so today, whilst sitting in old english class, i got to thinking about something. okay, so i was sitting down and i looked up to see a girl walking back into the classroom that was definitely already seated at the start of the class. i always look towards the front of the classroom, where the teacher lectures, and i sit by the door, so i am positive that this girl HAD to walk right past me to leave the classroom.
so here's what i was wondering -- what's the disconnect between what we see, and what we acknowledge we see? how is it that a girl can walk right in front of me and me obviously HAVE to see it, yet me take no notice, but then take notice of her return?
i know this is a really weird thought, but if i wasn't an english major i'd be a psychology major, so i think about these things.
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3 comments:
I think it just has a lot to do with what we are focusing on at the time. What probably happened was that when she waled out you were paying attention to the teacher, and when she came back in you were starting to lose interest and so the movement caught your eye. If you want a hardcore (well...maybe. I just wanted to use the word) example of it, take the awareness test - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4
Generally, the way the mind works is more about elimination than anything, meaning people's minds are usually more like spotlights than floodlights.
There are so many stimuli in the world, all of which are pouring into your ears, eyes, etceteras, etc. And your brain has a biological advantage to not pay attention to most of it most of the time.
The mind's filters keep people from staring into the wonderful complexity of patterns in grass, leaves, carpet, etc, for most of the time unless a person has changed their brain chemistry by means of drugs or insanity. But by necessity, when you're experiencing live with a purely utilitarian consciousness, you miss out on a lot of details.
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