Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Does what you memorize impact the world?

Monday's post VERY early:

What do you think of the concept of “what you memorize has a significant impact on your world contribution?”

Thank you for your continued great commenting. Answer any number of the following questions feel free to comment based on comments you read.

#1 What do you think of this concept? What you memorize impacts – behavior, behavior impacts habits, your habits impact the world and those around you.

#2 What thoughts do you have in the area of a scheduled plan of things to memorize?

#3 I am getting quite a few emails after the last questions get 35 plus comments – Feel free to comment based on prior comments without a review of ALL of the comments. (I do not mind emails but I am often going to be busy visiting blogs of these brilliant people that take time to leave comments before responding to emails to honor my word to them to visit their blogs)

#4 What thoughts do you have in the area of memorization in general?

Happy Thanksgiving! (Next post will be coming BEFORE -Monday- December 7)

Best regards,
Tom Bailey

32 comments:

  1. No. 4 memorization in general is a good thing. It helps us to hold in necessary facts for the world example if I buy 2 eggs and there are a dozen how many do I have. Multiplication times tables. Memorization on these matters leaves us headspace to think about real issues.

    Love Renee xoox

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  2. there's that old saying, in short...
    what you think, becomes your words, becomes your actions, becomes your habits, becomes your character, becomes your destiny...

    so yes, what you memorise impacts your surroundings, the people you're in contact with and inadvertantly the world.

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  3. If you memorize something, it requires time and effort, which of course will affect your behavior.

    Memorization helps strengthen your mind.

    Have a Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate and a Happy Thursday just to celebrate.Wild Turkeys

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  4. We have a long tradition of memorization, before books, before recording, those who could memorize the most, could recall the most information. When I was in school, our exams were mainly oral.

    We no longer need to memorize everything;we need to understand how things are associated, so we can catalogue and search and find as necessary.

    We have a need to sort out more quickly, and learn to identify what we need to concentrate on, in conversations, in lectures, in sales-pitches, in our daily affairs.

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  5. This is seen in society, those that are able to memorize well are thought of as brilliant. They excel in exams and at work. This provides special privileges to be bestowed upon them as a result. The person eventually realizes they have a gift that most people don't have. This can change their behavior as well as how they treat people around them. Of course I am speaking of memorization mentally. Interestingly, I think there is such as thing as memorization emotionally as well. I think for some people it is almost automatic. My memory is also emotion, Stange but I remember info for exams by bringing up emotion linked to the info I studied for, and always do great. If that makes sense. So when stressed I memorize better. Another example: If I was hurt emotionally by someone, without effort, I can remember the date, what they were wearing and other details. I'm so in tuned that my behavior changes to become ambitious!? Then it effects how I see everyone in that situation becoming an advocate to hopefully change other people's negative perspective and behavior.

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  6. I think it definately has an impact.We do what we learn because it's the only thing we know :)

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  7. I think memorization definitely has an impact- I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  8. I think memorization is kind of pointless (I'm ducking ;)). I know so many people able to memorize facts--they can spout off how many pints are in a gallon, the original cast of "Law and Order", and what year the War of 1812 took place in (haha). I think being able to think analytically and with an open mind is so much more valuable.

    As an example, I'm an English teacher, and I get really frustrated when my colleagues (around the country) make recitation the be-all and end-all to poetry. I would rather a student be able to analyze and appreciate a poem than be able to memorize it, spit the words out, impress people by still knowing every word twenty years later, and not understanding a darn thing about it. My older daughter memorized "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" in second or third grade, and I was really impressed until I asked her what it meant. She can still recite it--but now she understands it as well. I think it must stink to have an English teacher for a mother ;)

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  9. You have some great answers here already. I'm afraid I might repeat some of them. Lol. Honestly, memorizing makes the world a better place on all levels. It allows you to sharpen your mind, become a nicer and more honest person, and it bonds people.
    For instance, when a stranger takes the time to memorize my name and remembers it a while later, that really makes my day. I gain confidence and feel more friendly.
    When I'm with friends, I try to remember (memorize) everything they tell me, if they are upset. That way I'm able to give sound advice or help them feel better. Once they know I was actually listening and took the time to understand the situation, it really does make them feel better.
    It works both ways. :)

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  10. Memory and/or what we are taught undoubtedly has an inpact on our environment,but it takes a certain type of mynde to determine whether or not what we know and how we use it is purposeful, right or wrong, good or bad.
    For the most part I believe that it is our intent which has the greatest impact on the world and our surroundings; thus it would be fair to say that one should consider one's desires/intentions and the consequenses that may ensure before one acts, as once something is done it can very rarely be undone.

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  11. 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it' was said for a reason for mankind as a culture has a very short memory.
    You have but to turn on CNN to see us repeating the mistakes of the recent past, the near recent past, the distant pass and on and on...
    So sad.

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  12. #1...I would say alot of this happens in childhood....What I learnt as a child, manners, respect etc has impacted on my life today.
    I know how to treat people and I know right from wrong.

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  13. I'm not sure if memorizing things impacts your behavior, but it is necessary to exercise the brain (the old use it or lose it concept).

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  14. Ummm i think it depends on what exactly you're memorizing. some things that are memorized are just crap. perfect example: songs. I dont think memorizing song lyrics really does anything for you except make you the champion of karaoke or something.

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  15. I know memorization is a waste of time. It traps me in the past which keeps me from seeing what is really going on now.

