Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
Tracking Down the "Embarrassing Memory" Noise
Merlin Mann | Jul 23 2008
Compelled to Blurt... | Ask Metafilter Like a lot of people in this Ask Metafilter thread, I thought I was the only person in the universe who made an unconscious little noise when remembering something stupid I did or said.
For context, my tic (which can also be heard when someone near me does something dumb) sounds a little like the noise Leo Bloom makes after he falls on his keys (00:34). "Ooooooom...." The Question to YouAnyone else do this? Anybody out there qualified to talk about the psychology or neuroscience behind this apparent phenomenon? I’ll bet there’s a cool, scientific name for it. 26 Comments
POSTED IN:
 This article makes me feel less insaneSubmitted by djbell on July 23, 2008 - 9:02am.
I do something similar to what is quoted from Ask Metafilter, but I'm semi-consciously providing myself with negative self-talk in a half-whisper or grunt. It's usually a single word attack like "dumb" or "stupid," although it's sometimes a phrase. Honestly, I've thought about seeing a shrink about it because rationally I know it's absurd and destructive. I did this recently upon remembering answering 63 as the product of 8 and 8 on my third grade multiplication test. I would like to point out that I am now 31 years old, have a wife and child, am successful, lucky, and definitely know my "timeses." I've been ruminating on a solution to this, in addition to professional help. Maybe capturing the embarrassing thought would get it out of mind in the same way capturing information for processing does. Do you think if I wrote a journal of embarrassing things it would help or hurt? » POSTED IN:
|
|
| EXPLORE 43Folders | THE GOOD STUFF |
