[Open Thread] Stupid Questions (2014-02-17)

solipsist

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This is part of a two-week experiment on having more open threads.

Obvious answers aren't always obvious. If you feel silly for not understanding something, you're not alone. Ask a question here.

Previous stupid questions

Other similar threads include:

I'm trying to figure out if I

have an average memory, but the availability heuristic biases me toward finding examples of other people remembering things that I don't remember, or
I have a below average memory.

I guess I think this is a stupid question because how are you supposed to help me answer it via online message board? But it seems like kind of a typical problem to have, being unable to tell the difference between "I'm performing fine but I disproportionately notice my mistakes" and "I am actually performing poorly."

Memory is a complex process and there are different kinds of specialized memory modules in the brain. Have you noticed that you have a problem with specific kinds of memories? Do you have problems with attention? You might not encode the memories in the first place.

3Sherincall12y

This seems easily testable. Though I cannot recommend any, I'm sure there are online memory tests that let you know how you performed relative to all the other subjects. Maybe not good enough, as there is a selection bias in the sample of people who take those tests, but it will give you some info. However, I think that you have an above average memory and are only noticing this because you usually hang around people who have above average memory as well[1]. Perhaps a more useful test would be getting your friends to take the test as well and compare the results. Maybe ask on LW for subjects? I'd participate. [1] Assumptions: * You have an above average IQ. I a priori assume this of all LWers. * There is a positive correlation between IQ and memory. A quick search gives results in favor of the assumption, but I didn't dig deeper. * You hang around people of similar IQ.

6Qiaochu_Yuan12y

What do you plan on doing with an answer to this question?

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[Open Thread] Stupid Questions (2014-02-17)

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[Open Thread] Stupid Questions (2014-02-17)

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