• Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Old joke.

    Two medical students are chatting. One says that they read an article that said the better adjusted a person is the further back they can remember. An emotionally stable person should be able to recall many things from pre-school and an exceptional person could remember learning to speak.

    “So what’s your earliest memory?”

    “I snuck a beer of of my parent’s fridge when I was 13.”

    • state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.de
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      2 months ago

      I have a handful of token memories going back to when I was one or two. But kindergarten and school are just blank voids. It took me up to when I was about 30 to realize I did not have a happy childhood.

      • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I had a fine childhood. Nothing I would consider abnormal in a traumatic or negative sense, and the fidelity of my memories have always been limited. Some brains just aren’t designed to hold onto the past … which is quite comical because I the things I do remember, I remember strongly; even when they’re essentially irrelevant. Oh well.

      • kofe@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I have memories of my parents telling their memories describing pretty heavy neglect when I was 0-3. I have a lot of vivid memories of abuse beyond that point, and it’s like therapy and education just bring up more. I dunno what else to do with my life but obsess over how to help prevent it for future generations however possible

      • FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        My elementary school had two kindergarten teachers with the same last name, my only memory of kindergarten is roll call on the first day when the teacher told me I was in the wrong room and I had to walk out with the other kids chuckling. Seems like our brains hold on to only the strongest emotional moments be they good or bad.

    • RisingSwell@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      Does it count as a memory if you are aware that it did happen but don’t remember it? There’s probably a better way of saying it.

      I am aware I played mini golf and did fucking terribly at 3, ramps are bullshit and all, but I don’t remember doing it, simply that it happened.

      • kofe@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Most people start retaining more concrete memories around three. It’s when we develop object permanence iirc

      • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        Are you asking my opinion? If so, it’s not a memory. My mom always told the story of how I was going to attack the Wicked Witch when I saw her on TV but I don’t remember it. I remember my mom telling the story.