They go to new memories. The storage space gets a make-over. — AngleWyrm

:)
nice way of seeing it.

It's probably more to do with the functions of the inner areas of the brain, such as the medulla oblongata. It seems most of our brain matter is not needed for survival. Perhaps our minds are a bit like microcosms of the culture we are exposed to?

kudos

I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say, but some things came to mind as I read. — T Clark

Thanks T Clark, sounds to me like you are saying forgotten things go no-where?

On the other hand, there are parts of my past I am cut off from where the tapestry is faint or cloudy. — T Clark

I get the impression you have clearly understood my question and I'm glad you replied.

In fact, the two University of Toronto researchers propose that the goal of memory is not to transmit the most accurate information over time, but to guide and optimize intelligent decision making by only holding on to valuable information.

Sounds plausible. I think I wanted this thread to be a bit like a reject bin, I will come back to it..
I can't think of an example of an insignificant experience so I suppose you make sense in a way, I would like to learn how to control my mind and it seems difficult, perhaps impossible.

Even with just a few users online at any one time, I would sort of expect a post on here every few seconds, or at least more than 10 per hour.. Just me, I suppose my expectations can be strange from time to time?

Too bad they could not share an actual session with a patient. — Cavacava


Yes indeed, and I cannot find much patient testimony either. It's understandable. The best I can find so far is a couple of case histories here, and this newspaper report. — unenlightened

I'm apprehensive because it could be naive of me to tell you this but I'm a little more comfortable because of anonymity. I have a history of mental illness and I've been told I've had psychotic episodes. I am diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and subjected to compulsory medication. Trying to ruminate. Having read some of this thread I might be willing to talk if you have any questions?

A good thread, but I'm a little surprised there aren't more posts already if I'm honest.

You are describing deja vu. I used to think it meant I had already died. Fascinating.

I recently asked someone how two nothings could be compared and if there could really be two of them and he claimed to have an opinion but he was busy watching total recall.

(

Nothing must be everywhere and universal just like that 'ether' idea because under scrutiny it is always present. — believenothing

)

I agree to this as part of my argumeny though the rest of this sentence made no sense to me. — Myttenar

If you imagine nothing and focus, keep it in your mind and continue then you might take it with you. Leave nothing behind and leave no stone unturned, there may be more to discover. For Pete's sake I'm ranting again but I thought I might try to explain the sentence you say made no sense to you.. I said 'under scrutiny it is always present' because whatever I think about is something I try to comprehend and grasp and if it wasn't there I couldn't observe it - any clearer? that 'ether' idea i refer to was touched on in the youtube link I posted earlier what is nothing?

I guess speculation can be fruitful when 'theories' are tested, maybe time will tell?

I'm not sure "nothing is not" is a description of a thing, and no thing can follow on from that comprehensive description. — charleton

Being vague and waiting for an answer, who would have thought you could have a conversation about nothing? Seems absurd. Even if "What is nothing?" was meaningless it could still serve as an ice breaker.. Perhaps it is a good idea to yield to nothing?

What if everything is meaningless? What if there is nothing? Is there a hidden purpose? "What is nothing?" Is not a meaningless question! How do you really interpret it?

By definition in my eyes nothing is what is missing but it is everywhere and it's all a bit chaotic. I'm seeking clarity.

"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent."
Wittgenstein — charleton

Lost pearls.

likewise, take it easy

Hi. They say the devil makes work for idle hands. I'm lazy and so half-soaked it never occurred to me you were responding. I don't want to seem ignorant ;-)

Hello. Good luck, and welcome. I'm new here, bye for now.

Faith eludes me but seems to benefit people half the time. Let's hope I can come baring gifts..

A good start I imagine, faith. I can't say much about faith yet. Good to know someone has it, maybe better not to introspect too much and instead start a concerted effort to understand others on my part. I've noticed a nasty habit I've got of starting most my sentences with I..

thanks. I appear to have tripped on my own ego thinking I was oh so clever, trying to run before I could walk on a thread about nothing. I expect it won't be the last time something like that happens. I'm trying to explore ideas, but with limited experience and inadequate aptitude I'm underestimating the amount of effort required of me. I just hope I can still learn and hope I might eventually communicate better. Catch you later ;)

It seems I've misconceived it all, it's back to the drawing board for me..

When there is nothing to be said it is best to say nothing.

3 Rules:
a: there are no rules
b: please see rule a
c:suggestions are always welcome

If culture is humans' adaptation to their environment, it makes sense that subjective cognitive material such as where one left his keys could be compromised while collective cultural cognitive material, such as what those keys are for and how to use them, would still influence his behavior.

I know very little about neuroscience, but I wonder if the body's defenses against brain damage and lost brain functioning give some material priority over other material. — WISDOMfromPO-MO

It does make sense and I think you are touching on the driving forces that produce beneficial behaviour in ant colonies for starters. Of course our brains are thought to be more advanced than those of ants so I imagine for some integral reason the preservation of cultural behaviour would be equally important as the prevention of lost brain function or maybe more so since we presumably have more 'disposable' brain functionality to spare. I believe culture is itself like an organism that attempts self preservation just like ants seem to know what they are doing when they exist as part of a functioning colony.

We are not born able to do things like use language extensively, effectively deliver a speech to an audience, organize/schedule things, perform rituals, etc. Those things are cultural. They are learned. — WISDOMfromPO-MO

Maybe we are born with innate abilities, do you really believe ants learn how to communicate? Individual ability and collective 'usefulness' might be two sides of the same coin. I'm going to look for a youtube video or two that might have given me this outlook and return to this discussion if I seem to learn anything..

"Nothing" is not a thing. A privation is not a substantive. — Maw

Thanks Maw, we might be headed somewhere, your clarity and your succinct statements help me see I've been rambling but the question remains "If Nothing is not a thing then what is it?" I still think nothing is a self perpetuating origin, just 'not in so many words' if you will allow me some poetic license? Maybe things will get a bit esoteric? Maybe there is not only always something but also always something else? I'm curious now Maw, would you say 'nothing' is unknowable?

Sometimes I get thrown by ambiguity but sometimes I contradict myself frequently or try to 'fix it when it ain't broke'. I mean I'm not usually content with conclusions as you might have gathered and often see contestation where there is none. As far as substantives go, I'm sure there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.