I thought I couldn’t remember how to throw a boomerang, but then it came back to me.
Was surprised I started mixing up left and right after I broke my right-hand wrist while biking.
Turns out I subconsciously associated "right" for the direction my stronger hand was on, and once my left hand started feeling like the more dominant one during recovery - my brain would automatically choose that "right" should be on my left-hand side instead, until I actively thought about which direction is which.
This gradually decreased out as my right hand recovered and got back to being the dominant one over the next few years, but was eye-opening what shortcuts my brain uses for such basic things.
Wait, are you saying you didn't have to actively think about which is right or left before? I've always had to think about it, only for a second, but it's definitely an active thought thing for me.
Really?
Yeah, definitely. I didn't know people didn't have to think about it for a second.
Considering almost every one of my ancestors for the last few hundred million years managed to have sex at least once, I'd say it's pretty remarkable how I've managed to avoid it so far
navigate the social landscape of a corporate office
Oooof, I hear that. Things are more political than ever at my work and it's like, I just want to do my job and go home
I can't navigate politics at all. Have done ok working at startups though, some offices are not at all political. Where I work, we can fix other people's processes if we think of a better way, we work with other departments, I don't have to go through my manager to talk to your manager to get to you, can go directly to you. Can talk to the CEO, to ex- employees, nobody is protective of their work, nobody is angling for my job.
Process sugar (diabeetus)
I have no sense of direction. None.
I work in construction. If I show up to a site that is completely built, I get lost. If the floor is symmetrical in layout, I am totally screwed. It took me two full days on site once to get adjusted.
When assigned to a new site, if there are more than a few turns in a commute, I'm using the GPS to get there for a couple of weeks.
Also, I had no idea half of the people on this planet couldn't whistle.
Whistle.
Tell right from left without thinking about it.
Read a map, unless it's oriented the way I am facing. My mind will not flip it.
I've never been able to ride a bike without at least one hand on the handlebars.
Associates faces with names easily.
Like I'll remember who you are, but I won't remember your name. Got me into trouble a few times
Edit: also forgot, but this includes associating the names of places. Combined with the fact that I can'trememberr paths and situate places I see IRL on a map, I get lost often.
Remember people's names or faces
That's actually a cognitive disorder called Prosopagnosia.
And welcome to the club - I had a stroke and while luckily all major deficits returned to normal with timely treatment, I developed prosopagnosia.
It's fairly freaky at times. While it's not my main job anymore I still work as a paramedic occasionally - and when I get a massive trauma at three o'clock in the morning I can hand it over in the ED to the full resus team with every detail without looking into my notes once. But if they ask me for a name I need an ID card or my notes.
Tell a joke or story in a linear fashion. I'm always fucking up, or realizing halfway through that I've left out an important detail. It's how my mind works but I'm sure it's frustrating to others. Plus I just get flop sweat sometimes.
I can't whistle. Honestly I think it's because one of my lower front teeth is crooked, twisted at an angle. 🤷♂️
My parents used to tell me as a kid that I couldn't whistle because I wasn't eating my pizza crust. After I started eating the crust I learned how to whistle.
Have you tried eating crust?
I used to be unable to jump, but then I did Morris dancing. I learned how to jump normally at 27.
What happened when you tried to jump? I can't picture this.
I could spring from my ankles, but getting my knees involved made me mess up the timing and I got no lift.
I second the curiosity. What would it look like? Sudden crouching? Paralyzing indecision?
Remember how many days are in each month. I mean, I guess maybe I could if I tried harder, but I refuse.
EDIT: ok I'm seeing everyone's tips here, and thank you, but I gotta say... None of these heuristics seem any amount easier to remember. 😭
Whats the point? When do I need this information?
Bring on the 13x28 calender and end the madness.
I can't wink. Other people make it seem so easy, the best I can do is a scrunched up face with a sliver of one eye open enough to see
Cooking. I've tried learning multiple times but I still can't really make anything more complicated than boiling pasta or frying eggs or a grilled cheese. I wish I could learn but everytime someone tries to teach me I can't retain what they teach me and do it independently. I'm constantly fucking up in the kitchen which leads me to waste food, which my parents drilled into me is like the worst sin you can commit, so I stopped trying. I hated throwing things out because I'd fucked them up, especially because by that point I'd be so hungry that my failure would have an outsized effect on my emotions, and I wouldn't want to try again. So I just order food, make simple things like noodles and sandwiches, and avoid anything more complicated.
Not sure what you would call it but i dont mask my reactions very well. If I'm disgusted it shows on my face, if I'm angry it shows, if im happy it shows. The only thing I can do to conceal my emotion is to hold a neutral face which is interpreted as disinterest or boredom.
It's good because I don't have to try hide anything I just do what I do and go through life answering any questions people have. But it's bad when I know I shouldn't react in a way and everyone can tell my reaction. Example someone died in my workplace and everyone was looking sad but I was smiling because I didn't know the guy and we were getting half a day off work paid. Or my girlfriend was overly upset about something I thought was trivial and she said I look like I don't care and I said yes I don't care.
The amount of times I've been in a serious conversation and had someone ask me "what's funny about that" and I have to tell myself don't answer that.
Draw a straight line. I've got an essential tremor.
I just can't even right now or later. I don't care if that makes me basic.
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