    I did not learn how to drive a team of horses by memorizing what to do. A team and life is too dynamic for that. For me it requires feel and touch and not being so sure I already know how its going to be. That way I won't be surprised when something happens that isn't part of what I memorized.

    I have to tell you, most of the stuff I was forced to memorize, so I could be educated, has over the years proven itself to be wrong anyway. Whether it has been outgrown, proven wrong, or maybe started out as BS, overall I would have been better served by learning to grow a carrot.

    Tom, Farmer Pirate

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  16. I think there's a distinction between memorizing and remembering. One is forced and one is less conscious. If you have to force yourself to remember something, I question it's value to you in the long-run. It's one reason most of us don't put much faith in book-smart people, preferring instead to learn and live among those with experience that's been committed to memory.

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  17. For me memorization is sort of a blessing and a curse. I have an exceptional ability to memorize and sometimes it feels as though I spend too much time reciting memorized facts and not enough time focusing on my world contributions.

    PS Thanks for stopping by my blog.Always nice to meet a fellow veg.

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  18. I watched my dad deteriorate from Alzheimer's and it hit home, our memories are a HUGE part of who we are. What we choose to remember defines us.

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  19. Memorization is a huge part of who we are and become. My dad put his life on hold to take care of my grandparents. He is there any time they need anything, even if it is in the middle of the night. I am remembering that next time he needs something.

    When people help us, we usually memorize or remember it the next time someone comes along who needs our help. When someone shows us kindess, we want to turn around and help those who need it.

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  20. Hi Tom,

    This is a thought provoking entry and I, as a person who has this uncontrollable memorization mechanism, am very interested in this. I think memorization can be really dangerous and hurtful at times and also can contribute so much good into this world.
    So the question is, do we really care if someone is going to memorize what we've done to them or not? How many people are there who've memorized this fact that we're gonna have impact on people's lives with our actions?

    Makes me think...

    Best,
    B.

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  21. When memories are formed they can be influenced by the surroundings. So if you are happy at the moment of acquiring new information, whenever you recall this information you will feel good. These types of memories most of the time are good. But when a person creates a memory in the moment of distress, then whenever this memory comes up the bad feeling would follow ... and when someone is not feeling that great, the action can be not that great either. I am sorry I drifted into this philosophical analysis of memory ... the point is that our memory affects what we do therefore it affects the world ;)

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  22. I believe memorizing anything, whatever it is is great exercise for the brain. It creates neuronal connections that increase brain function and efficiency. The older we get the better memorizing is, but also the harder it gets. Staying mentally alert is a positive contribution to the world as older more experienced individuals have wisdom to impart and are able to conceptualize in a super powerful way. Memory is a fickle thing. Memorizing takes discipline and time. This world could use a lot more of both.

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  23. I wonder if maybe it is the other way around so you are affected by somethign which makes you want to memorize it. Does that make any sense?

    Kate xx

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  24. I memorize Shakespeare's Sonnets. All love and tragedy...go figure.

    Where in the world did you come from anyway...telling me I'm not emotionally stable.

    Yea well...if the shoe fits you're not necessarily Cinderalla.

    Of course you're right...right now.

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  25. Um...uh...I pretty much dedicated my last post to you.

    I wasn't very positive. I'm in ass kicking mode. But I did, however...listen to you.

    Don't pay any attention to me. I'm injured and lashing out...that's all.

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  26. Great subject Tom, there's alot to be said about it as your subscribers commented... Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and thanks for commenting on my blog as well. Happy Holidays!

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  27. Tom,
    Thank you for taking the time to read by blog. I appreciate your post. I am new to this whole blog thing, as stated in my opening post.
    I posted a news story on California's recycling fund and what out government has done to it.
    I don't know if you live in Cali, so this may not impact you.
    My best to you,
    Kathy

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  28. What an interesting concept. I think most of what we learn is learned through some form of memorization. Memory is described as an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information. So, I think what we memorize has a huge impact on everything.

    Hmmm... now you have me thinking. :-)

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  29. I think it's more a question of internalizing rather than rote memorizing, but it's an interesting concept to be sure.

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  30. Hmmm... I think yes, I agree with the statement. For example, I've memorized a quotation from my mother: "Life's a bitch, and then you die." Does that influence my thinking? Yes. Does that affect how I respond to life challenges? Yes.

    It's important to screen what you allow to become a part of who you are. :-)

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  31. I am getting old and I don'tremember as much as I used to,but for a while there, my mind was like Google's Gutenburg project. It would scoop up durn near anythin'.
    While a teen, I swear It would wake up and start reciting all I knew, from the top.

    Let's see now:
    Aardvark....A small Africa mammal
    ...
    I think the Encyclopaedia went beyong my intellect. It was Collyer's that dunnit to me. :)

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  32. You pose some really interesting questions on your blog, Tom. Thanks for dropping by my blog and leading me here. In response to this particular question, I'd say it could be both a blessing as well as a curse. There are times when memorizing is terrible especially when it comes to human relationships - doesn't let you forget and forgive. There are times when memorizing certain things can take you through - for example - a job-interview, a challenge (think of detectives) and a quiz program with a fancy prize! :-)I think one needs to use one's discretion to determine what is worth committing to memory and what isn't. I know of people who can rattle off details about a particular movie or actor - not sure how that helps. But at the same time, if you can rattle off details about a place which your friend - who is new to it - is visiting, it is going to help her enormously....

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