General Discussion Thread

[Piney]

I do different kinds of commentary on each... Throwaway stuff and jokes on disqus, more considered stuff here.

But on a slow forum I start getting worried that I'm talking too much and go "uh oh Hush shut up and just listen a little now". So last night I was mainly lurking waiting for someone else to talk first... XD

Same here. (And I don't even talk a lot  )

But if you are talking about creative ideas that come to you with no apparent reason, then yes, you are right. How many times has an idea visited me on my way to the store and back?..  Also, fresh air really helps to think. And solitary walks, yes.

I get little flashes of creativity like that all the time. I almost always lose them though because I had nothing to write them down on. :/ And yes, solitary walks! People keep wondering why I walk to and from class as opposed to taking the shuttle. It gives me time to think about stuff. (...while also not wasting my free time)

[Oskutin]

Well, being a walking USB would be useful during any exam, whether it is mathematical statistics, history or civil law. Everything requires memorixing stuff that your brain normally rejects to store, because it thinks this is useless and boooooring.

On the contrary, I tend to think that those flashes are triggered by external situations. I mean, when you have to make an excuse quickly, and an excellent idea descends on you. But if you are talking about creative ideas that come to you with no apparent reason, then yes, you are right. How many times has an idea visited me on my way to the store and back?..  Also, fresh air really helps to think. And solitary walks, yes.

For me to rembember, the data must be pretty interlinked with other data forming a complex logical network. If it's just random floating facts, there's high change that I won't remember it.

Pretty much nearly every thought is triggered by external thing (unless it's caused by hunger or something  ), but it has to 'match' in your interest to properly trigger the drive. It can't be triggered by someone saying that you'll have to do that or that (except some special cases).

[curiosity]

I get little flashes of creativity like that all the time. I almost always lose them though because I had nothing to write them down on. :/ And yes, solitary walks! People keep wondering why I walk to and from class as opposed to taking the shuttle. It gives me time to think about stuff. (...while also not wasting my free time)

I'm sorry, what is the shuttle? Apart from a spacecraft, of course.

Pretty much nearly every thought is triggered by external thing (unless it's caused by hunger or something  ), but it has to 'match' in your interest to properly trigger the drive. It can't be triggered by someone saying that you'll have to do that or that (except some special cases).

Sooo that's the reason why I remember an awful lot of poetry be heart, but cannot finish a single homework in, like, 7 hours. There has to be an interest, yes. But then appears that the last three years of my studyings are almost useless, 'cause I can't think the right way to use my knowledge in real life.

[Piney]

I'm sorry, what is the shuttle? Apart from a spacecraft, of course.

The campus bus  . Our buildings are about a 15 - 30 minute walk to each other.

[Sunflower]

I'm sorry, what is the shuttle? Apart from a spacecraft, of course.

Not to speak for Piney, but typically large campuses (colleges, businesses, shopping malls) offer a "shuttle bus" for short, frequent trips around the area.  Or to/from public transit.  <word-geek mode ON>So called because it resembles a weaver's shuttle, which goes quickly back and forth in the limited space of the loom's width.<word-geek mode OFF>

Many of the large tech employers in my part of Silicon Valley (Google, Facebook, Genentech, etc.) offer shuttle buses to/from various commuter trains or neighborhoods.  Good thing, right?  But these buses -- often large and luxurious -- are becoming so frequent (and taking up so many parking spaces, almost the only thing Californians will fight to the death for) that neighbors are starting to protest them.

[Oskutin]

I'm sorry, what is the shuttle? Apart from a spacecraft, of course.

From A to B and B to A without any stops.

[hushpiper]

Same here. (And I don't even talk a lot  )

You don't talk too much! But you've seen me, I go on and on and on--and that's usually after having pruned and condensed my thoughts a few times over. I can't help it! *fusses*

For me to rembember, the data must be pretty interlinked with other data forming a complex logical network. If it's just random floating facts, there's high change that I won't remember it.

Pretty much nearly every thought is triggered by external thing (unless it's caused by hunger or something  ), but it has to 'match' in your interest to properly trigger the drive. It can't be triggered by someone saying that you'll have to do that or that (except some special cases).

Well most memory specialists would probably agree that everybody's like that. A memory will get stored in your brain somewhere, but how do you retrieve it? By following all the links of associations! Most people just aren't aware of it happening.

<word-geek mode ON>So called because it resembles a weaver's shuttle, which goes quickly back and forth in the limited space of the loom's width.<word-geek mode OFF>

DUDE I DID NOT KNOW THAT'S WHERE THE WORD CAME FROM THAT IS SO COOL *flails about*

[Piney]

Not to speak for Piney, but typically large campuses (colleges, businesses, shopping malls) offer a "shuttle bus" for short, frequent trips around the area.  Or to/from public transit.  <word-geek mode ON>So called because it resembles a weaver's shuttle, which goes quickly back and forth in the limited space of the loom's width.<word-geek mode OFF>

Many of the large tech employers in my part of Silicon Valley (Google, Facebook, Genentech, etc.) offer shuttle buses to/from various commuter trains or neighborhoods.  Good thing, right?  But these buses -- often large and luxurious -- are becoming so frequent (and taking up so many parking spaces, almost the only thing Californians will fight to the death for) that neighbors are starting to protest them.

(It's fine, I already spoke
Our shuttle stops at three places on campus, and that's it. (Okay, one of them isn't on campus, but it's close. It just stops there because there's sufficient room for a bus to stop there.) The ride is unfortunately too short for me to take advantage of the bus's luxury (i.e. the electrical sockets), and there's also no wifi. Still very nice.

