Glen D

[Glen D]

I find the South Park clip below more amusing.

Caveat; coarse language, lots.

[Glen D]

@jake

” It feels like time is accelerating. What felt like a week as a kid takes up a month..”

–and every time you blink seems like another year has passed.

No, you’re not imagining it.  There’s a scientific explanation for this perception.  It has to do with new experiences and hence new memories.

 

From The Scientific American, 2016:

 

“Where did the time go?” middle-aged and older adults often remark. Many of us feel that time passes more quickly as we age, a perception that can lead to regrets. According to psychologist and BBC columnist Claudia Hammond, “the sensation that time speeds up as you get older is one of the biggest mysteries of the experience of time.” Fortunately, our attempts to unravel this mystery have yielded some intriguing findings.

In 2005, for instance, psychologists Marc Wittmann and Sandra Lenhoff, both then at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, surveyed 499 participants, ranging in age from 14 to 94 years, about the pace at which they felt time moving—from “very slowly” to “very fast.” For shorter durations—a week, a month, even a year—the subjects’ perception of time did not appear to increase with age. Most participants felt that the clock ticked by quickly. But for longer durations, such as a decade, a pattern emerged: older people tended to perceive time as moving faster. When asked to reflect on their lives, the participants older than 40 felt that time elapsed slowly in their childhood but then accelerated steadily through their teenage years into early adulthood.

There are good reasons why older people may feel that way. When it comes to how we perceive time, humans can estimate the length of an event from two very different perspectives: a prospective vantage, while an event is still occurring, or a retrospective one, after it has ended. In addition, our experience of time varies with whatever we are doing and how we feel about it. In fact, time does fly when we are having fun. Engaging in a novel exploit makes time appear to pass more quickly in the moment. But if we remember that activity later on, it will seem to have lasted longer than more mundane experiences.

The reason? Our brain encodes new experiences, but not familiar ones, into memory, and our retrospective judgment of time is based on how many new memories we create over a certain period. In other words, the more new memories we build on a weekend getaway, the longer that trip will seem in hindsight.

This phenomenon, which Hammond has dubbed the holiday paradox, seems to present one of the best clues as to why, in retrospect, time seems to pass more quickly the older we get. From childhood to early adulthood, we have many fresh experiences and learn countless new skills. As adults, though, our lives become more routine, and we experience fewer unfamiliar moments. As a result, our early years tend to be relatively overrepresented in our autobiographical memory and, on reflection, seem to have lasted longer. Of course, this means we can also slow time down later in life. We can alter our perceptions by keeping our brain active, continually learning skills and ideas, and exploring new places.”

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-time-seem-to-speed-up-with-age/

 

[Glen D]

@Encogitati

“As an older person, you are not invisible.  Younger folks can always stand to learn of the ways and insights of the youths that came before them.  Please keep us informed. ”

How very kind of you to say. I do my best to contribute.

However, my observation is supported by studies.  I realise this not a universal thing, especially in some societies in which the elderly  are respected. But it’s definitely a thing in Oz.

I expect to earn any respect I am shown.

The great irony is that inside every old person there is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

[Glen D]

@Unseen

Fairly imaginative examples, unless you’ve actually experienced them.

In well into senior’s age and have never witnessed such crass behaviour. I’ve now been waiting for some years just to reply: “Well, I’d rather be an old fart than  a young dickhead”

Arguably worse than having ignorant young shits being rude is becoming invisible. The young seem to look right through me. This not something I’ve imagined or invented.

 

 

”

I first heard about it a few years ago at a cocktail party. A close friend, in her 60s, dressed in a blue and white designer dress to signal the appearance of spring, was lamenting about not being taken seriously at her workplace and humorously remarked, “On top of all of that, no one in the world sees me anymore because I’m an older woman.”

However, she was only half joking. I then began to hear more of my older patients describe this experience of feeling “invisible.” And then it happened to me. I realized that when I walk down the street, younger people simply don’t see me. Not a glance, not a smile, none of the customary, friendly gestures we’re used to here in neighborly San Francisco. It was as if I actually disappeared from the sight of people much younger than I.”

