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Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:14 pm
by thibodeaux
Discuss.
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:37 pm
by GORDON
There's a lot of stuff I used to know well, but through lack of use, I've forgotten.
Like the citric acid cycle. Used to be able to diagram every molecule, but then the kid came and I lost the IQ points.
I don't consider that "then I never learned it."
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:48 pm
by Malcolm
There's loads of mathematical formula & processes I used to have memorized that I'd have to look up nowadays. I don't exactly remember how to integrate cosine squared over tangent cubed, but I bet I could once I looked up the appropriate substitutions.
So what's learning? It is straight up memorization of arbitrary facts or is it familiarity with the patterns in the facts & their correct usage?
Edited By Malcolm on 1279745374
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:51 pm
by GORDON
I've forgotten the names of women I dated, but that doesn't mean I never knew their names.
Just means they were forgettable. 
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:10 pm
by TPRJones
I've always had a very very poor memory. I'm not the guy from Memento, but I'm as close as you can get without having actual brain damage. I can never remember how to do things or what things are or anything. But I can remember the basic understandings behind how things work.
I've always been that way. Because of it I've gotten very good at relearning things at breakneck speed. For example when I was a briefly a physics major I rederived the formulas of force and motion every time I needed one on a test. I think I've reinvented most of calculus from scratch at least twice by now. Every time I write a program I may have to look up most of the syntax yet again, but the algorithms are always perfect and built fast and tight.
I also learn new things at super speed, too. But I have to relearn them again the next time I need them.
I think it's from all the pot I smoked when I was six.
EDIT: I missed the "well then you never really learned it" part. Hmmm ... I guess I'll vote FALSE, then, but I wouldn't argue too strongly against TRUE if you'll also give me "but you can always learn it again"
Edited By TPRJones on 1279761340