Comment by Tade0
10 hours ago
I wanted to comment this HN entry with "people with intrusive thoughts sweating profusely" or something similar, but in truth are there people with no intrusive thoughts whatsoever?
I for one don't fight them, regardless how horrible they would be spoken out aloud, because so far I haven't seen any evidence of anyone reading my mind.
I also made a point of explaining to my child that her thoughts are hers and hers alone, so she can think whatever she likes.
I would rather not have to backtrack on any of this.
> are there people with no intrusive thoughts whatsoever?
There are people with no internal monologue whatsoever.
I think every verbal person has the ability to “speak” phrases in their mind; people without an internal monologue (as is, I suppose, the case for me) just don’t need / tend to do that with every thought they have.
This is my experience too. I can rehearse words to say or simulate the conversation of others in my head. I just don't use words when I'm not doing wordy things myself.
I didn't know the Comic strip Partially Clips was a pun until I told someone about the strip, then as soon as the words came out of my mouth realised the joke.
On the other hand I can play back non verbal sounds I have heard in my head, which I think not everyone can do either. Not to the degree of my daughter though, I mentioned how I had noticed an ad was using a singer (not super famous but we knew who they were) and when I told her about it some days later her eyes went blank as she listened to it again and then she said, "Oh yes, it's Nataly"
Brains are weird.
While I think this is true, if you're conciously forming phrases they are by definition not intrusive, the subject of the discussion.
When I was younger, I could only do it by making the movements with my tongue and sort of "whispering breathlessly"
I have no internal monologue, but I certainly have intrusive thoughts. They just aren't in words.
Of course someone without an internal monologue can have intrusive thoughts! Do you think intrusive thoughts have to come in the form of a monologue? You don't have intrusive 'scenes' in your everyday experience?
> Do you think intrusive thoughts have to come in the form of a monologue?
Do you?
I'm talking about inner monologue because this thread (I recommend to chill and check it out) was talking about inner monologue when I joined.