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/21st-century-aging/200908/the-invisible-years

[Glen D]

@Unseen

I’m a bit behind reading replies, and found this:

” Once, I explained some aspect of the law regarding when it’s necessary to obtain releases when shooting in public ”

Interesting.

A lawyer friend once told me  there are no privacy laws in Australia. This means not only in public but also on private premises.Nobody has the right to tell you to stop, but you may be asked to leave private premises.

It is my understanding that privacy is nota right explicitly protected under the US constitution, but that the supreme court has ruled that such a right is implied.I forget by which section of the constitution or the bill of rights.

[Glen D]

@ Unseen

“And didn’t Jimi Hendrix say, “Excuse me, while I kiss this guy”?”

Close enough.

This bloke seems to have it sewn up.

 

 

 

 

[Glen D]

“Glen, on most days I know that it’s “Danny boy” not “Johnny boy.” Senior moment, perhaps.”

I empathise. Only recently I’ve discovered how unforgiving a PC can be when I have such a moment

@ Kristina

“But is it the Londonderry Air or the London Derriere?”

That depends on whether one is on the way to, or on the way from the pub and half a dozen pints of Guinness.

[Glen D]

“Oh Johnny Boy, the pipes the pipes are calling/From glen to glen, and down the mountainside”

LMAO

First, it’s “Danny Boy”. T’was my father’s favourite song. Dad had a fine lyric tenor voice and would sing it at parties when he was oiled.

A perfect  example of the word being archaic in describing a geographic feature:

Strictly speaking, is only part Irish ,having been written by an English songwriter in 1913. It is set to a traditional Irish tune,  “The Londonderry Air” .

AM I right in thinking you do not have the great  good fortune to be of Irish descent?

Below the full lyrics. Below that the song sung as it should be,  by a top Irish tenor with plenty of schmaltz.

“Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling,
It’s you, It’s you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow,
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow,
It’s I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow,—
Oh, Danny boy, O Danny boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
Ye’ll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Avè there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!”

 

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Glen D.

[Glen D]

@Unseen

“Why can’t it be both a personal name and a name for a something?”

I don’t remember saying it cannot. I simply pointed out that  “Glen” is not a gaelic name. However, in  non gaelic speaking Australia   it is mainly used as a name. The use of  ‘glen’ as a geographic feature is rarely heard.   Perhaps seen as  a little archaic , even flowery today.—–Australians tend to call a spade a f—- shovel. We are not widely known for our flowery speech.

———————————————————————————————————————–

Australian English as it is spoke.

Lesson 1; Always remember that the ‘l’ in ‘Australia’ is silent.

[Glen D]

 

@jakelafort

” I was not aware of the Gaelic Glen.”

It’s actually a generic  gaelic suffix  “een” .  It means ‘little’ or is used  as term of endearment.   It can also be used as a pejorative.

Pretty sure ‘Glen’ is not a gaelic name, but comes from the Irish and Scottish gaelic;  ‘gleann’ , a small mountain valley.

 

 

[Glen D]

“You might be a Christian if you quote the bible; you might be an atheist if you’ve actually read it.”

Ironically, too true.

At the catholic boys schools  I attended we were actively discouraged  from reading the bible, “lest you become confused.” ( I kid you not)  I was 16 the time ,so of course I went home and read the entire thing. I soon understood why they thought a sane person might get confused.  Genesis? Pickle me grandmother! Do people actually believe that shit? OK New Testament: the four different accounts of the resurrection are enough to confuse anyone***

The Book of Revelations was studiously ignored. It embarrasses Catholics who actually read it.  We just pretended it wasn’t part of the canon.

On YouTube yesterday I saw claim the the bible is THE most popular book ever printed, going by sales .

BUT the bible  has long been recognised as  ‘the least read best seller’. I found this to be true even of happy clappers who have tried proselytise  to me over the years.

