Comment on culture
Strider@lemmy.world 1 day agoNice, thanks!
When I imagine things it ranges from being more or less able to see what I am imagining and up to being so deep in thought that I lose connection to my external senses, seeing hearing and everything. Especially when relating to situations or remembering.
So from possibly you speaking about this with others more in depth was there a key thing where you said ‘wow yeah that’s different for me’ or is it more of a ‘similar, but different everywhere’ thing?
I find other people with aphantasia to be very similar to me.
Imager seem to be very different from one another probably depending on how good image generation is.
One example is I don’t go into a movie with visual expectations. I’ve read Harry Potter, I knew he was a small kid with messy black hair and taped glasses. But when I saw the movie I didn’t care if Dainel Radcliffe fit the role because I had no image of Harry Potter in my mind. Just the details.
Sludgeyy@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Another example from my girlfriend that is an imager.
She pictures a blank memo pad when she tries to fall asleep and focuses on keeping it blank.
I assume this is her version of counting sheep. Trying to keep images from popping into your mind to distract you from falling asleep.
For me I put myself in a scenario and imagine it. Like I walk up to the city of Qarth from Game of Thrones and they won’t open up the gates. I usually give myself superpower. I just “run” with it until I fall asleep. But imagining my body moving is one of the keys, I enjoy lightsaber battles.
I am not watching it, I am experiencing it. It’s not the same as watching it in 1st or 3rd person. It is like experiencing it in 2nd person if your brain was the narrator.
Strider@lemmy.world 1 day ago
This is very interesting and fascinating to read. But I have to admit it’s not easy for me to follow.
Bluntly (which is a quirk of mine so please don’t be offended) I’d think all of what you mentioned are levels of imagination and mental state I use at will. But I am also very much aware of the possibility of me not being able to fully understand the implications hence throwing more things together than I should.
Sludgeyy@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
It’s your brain saying “You are going to do this” rather than saying “I am going to do this”
Most stories aren’t written in 2nd person because the author doesn’t really know you. But when you know yourself you can be the best author of your story.
I believe that a lot of the way aphants and non-aphants think are similar but when it comes to imagines it’s completely different. I haven’t met someone that only thinks in pure images.
Like remembering past personal events. I have SDAM, Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory, that comes probably from my aphantasia. When I think of my last birthday party for example I can remember who was there, what kind of cake, where it was celebrated, anything out of the ordinary happen. But I cannot replay the visual memory in my head. I have to factually recall things about it. Now go back another birthday party and I might be able to remember something out of the ordinary if it stuck with me. But when “looking” back at my like it is all facts. I use to play baseball, 3rd base/outfield, batted 4th. I remember our team being good, I remember I got in trouble a bunch because after I hit I would just release the bat and it would go flying. But I couldn’t tell you about a specific game or anything, I don’t remember a good hit or catch. Just facts.
Strider@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Ah, thanks. I can confirm I can recall facts as well as also replaying stuff in my head from any perspective I choose and modify whatever too.
The first sentence is also very interesting. It’s what autists and adhs people oft say, that our brain is experienced as own entity with things that are not to our liking but we have to obey its rules.
Fascinating!