DailyDirt: What Do You Remember?

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, May 15th 2012 5:00pm — Michael Ho

Everybody at one time or another wishes they had a better memory. There are some techniques and memory exercises to help improve the way people memorize lists, but some things are just more memorable than others. Some research is starting to delve into why we remember some things but not others, and here are just a few interesting links that you might want to write down.

An analysis of IMDB's memorable movie quotes could help figure out what makes well-written dialogue so catchy. Not surprisingly, the most popular catchphrases have unusual combinations of words and often express some pearls of wisdom. "Do. Or Do not. There is no try." [url]
USA Memory Champ Ron White shows off how he memorizes the order of a deck of shuffled playing cards -- creating a unique sentence for each card that helps him remember how every card relates to its neighbors. He uses a spatial memory technique called method of loci, but it probably doesn't work for everyone (especially people who get lost a lot). [url]
Children remember more than adults think they do, but nobody remembers their second birthday party. A study on the memories of Disney World revealed that 3 year old kids remembered a lot about the happiest place on Earth (even 18 months after visiting). [url]
To discover more interesting articles on the human mind, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

Filed Under: disney world, imdb, memory, movie quotes, ron white

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Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2012 @ 5:37pm

photographic memories?
Do some people really have photographic memories?
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- Demoliri (profile), 15 May 2012 @ 6:38pm
  
  Re: photographic memories?
  Theres never been a true case of eidetic memory, but some people have got pretty close, like Stephen Wiltshire or Kim Peek.
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- scichotic (profile), 15 May 2012 @ 6:58pm
  
  Re: photographic memories?
  It's called Eidetic memory, and it's not limited to imagery.
  
  I have it to some degree, and it's strange to me to think that other people may not have the same type of memory that I do.
  
  I've never actually questioned anyone about how they remember things, though, and I've only become aware of the fact that I have it in the last few years, as I never really cared enough to think about it.
  
  I am sure I have it, though, so I have no doubt others have it.
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The Groove Tiger (profile), 15 May 2012 @ 5:43pm

Not surprisingly, the most popular catchphrases have unusual combinations of words and often express some pearls of wisdom. "Do. Or Do not. There is no try."

"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth."
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- Michael Ho (profile), 15 May 2012 @ 7:35pm
  
  Re:
  The Chinese translation of Revenge of the Sith... translated back into English is pretty memorable, too.
  
  Darth Vader's first line: "Do not want."
  http://winterson.com/2009/01/episode-iii-backstroke-of-west-redux.html
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  - orbitalinsertion (profile), 15 May 2012 @ 8:32pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Now there is a pearl of wisdom. Unlike "There is no try."
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    - The Groove Tiger (profile), 15 May 2012 @ 8:41pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Sure beats Anakin's pickup lines like "your arm is totally not coarse like sand!" :D
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- Richard (profile), 16 May 2012 @ 1:29am
  
  Re:
  Not surprisingly, the most popular catchphrases have unusual combinations of words and often express some pearls of wisdom. "Do. Or Do not. There is no try."
  
  Also interesting are those lines that are traditionally misremembered - eg "Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well", "the pound in your pocket" etc...
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Pixelation, 15 May 2012 @ 10:15pm

"All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die."

Or

"Fuck the bonus!"
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Pixelation, 15 May 2012 @ 10:17pm

Almost forgot
"Come back here, I'll bite your knee caps off!"
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Anonymous Coward, 18 May 2012 @ 6:23pm

Forgot? I must now remind you.
Let it rock, let it rock, let it rock!
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