You don't talk too much! But you've seen me, I go on and on and on--and that's usually after having pruned and condensed my thoughts a few times over. I can't help it! *fusses*

You should meet me in real life. I hardly talk at all.

[curiosity]

I see now.  Thanks everyone for enlightening, and especially Sunflower for all the details (I'm interested in words' ethymology, too, so it was very useful).

Well most memory specialists would probably agree that everybody's like that. A memory will get stored in your brain somewhere, but how do you retrieve it? By following all the links of associations! Most people just aren't aware of it happening.

A bit off topic, but I've noticed that my (very, very lame) understanding of Polish and Czech is based mostly on associations. There are plenty of "false friends", but knowing at least one East Slavic language would help a lot. It is always interesting to observe these parallels between different languages. 

You should meet me in real life. I hardly talk at all.

Once a woman in the office where I had working experience thought I was mute and was very surprised when I addressed her. So I guess you're not alone here 

[Eich]

I'm a very slow thinker, too.  I'm also a slow writer, so timed essays are almost impossible for me. 
I can learn quick though, if I'm trying to learn the right thing.  I learn with my hands, so anything I can learn by writing, playing, or handling, is something I can learn pretty quickly.  There are lots of different kinds of learning, you just have to figure out which one you're strong in.  I'm terrible with listening, though.  Someone will give me an order at work, and I'll forget it in seconds. 

[curiosity]

I'm a very slow thinker, too.  I'm also a slow writer, so timed essays are almost impossible for me. 
I can learn quick though, if I'm trying to learn the right thing.  I learn with my hands, so anything I can learn by writing, playing, or handling, is something I can learn pretty quickly.  There are lots of different kinds of learning, you just have to figure out which one you're strong in.  I'm terrible with listening, though.  Someone will give me an order at work, and I'll forget it in seconds.

I know that you're playing guitar. How long have you been learning, if that's not a secret? 'Cause I've spent couple of years trying to master this art, yet still can't play more than a simple tune, whilst my friend's brother became damn good at playing after just half a year.

[mithrysc]

But on a slow forum I start getting worried that I'm talking too much and go "uh oh Hush shut up and just listen a little now". So last night I was mainly lurking waiting for someone else to talk first... XD

...I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels this way. Though in my case, it's a perpetual "waiting for someone else to talk first."

I'm a very slow thinker, too.  I'm also a slow writer, so timed essays are almost impossible for me. 
I can learn quick though, if I'm trying to learn the right thing.  I learn with my hands, so anything I can learn by writing, playing, or handling, is something I can learn pretty quickly.  There are lots of different kinds of learning, you just have to figure out which one you're strong in.  I'm terrible with listening, though.  Someone will give me an order at work, and I'll forget it in seconds. 

Blech, timed essays. The only thing I like about them is that I'll never have to read the horrible mess that they are again.

I'm also a hands-on learner. I can read about lots of things and understand basic principles, but I'll forget them unless I actually do something with said things.

I know that you're playing guitar. How long have you been learning, if that's not a secret? 'Cause I've spent couple of years trying to master this art, yet still can't play more than a simple tune, whilst my friend's brother became damn good at playing after just half a year.

I've been trying for about a year, and I'm so proud of myself for knowing ~3 strumming patterns. Rhythm I'm fine with, but for some reason I just cannot get when I'm supposed to go down and when I'm supposed to go up.

[Eich]

I know that you're playing guitar. How long have you been learning, if that's not a secret? 'Cause I've spent couple of years trying to master this art, yet still can't play more than a simple tune, whilst my friend's brother became damn good at playing after just half a year.

6 years, as of a couple months ago.  Self taught, too!  (Minus the "teacher" I had last year, who was really just helping me find new stuff to play)  I started off weird, though.  I didn't learn any chords until about a year after I started, and I didn't know any strumming patterns until about 4 years in, because those were boring and I couldn't do anything fun with them (how wrong I was). 

...I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels this way. Though in my case, it's a perpetual "waiting for someone else to talk first."

Blech, timed essays. The only thing I like about them is that I'll never have to read the horrible mess that they are again.

I'm also a hands-on learner. I can read about lots of things and understand basic principles, but I'll forget them unless I actually do something with said things.

I've been trying for about a year, and I'm so proud of myself for knowing ~3 strumming patterns. Rhythm I'm fine with, but for some reason I just cannot get when I'm supposed to go down and when I'm supposed to go up.

Being the admin, I try to start conversations whenever I see it slowing down. 
Same.  Engineering  is tough, but at least the writing is all technical and easy, and has no time limits.

Rhythm/Beat are the things that trip me up when I play.  I just can't seem to stay consistent, no matter how hard I try.

[Oskutin]

Once a woman in the office where I had working experience thought I was mute and was very surprised when I addressed her. So I guess you're not alone here 

My game development team hardly talks at all, and when they'll do, they'll be very short with it.
I'm neither talkactive, I basically ignore every small talk and talks about generic booring topics, and when someone ask something, i'll answer it very shortly.
But with interesting people i could have long and theoretical talks about some intesting subjects (tech, economy, etc.).

[Eich]

My game development team hardly talks at all, and when they'll do, they'll be very short with it.
I'm neither talkactive, I basically ignore every small talk and talks about generic booring topics, and when someone ask something, i'll answer it very shortly.
But with interesting people i could have long and theoretical talks about some intesting subjects (tech, economy, etc.).

I used to be able to talk about things like that, but not anymore.  I'd rather talk about... I... I'm not sure, actually.  Hm.  I can talk about art, games, music, and movies for hours, though.  The only tech and economy I'm really interested in is the video game kind.  Not the best for small talk at work, but it's good for when friends are over.