Thinking About Thoughts

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3857621.stm' target='_blank'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3857621.stm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"When was the last time you thought hard about something? When you actually set aside some time in the day to just sit and think, and note down what was on your mind? No-one does that, do they? Time's too precious, life is too short. Not for Lion Kimbro, a 26-year-old geek and computer games tester from Seattle. Last year he spent three solid months writing down everything that came into his head. He got so immersed in making notes that the rest of his life was put on hold while he sorted them and understood them." </i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/thinker.gif" /> <br /><br />The BBC story then goes on to talk about the clarity of thinking that Lion found after three months of extensive (and excessive?) note taking about his own thoughts. He goes on to talk about how he organised and linked his thoughts by writing on paper and shuffling the sheets around while making even more notes. He does however predict that computers will be able to properly take and manage notes of our own thoughts within a few years.<br /><br />So when was the last time you were able to get away from technology and just think deep thoughts? Or do you find that technology helps you think? So, what are your thoughts about thoughts?

[jkendrick]

Sounds like he needs some mind mapping software to help him organize his thoughts. Or at least OneNote which is phenomenal at organizing notes.

[Jonathon Watkins]

The thought had occurred to me. :wink:

So any thoughts on the thought process itself and how you think best?

[hamishmacdonald]

I'm a writer, so my answer to the question is based on the thinking issues that come up in my profession, though I'd be interested to find out if this is how it works for people in other disciplines.

Lots of people have asked me "So where do you get your ideas from?" I have to say that I honestly don't know. The thinking process for me, the actual method for extracting a result from my brain, isn't a deduction or a solution so much as it's a discovery. I sit down, I mind-map, I ask myself what I'm thinking about, or what I need to solve, and think and think and think about it, and inevitably there's a moment where my mind goes POP! And there it is. What arrives is often so right, yet so foreign, that it feels like it came from somewhere else.

As Stephen King says in his book On Writing, "Stories are relics, part of an undiscovered pre-existing world." It really does feel like that.

I've written about the process I use in writing a novel here, if anyone's contemplating starting one themselves:
http://www.hamishmacdonald.com/writingProcess.htm

I have to throw in my two pence worth on "Writer's Block", too: I think there's no such thing. Writer's Block is always, always a matter of thinking about outcomes -- "What will they think? Will this sell? Should I be saying this?" -- prematurely, when it's still time to be creating. Whenever we're stuck, it's because there's a question that we've forgotten to ask or answer.

As for the Pocket PC, it both helps and hinders me in my thinking. On the one hand, it helps tremendously in the organisation of my thoughts. I use Fann Software's excellent TreNotes outliner to plan what I'm doing for the coming week on each of my projects, then export the items to the Tasks application. The device then keeps me focused, on schedule, connected with the company I copywrite for, etc.

Where the Pocket PC is a hindrance is that, like the PC and all my other little gadgets, I can spend hours playing with it, configuring it, adding and removing programs, and not actually produce anything. Still, the capabilities this thing gives me have given me so much freedom; it's invaluable as a tool.

That's what I think.

[Bill Gunn]

Before the advent of the "Me Generation" they used to call that "self absorption", and it was not an admirable trait.

[SubFuze]

This sounds a lot like something that David Bohm did. He wrote a book on what he gained out of it called On Dialogue (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0415149126/qid=1088783934/sr=8-6/ref=pd_ka_6/002-2063500-5113647?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), which is a really interesting read.

Book Description (from Amazon.com)
"During the past few decades, modern technology, with radio, television, air travel and satellites has woven a network of communications which puts each part of the world into almost instant contact with all the other parts. Yet, in spite of this world-wide system of linkages, there is, at every moment, a general feeling that communication is breaking down everywhere, on an unparalleled scale."

Bohm goes on to really examine the communication and thought processes and offers a lot of insight into how to change thought for the better.

[mrkablooey]

Thanks for the info on David Bohm's book, but that's pricey (~$40). :? I'll have to look around for it, my local libraries don't have it.

[SubFuze]

They have a paperback version as well for $15...

edit: err, well, it says not released yet, but you might want to check your local bookseller, I found a copy in my local borders...

Also, I just found this:

http://www.infed.org/archives/e-texts/bohm_dialogue.htm

It's a paper which I believe is included in the book. The book includes quite a bit more, but it should give you a taste of the book.

[mrkablooey]

thanks for the link!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Bohm goes on to really examine the communication and thought processes and offers a lot of insight into how to change thought for the better.

So what's your take on what he is saying?

Personally I find that I use my PPC to keep track of thoughts. I am very good at forgetting my own thoughts and mental notes and need to write them down /enter them into my PPC to retain them.

The problem with thoughts is that they are very fleeing and prone to interruption. I like to think on long train journeys and while flying. There's something about having the scenery zipping by to get the thought processes really going.

[mrkablooey]

Jonathon,

Do you put those thoughts into Pocket Word, Notes, :?:

[Jonathon Watkins]

Do you put those thoughts into Pocket Word, Notes, :?:

Usually Pocket Word. I'm not overly crazy about Notes.

I mostly use Pocket Word for raw input & do any actual processing (real editing, etc.) on my main PC. It's good to be able to take notes just about anywhere. The trouble these days is finding enough time just to be still, and just *be*. :?

[Jason Dunn]

I often wish I had more time to think. Working from home, I'm always connected, so I have no travel time to wind down or just ponder. I've found that changing my work location can help - I'm trying to get into the habit of going to the library every Sunday afternoon to write reviews. The first experience was great - in five hours I wrote more than I have in five months - but since then it's been hard to replicate. I'll keep trying though. :-)

[Jonathon Watkins]

The first experience was great - in five hours I wrote more than I have in five months - but since then it's been hard to replicate. I'll keep trying though. :-)

Maybe it's the variety that makes a difference. Maybe that's why train journeys are good for me - always something new coming along? Perhaps it's not good to need contestant new stimulations in order to think. :? Well, as long as I'm thinking, that's the important thing........ :lol:

[mrkablooey]

I often wish I had more time to think. Working from home, I'm always connected, so I have no travel time to wind down or just ponder. I've found that changing my work location can help - I'm trying to get into the habit of going to the library every Sunday afternoon to write reviews. The first experience was great - in five hours I wrote more than I have in five months - but since then it's been hard to replicate. I'll keep trying though. :-)

the library is a great idea, i'll have to try it. i'm heading over there tomorrow to pick up The View From Nowhere (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0195056442/104-8902297-2519901?v=glance). :)