The other day my wife said “remember when [our daughter] screamed for the whole morning on vacation?” But I didn’t until she reminded me in detail. Having a fuller memory seems likely to contain more stressful moments.

There are other benefits. - You can read your favourite books every couple of years and not be bored. - You can watch your favourite Movies and TV Serials every few years. (almost time for Expanse rewatch..) - IMO it makes you a better/gentler person. I don't hold grudges because I can't be arsed to remember why exactly I was mad at someone.

Post by sandspar » Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 6:25 AM UTC

Post by esseph » Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 7:25 AM UTC

jandrewrogers wrote: post #38

rdtsc wrote: post #3

> Memory isn’t just a passive recording device: our brains decide what matters, and emotional events can reach back in time to stabilize fragile memories So they are saying … attention is all you need? :-) If it’s surprising or shocking enough you’ll pay very close attention to it and remember it. Also smells have a very strong recall factor. You smell the same unique smell and it immediately takes you back to the ti…

As a very young child, I grew up in the remote hill country of the Pacific Northwest. Thirty years later, I moved to Seattle and decided to go hiking in the Cascades. The smell of those mountains immediately unleashed memories I didn’t know I had. It was really unexpected how much memory was keyed to that smell. Also, that smell induced a strange feeling like I was supposed to be there as if it was my native environm…

Post by SlightlyLeftPad » Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 8:17 AM UTC

sharkweek wrote: post #34

psyclobe wrote: post #5

I remember the dumbest things from eons ago… In a drivers ed meeting.. teacher talking about stop lights, he mentions the cross walk signs and said “Well get to those soon..”. But he never did. I think about this way too much.

It’s been what… 15-20 years since the ads ran but… “I HAVE A STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT BUT I NEED CASH NOW!! CALL JG WENTWORTH, 877-CASH-NOW!!” It pops into my head at least once a month, and it sits for 1-3 days on repeat in my brain. I swear it was some MK-Ultra level psyops level writing, whoever came up with those commercials.

Post by deadbabe » Sat, Sep 27, 2025, 8:57 AM UTC

AstroNutt wrote: post #37

deadbabe wrote: post #18

There’s things I wish I didn’t remember. Years of abuse.

This is me. There are so many things I don't remember about my childhood. My brother was lucky and lived with my grandparents for many years. I was stuck in hell with my physically/verbally abusive father and my pill head mother trying to OD about once a year. It bothers me when he brings events up that he remembers clearly and swears I was there...family get together and birthdays. But I have zero recollection. I on…