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this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024
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Unpopular Opinion
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This is not just an online thing. I'll do you one better.
My job involves, unfortunately, sometimes dealing with people. As much as I'd like to stay in my IT dungeon and remain undisturbed all day, I sometimes do have to emerge into the sunlight and interact with business clients.
Different people's brains are wired in different ways, not necessarily the same as yours. Based on my totally unscientific observation, it feels like roughly 1 in 5 people cannot comprehend hypotheticals at all. You can't ask them "picture this, but instead like this" because their brains literally can't form that image. If it is not an object or situation that is either in front of them, can be shown to them (on a screen, on a document, or whatever), or is one they have had personal and very specific past experience with, it's lost on them. Even if the hypothetical you're describing is barely any different from something you're physically showing them right now, except some trivial detail, they can't wrap their heads around it. You can break it down, you can explain it step-by-step until you're blue in the face. It doesn't work. As soon as you get to the last element, the hypothetical one, they tune out instantly.
And in my further experience around half of people in this camp will become confused and they'll handle that by getting angry at you.
I'm not a brainologist so I don't know why this is, or if there's a clinical name or mechanism behind it, or if it's abnormal and my industry just attracts devastatingly uncreative and stupid people. So in absence of any other information I'm just blaming lead paint and Boomerism.
You are describing the "Concrete Operational" stage of intellectual development. At this stage people can think logically but only about concrete objects. Hypotheticals come later at the Formal Operational stage.
In normal healthy development, people grow beyond concrete operational around age 12. Many people do not, however.
https://www.verywellmind.com/concrete-operational-stage-of-cognitive-development-2795458
https://www.simplypsychology.org/concrete-operational.html
Are you using "picture this" literally or figuratively?
Because aphantasia is actually a lot more common than you would think -- I see estimates range something like 1-5% of people.
So if it actually matters they literally picture something in their mind, I recommend strongly having a prop or sketchpad ready. Some people literally need it.
You've unironically done the thing this post is about.
Literally carry a scratch pad everywhere just in case you're talking to a no pictures brain. Have a strong prop so you can talk to your co-worker. Like you need a fucking puppet named haych-tee-tee-pee to talk about why you need to install cat cables. Okay, maybe this was a good shitpost.
The top comment in this chain assumes that everyone should be able to "picture this." I would also say that it assumes that the person explaining the "this" to be pictured is doing so sufficiently. Parent commenter points out that the "hypothetical" as designed has a flaw in its assumptions, and I have explained another.
If the aim is to have an understanding of reality that is more accurate, so that our interactions can be more productive, being aware of these kinds of flaws in assumptions is valuable. If the aim is "being right on the internet," then denying those flaws is what happens.
Magnificent. We need a sentiment for when something can be said with or without a shit eating grin. Irony doesn't do it anymore.
Man you must be fun at parties.
The guy said it was part of his job to explains things. You can chose to be bad at your job struggle, and be stressed about it. Or you can make a change to be more inclusive and make things easier for yourself while you're at it.
But go ahead and be an asshole. Seems to come natural to you.
It honestly sounds like it's something else. I have aphantasia, but I have no issue with complex concepts. You're right though that if the important bit is actually seeing it, then I'm at a loss.
From op I think it's people having issues with understanding a concept.
Hmm... an inability to imagine situations, hypotheticals, or what things will be like in the future due to today's decisions, you say?
That would certainly explain an awful lot, including my frequent bouts of intense frustration with some people.
I don't suppose you happen to be working in the healthcare industry? I have noticed people in that industry have a much harder time imagining how technology could improve their workflows than other industries I've worked in. This isn't based on scientific observation, or anything, so I may be biased and wrong.
I'd ascribe a lot of it to overwork and chronic stress. Most of us experience lives that keep us low functioning
That makes a lot of sense. That coke addict doc that came up with the whole overwork ethic is to blame.