 

**The De La Salle brothers who pretended to teach me had the perfect answer for any thing hard or contradictory :

“Oh, that’s a mystery of faith ,we just believe it.”  Truly.

[Glen D]

jakelafort

I was hoping you were joking.

I’m fine with Glen. Also wouldn’t mind the gaelic  “Gleneen” which is  diminutive/intimate. Has never happened.

My Canadian Mother deliberately gave myself and  my brother  4 letter names.  This was because  of the Aussie habit of messing around with names, sometimes longer, shorter, even a new name entirely. Didn’t work.  Eventually  it was “Glenie”  which I loathe and which will bring out a rather acerbic side of my personality.

I was at school  with a kid called ‘Myron’, he was the only Myron I’ve ever met.  As soon as he turned 18 he changed his name to John.

I didn’t use “Glen’ in the army.*** I used my middle name ,which is terminally Irish. As is my family name. You can probably imagine how some people honed their alleged wit on that. 

 

***Conscripted, served from 1968 to 1970. –and  NO  I am NOT a veteran

 

Count your blessings. (If you’ll excuse the expression)

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Glen D.

[Glen D]

@jakelafort.

“No, not a good video!

If you keep playing redneck videos you might be a redneck.”

In what sense? Morally? Moot.

Informative and reasonably objective?  I thought so,  I thought he made a lot of sense.

Now I’m truly not being sarcastic.  I would like to understand why you thought the video was not a good one. This is cheese and chalk stuff in terms of opinion. I would appreciate an explanation of your opinion.  My agenda is to learn  and possibly change my opinion if I have misunderstood so egregiously. If it’s simply a matter of different points of view, I ‘m fins with that.

[Glen D]

@Kristina

“Hypothetically, everyone is supposed to have the same protections and rights save for when there are bona fide exemptions.”

Oh absolutely! Yet even in my own well developed society and functioning democracy(Australia) this is rarely the case.  Although Oz does have some robust Social Justice policies (in health, education and welfare)

Gay marriage was finally legalised  in 2017.  This means that same sex couples now enjoy the same protection under the law as hetero couples.  This a huge deal.  I’m aware because my sis is gay and had a partner for many years. Her partner died .  Sis was not recognised as a spouse. She and her partner had the foresight to make very detailed wills. Had that not been the case, my sister would have had an extremely hard time financially, as well as the desolation of losing her partner

Each of my parents died in care.  My father at age 87 after years of dementia and confused misery.  My mother died last year, at age 92.  She died by refusing any but palliative care, quietly , gently , with dignity. She was surrounded by her family. I can think of a lot worse ways to die..

“You are so wrapped up in the problems of the LGBTQ+ that you are blind to other ways people may be in need of help and protection.”

WOT? How very judgemental of you.  I don’t remember having an election.   So pray tell, who put you in charge of deciding about what people should or should not care?

We humans are innately self interested. We tend to focus about things which effect us.  Today my concerns are how much longer I will be able to drive, how much longer will I be able to stay in my own home. Whether I will develop arteriosclerosis and become demented in my mid 70’s (I’m 73). Both my father  and grandfather developed that horrible condition, and died from it.

As it turns out, I do not allow others to determine my moral values nor to decide about what I should care.

 

• This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Glen D.

[Glen D]

Not being a scientist, I’m afraid the conclusions I’ve reached on my own remain a bit muddled:

First,  I reject cartesian dualism.   IE I’m unable to accept that consciousness/the mind  exists independently of the body due to a lack of  empirical evidence

That consciousness is not an object, rather, it is a process, a dynamic of the living brain. Harm the brain, consciousness is harmed.  Destroy the brain, destroy consciousness/mind.

BUT, what about memory?   I’m forced to concede that memory probably resides in a specific place or places with the mind. (?)  BUT if this is so, why does memory become altered over time?  Is is that the place where memory is stored decays  over time? OR it that  communicating synapses decay over time? Or both, OR neither?

Wasn’t even looking when I came across this on Ted .

 

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