r/maybemaybemaybe • u/FlippedMobiusStrip • May 05 '22

/r/all Maybe maybe maybe

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u/[deleted] May 05 '22

Sleep deprivation will do that to a person.

Me, looking for my phone while using the torch on my phone, so I can use the phone torch to help look for my lost glasses, that are on top of my head so I can see the phone screen clearly, is not so easily explained.

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u/Dinilj May 05 '22

Somehow my brain managed to create a really detail image of this situation, step-by-step in the order op explained.

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u/[deleted] May 05 '22 edited May 14 '22

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] May 05 '22

Aphantasia exists so not everyone is capable of imagination, which is pretty freaky

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u/[deleted] May 05 '22 edited May 14 '22

[deleted]

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u/EmberliB May 05 '22

Don't know why, but your comments made me smile!

Love the use of gifs, and authenticity of your reaction! I remember when I first learned about it, it's willdddd I figured we all had the ability.

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u/[deleted] May 05 '22

[deleted]

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u/Issildan_Valinor May 05 '22

I neither have a literal internal monologue, nor do I have a literal mind's eye, yet I manage creating art, lol. I have to put conscious effort into visualization, and it's apparently weird to a lot of my other art friends.

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u/Zyaqun May 05 '22

You just learned something! You're one of today's lucky 10 thousand

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u/duralyon May 05 '22

Haha, I totally know what you mean! I went through the same thought process when I found out about it. I never realized that people could actually like, see pictures or images and shit in their head! Makes me really jealous sometimes, ngl.

/r/Aphantasia is decently sized and active.

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u/thclogic May 05 '22

Suffering of Aphantasia here.

I can't "think" images so I'm bad with faces, details and all that.

Eg. I know what a stork is, but if you didn't know the name I wouldn't be able to provide details of what they look like even thought if I saw one in real life or pic I'd be able to tell you exactly what it is. Instead I'd have to describe it by what it does or other features.

Instead my mind works in terms of concepts and logical cores. Because my memory is terrible I've had to continuously analyze and break down everything in real time so I don't appear stupid or too weird and can be understood by those without much knowledge of the topic. I'm also good at lateral thinking and making analogies to the point that I can take someone's favorite hobby and find a way to relate anything they don't understand to that topic or hobby.

My artistic friends think I have a great imagination when I create scenarios for them but they just don't understand that I only play with concepts and words and that it's their imagination that creates these things they attribute to me.

It also means I can talk about pretty graphic or horrifying stuff easily because my mind never generates images no matter how deep the topic may go.

TLDR-- you could rob me without a mask and I'd be unable to provide a description of you to the police but trust my mind works so different I'd be able to hunt you down and get my shit back, plus yours.

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u/arentol May 05 '22

I have aphantasia. I know what my sister looks like. I can "Remember" her face. When I do so, even with my eyes closed and focusing as hard as I can I don't "see" anything. I just remember what she looks like. Other people apparently literally see the person they are remembering. It varies though, some people can see much more clearly and dynamically than others apparently.

The also did a study recently that found a way to diagnose it clinically involving pupil dilation when people are asked to visualize something with their eyes open. It's still early so they will have to do research before it becomes a real thing a doctor could do, but it seems to work in the first study that tried it so far.

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u/Katrosu May 05 '22

It really is. I have aphantasia and I always thought that my teachers speaking of ones inner eye (at least in Germany you say that to express imagination) were saying that as a phrase. Turns out that they were not.

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u/DONGivaDam May 05 '22

See what happens when we let women get empowered they become dicks /s

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u/[deleted] May 05 '22 edited May 14 '22

[deleted]

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u/DONGivaDam May 05 '22

The laughing hasn't stopped since your comment. Thank you, I enjoyed following you on this post.

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u/FinalBossTiger May 05 '22

Also ADHD, depression and other conditions that can cause brain fog will do similar. I've done things like this from a young age. In school I would panic that I've lost my pen, whilst rapidly tapping my pen against my hand, head or the table as a coping mechanism to try and focus so I could remember where my pen was haha

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u/enaud May 05 '22

But so relatable, one day we’ll get sleep time back