I chose this picture with the boy having a pencil drawing his mind for the article, because I feel like the act of answering the question "what are you working on?" is me reaching into my mind and writing the answer. The answer is NOT what was already there. it's a post-hoc rationalization
It's like if I did something dumb, and instead of admitting it, I (without being aware) made up a rational explanation, and then I started committing to the bit, as if that was what I was doing all along.
I wouldn't have described it in the exact same way, but this description of why solitude helps so much, fits pretty well with my experience. Having other people in my vicinity feels like there being sort of "cognitive land mines" which may subtly derail or adjust the direction of my metal processes. Not because I'm always extremely susceptible to social pressure or anything, but because I'm sufficiently conscientious/self-aware such that I can't help but constantly "feel the presence" of those around me and be affected by their expectations.
Not having those landmines go off when the compulsion comes to pace back and forth, or let out a loud "whoop!" or whatever, helps. Even if the presence of others doesn't actually change my actions, it kinda adds extra, unwelcome, cognitive processes.
Usually when I'm forced to operate within a social environment, I end up simply proceeding way differently. That's kinda why libraries/coffee shops can be useful - I personally find them inferior over the blessed anarchism of complete solitude, but you can use the especially rigid social rules of certain public environments to block yourself from certain ways of operating. Can't scratch your butt, jump around, start playing random YouTube stuff or whatever.
how we understand others by simulating them in our mind, and how it is nice to use that extra space in our minds, free that up
> public environments to block yourself from certain ways of operating
i love this too! I feel like it's just all about like, directing ourselves through our environment. We need the freedom of not having others in our minds, AND sometimes you also want the constraints to block off certain behavior patterns. it all makes sense. thank you for articulating this!!
I chose this picture with the boy having a pencil drawing his mind for the article, because I feel like the act of answering the question "what are you working on?" is me reaching into my mind and writing the answer. The answer is NOT what was already there. it's a post-hoc rationalization
It's like if I did something dumb, and instead of admitting it, I (without being aware) made up a rational explanation, and then I started committing to the bit, as if that was what I was doing all along.
I wouldn't have described it in the exact same way, but this description of why solitude helps so much, fits pretty well with my experience. Having other people in my vicinity feels like there being sort of "cognitive land mines" which may subtly derail or adjust the direction of my metal processes. Not because I'm always extremely susceptible to social pressure or anything, but because I'm sufficiently conscientious/self-aware such that I can't help but constantly "feel the presence" of those around me and be affected by their expectations.
Not having those landmines go off when the compulsion comes to pace back and forth, or let out a loud "whoop!" or whatever, helps. Even if the presence of others doesn't actually change my actions, it kinda adds extra, unwelcome, cognitive processes.
Usually when I'm forced to operate within a social environment, I end up simply proceeding way differently. That's kinda why libraries/coffee shops can be useful - I personally find them inferior over the blessed anarchism of complete solitude, but you can use the especially rigid social rules of certain public environments to block yourself from certain ways of operating. Can't scratch your butt, jump around, start playing random YouTube stuff or whatever.
> but because I'm sufficiently conscientious/self-aware
absolutely this 💯!! i think about this image a lot (https://x.com/cosmictealatte/status/1780079761726775649)
how we understand others by simulating them in our mind, and how it is nice to use that extra space in our minds, free that up
> public environments to block yourself from certain ways of operating
i love this too! I feel like it's just all about like, directing ourselves through our environment. We need the freedom of not having others in our minds, AND sometimes you also want the constraints to block off certain behavior patterns. it all makes sense. thank you for articulating this!!