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Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

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Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#51

Post by prmph »

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…

I don't know, i think it varies with people. For me smells do not stimulate memory recall at all.

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#53

Post by abosherid »

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…

Glad you’re doing better! I learned about the Bortle scale from your comment. I’d love to live in a place that allowed all the celestial light to arrive.

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#54

Post by westmeal »

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.

800 588 2300 empire today

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#55

Post by westmeal »

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…

So sorry bro, you're living proof things can get better and i hope you enjoy your time on this molten ball of rock with her

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#56

Post by tsoukase »

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…

My father kept an old closet with simple personal stuff in our basement and was opening and smelling it in order to remember his childhood. This continued for 60+ years.

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#57

Post by tsoukase »

In the brain memory is implemented diffusely in broad regions in the lobes, rather that in sticks like in computers. It becomes heavily connected, depended and sometimes indistinguishable from other mental functions (emotions, executions, decisions etc). No surprise, a lot of mechanisms and paths come to play.

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#58

Post by throw0101c »

Jordan-117 wrote: post #2

"The wilderness isn't quite what I expected. It's kinda... wild. I mean, it's not like they made it sound in my book. My dad made it sound so easy. He's really good at camping and how to make fire from rocks and stuff. He used to come to all my sweat lodge meetings. And afterwards we'd go get ice cream at Fenton's. I always get chocolate and he gets butter brickle. Then we'd sit on this one curb right outside, and I'…

> That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most."

There is no such thing as "quality time", only "time" (together).

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#59

Post by iamflimflam1 »

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.

> - 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.

Something I have to keep reminding people. The person you are mad at probably has no recollection or memory of what upset you.

Re: Why do we remember some life moments but not others?

#60

Post by NotCamelCase »

tsoukase wrote: post #57

In the brain memory is implemented diffusely in broad regions in the lobes, rather that in sticks like in computers. It becomes heavily connected, depended and sometimes indistinguishable from other mental functions (emotions, executions, decisions etc). No surprise, a lot of mechanisms and paths come to play.

As a supporting point, I think it's connected not only with mental functions, but also our senses.

I have a weak memory in general, but I always remember the most mundane things in my life that I had no idea I still contained in my brain, triggered by a specific smell.

Another example is that when I moved to a new street, while crossing one road, I stumbled upon the edge of tram road and almost fell. Two years and counting, my brain always brings this memory up while passing the same point on the road..

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