Can you trust your Memory, really ?
The strangest thing just happened to me. Or perhaps it's better said, the realization of the strangest thing, just happened to me.
Let me explain.
I was thinking about doing a post, and that involved the time I was in LA (around 3 years).
As I sat down to write, I was imagining the scene, that was relevant to the post.
And then it hit me.
I was imagining the scene, which involved me driving down sunset boulevard, westwards, and turning left, into Le Brea. (near the Ralph supermarket, if it's still there).
Except there was one problem, as I imagined the scene – compared to what I know to be the reality. The two didn't match up!
( I actually had to go away from the computer, and think it through. The reality, wasn’t the same as my memory)
How do I know this?
I was driving on the wrong side of the road!
I am from the UK, and drive on the left. As opposed to the right, in the US. ( and Europe)
When I think of my memories driving, of both in the US, and Europe, it is always with me driving on the left hand side.
Empirical proof of your mind playing tricks.
As I thought about it more, I also realized that I had been thinking this 'reality' in my memory, ( which side of the road), for along time. How long I don't know.
When did my memory, suddenly decide I was driving on the left?
And when I think now, even after the realization - I STILL see it - in my minds eye - of me driving on the left!
And what does that say to our (or mine at least) reality, as we THINK we know, and what it could be?
Fortunately, the example I came across, was one of empirical fact, but how many more instances are there, where empirical facts are not as easily to hand, to verify actual 'reality'?
Trippy uh?
(or maybe I'm just getting Alzheimers. oh well!)
Huh, that's an interesting way to apply a litmus test for memory accuracy. Here's a meta-thought: what if you're still seeing yourself drive on the left because you had the initial realization that you might think about yourself on the left side?
It stands as evidence that there's no possibility you're experiencing an objective reality. It's always a little unnerving.
Unnerving indeed.
Sadly...you absolutely can NOT trust your memory.
Research has been done to prove it.
I recall some psycho whatsis kept a journal for decades to test that very thing.
Then when sufficient time had past she sat down and wrote what she remembered about a particular time..Then she compared it to her journal, which she hadn't read since she wrote it.
Guess what.
NOT the same thing.
scary, uh?
At least it's not me startin' with Alzheimers then!
is it a memory? or is it a memory OF a memory... or is it you imagination playing games with you?
I have a little scar on my left temple...I've been told that I fell out of bed (top bunk bed) and hit my head on the corner of a desk on the way down...
hurt me pretty bad..almost died..
so I've been told.
I have several, many, CONTRADICTORY, memories of that event (I was about four)...
One other thing.
Your lifetime experiences, from which you have many, many, memories..
are TOTALLY different from mine.
Party? What party? I avoided them like the plauge...I grew up in a 'dry county' (no alcohol) in the buckle of the bible belt...
so...you have some memories...enjoy them.
I'm not going to stress it - too much .
But this is the first time I have had something empirical to compare it with.
I spent 10 years in a partying haze - I have given up tryin' to even remember most of that. -
you survived it...you had fun?
that's enough.
My adult life has been one long ,fun ride, to be honest - no complaints here, in the slightest.
Now I'm in my recluse stage! (relatively speaking, of course)
recluse?
partying with wild uninhibited naked chicks in Thailand?
I don't think that word means what you think it means.
(adulting is over rated...)
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