Intellectuals, What is WRONG With Me?

[Isla]

I was just having a conversation with Mr Isla, and I referenced

Haphaestus

because we were talking about how Zeus got to screw around and create demi gods, but when Hera/Juno tried she gave birth to Haphastus, who embarrassed her.

However, the more common name for Haphaestus is Vulcan, and of course I know that, but the more obscure name came to mind. I had to think foir a minute to remember Vulcan.

This ALWAYS happens to me. Why do I alway remember the more obscure references and have to struggle for the words everyone else knows? I swear, anything that has two names, a common one and a technical or obscure one, I always remember the technical obscure one.

Nef?

 

[yakko]

nef indeed.

 

[Double Trouble]

Actually, you are not alone! I read an article about something related to this in a Dutch science magazine a little while ago. Some research they did suggested that the references that may seem more obscure make stronger neuron connections in the brain for filing and later retrieval because they peek your brains interest -- you happen to be interested in the 'off the beaten path' angle.

The brain doesn't store information in nice little 'files' that can be retrieved at any given time. It stores bits and pieces (for example sounds, or sights, or smells) in different places. It sort of indexes all the information from the different parts, but some people have a slightly different mechanism that creates associations between different pieces so as to allow quicker retrieval. Have you noticed that perhaps this might happen to you more often when it comes to subjects that you might be interested in or are fascinated by?

 

[ltk007]

You sure know how to make a guy feel stupid

I learned about all the Greek/Roman (Haphestus=Greek/Vulcan=Roman) but I had completely forgotten everything about him till you mentioned something. It was a year ago, I should remember this stuff.

 

[Fathom5]

Isla I can relate, I just can't remember what I had for lunch.

 

[Isla]

Yes! Tagej, that is it exactly! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was starting to think I was just a freak. Very good to know that this has been researched... the brain is such an amazing thing!

Well, that's a relief. When it comes to certain subjects... the ones that fascinate me, this happens quite frequently. When my husband's sister (whoops, was that a Freudian slip?) suffered from preeclampsia, no one knew what I was talking about. I still can't remember what it was they called it... it will come to me, but preeclampsia is the word that I'm wired for. Oh wait, now I remeber! Duh, the common name IS preeclampsia, but I wanted to call it toxemia.

And LTK, don't worry, you have many, many years to become as weird and obscure as me. I think you are a prime candidate for this little oddity.

edit: Fathom, Lunch? I can't remeber what I had for dinner.

 

[dennilfloss]

Here Isla. Enjoy stimulating your neurons into a mythologygasm.

Twisting By The Pool (Dire Straits)

 

[sandorski]

Isla, this is very urgent. Go to your phone, dial 911, then tell them what you just told us. After a few months of psychiatric care, come back here and thank me.

Oh, I'm not a doctor, but I played one for the sake of this post!

 

[loogie]

you're not male.

 

[Adul]

nef

Nothing to worry about isla. You are just wired differently

 

[Handle]

You may have thought of Hephaestus because certain Greek names for the gods/heroes are simply more common. Notwithstanding planets, I hear Zeus more than Jupiter, Hera more than Juno, Hermes more than Mercury, Aphrodite more than Venus, etc. However, you do hear Hercules more than Heracles.

Edit: Spelling

 

[Linh]

i haven't the slightest idea of what you're talking about

 

[Moonbeam]

Well if for no other reason than to recall again that cephalocerus sinilis is actually the old man cactus, this thread has been a great boon to me.

 

[mrlnmarce23]

nef?