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I have been learning new things recently—things related to jobs and computers and the importance of backslashes—and this experience has led me to question whether I've always found putting new things into my brain somewhat awkward and uncomfortable.

I have a tendency, when something is both of those things, to think: "It has NEVER been like this before. My brain was once resilient and responsive and young!" But, of course, when I was 12, I thought pretty much exactly the same thing. 

I feel I should be more accomplished and talking about this in mellifluous tones on public radio when I say: learning is an odd and nebulous process. (The fact that I was briefly convinced the word I wanted there was "effluvious" is one of the reasons I'm unlikely ever to turn up on public radio.) It will never stop being strange to me that I am often unaware of the moment when my brain stops viewing a piece of new information as a foreign invader—and decides it's prepared to remember it in the future without conspicuous effort. 

It will also never stop being strange to me that the feeling of putting something new into my brain is an actual distinct feeling: I might as well have a giant cartoon head, which I open up and physically stuff information into. 

But eventually, my brain rearranges itself, and I forget how difficult it was at first to remember something. Brains are wily and unbiddable sons of bitches.
Jeff
12/26/2013 12:57:49 am

I have the same problem! Or at least... I think I do.

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Dave Horner
11/23/2014 09:07:05 pm

I love your blog.

Provocative and of fresh thought.

I am so sorry it has waned as of Dec 2013.

But there are quite a few entries - I can get my daily reading for some time yet.

I hope you and your cat (and perhaps significant others) are doing well.

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4/27/2019 03:10:53 pm

Love your blog, I have the same issue as well!

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