#Other Minds

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Spines of Interest: Niche Nonfiction Edition.

[anonymouscapybara]

Gonna describe two experiences I have because typical-mind fallacy and I'm not sure if either is universal:

a. Sometimes when thinking/doing an inner monologue, I notice myself mouthing along to the words, or more often very slight tongue movements corresponding to saying the words aloud. This suggests that "inner monologue" is a thing running parallel to talking and that thinking is to some extent just talking with the verbalizations suppressed.

b. That vanilla inner monologue is the sole inner voice that seems to be possible for me: for example I can't think in the comforting voice of Morgan Freeman. This suggests it's difficult-to-impossible for me to conduct inner dialogues or model what another person would say purely inside my head.

Does this match up with your own experience on any or all points? Particularly interested in people who primarily think visually (which I find nearly impossible) or who do conduct inner dialogues.

[petitepinard]

[apollos-boyfriend]

i was cuddling with my boyfriend last night when his shoulder started tensing up (like he was readjusting or gently pushing me off) and when i asked him if he was okay or needed me to move or something he went “no you’re fine, i was just imagining myself pulling a large rope. i didn’t even realize my shoulder was doing that lmao” then refused to elaborate and i have never been as attracted to him as i was in that moment.

[hellocanticle]

Sabbatical Notes

A Photography Experiment done during this self imposed “sabbatical” (Creative Commons License by Allan J. Cronin I am not an academic but I use the term “sabbatical” to denote the two and a half month break I’ve taken from writing this blog. My reasons for the break don’t really matter but I decided I owe it to myself to make an accounting of what I have done during this time. Well, in addition…

[spooksier]

passages that make you whisper "oh my god"

[beebfreeb]

[bulldog-butch]

i’m gonna say something controversial yet brave: sexuality labels are a convenient tool we use to define something that is undefinable

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Replenishing the Nonfiction Stack; or, We're Calling the Book Buying Ban a Wash, Officially.

I am not, apparently, immune to coupons for niche nonfiction that's directly up my alley (octopus minds and RUSSIAN OWLS, hello??? Thanks, bookshop!).

I thought perhaps the BURGLAR'S GUIDE would also be covered under said coupon, since it was publisher-specific (alas: it was Not, but we might as well bundle for shipping purposes). And then while I was shopping IRL for gifties I found a copy of ROOM, which has been on my list for...ever? So! Hopefully these will hold me over on the nonfiction front for a minute!

[geopolicraticus]

The Problem of Other Minds Naturalistically Considered

The Problem of Animal Minds.—For me the problem of other minds has never been a philosophical problem that exclusively concerns human beings. I have been long fascinated by animal minds and by the relation between human and animal minds. I have lived in close quarters with animals throughout my life, and when other species are an ordinary part of life, it is obvious that their lives are very much like ours, and all the problems of the philosophy of mind that do not involve a grammatically structured language hold for them no less than for us. As I write this I have a dog at my feet (my sister’s dog) who is barking and moving his legs as he sleeps. I hope he’s having an enjoyable dream, chasing something exciting. I bet it’s great fun. But here’s something I had never thought about before: have I ever appeared in a dog’s dream? It seems likely given the close relationship between dogs and human beings that human being regularly feature in canine dreams, and it is a strange feeling to imagine oneself in the dreams of another species. Certainly I have dreamed of other species, some known to me in my waking life and some unknown to me. The dreaming mind is a reflection of the waking mind—not a perfect likeness, but a reflection nevertheless. I suspect it is much the same for dogs.

[aphel1on]

i have such a love for characters who descend into madness or villainy out of deep, deep empathy. characters who fundamentally cannot cope with the cruel realities they find themselves in and blow up about it in spectacular fashion. fallen angel type characters with tears of outrage in their eyes. characters who break before they bend, and break so badly they splatter blood all over their noble ideals. every variation on it gets me so good

[wanderingibon]

anya deserved so much better

[galactic-magick]

Star Trek makes me soooo crazy cuz you got Picard saying things like "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose."

And Data saying things like "I would gladly risk feeling bad at times, if it also meant that I could taste my dessert."

And Bashir saying things like “You can't go through life trying to avoid getting a broken heart. If you do, it'll break from loneliness anyway."

And Odo sayings things like "It has been my observation that one of the prices of giving people freedom of choice is that sometimes they make the wrong choice."

And I’m just supposed to be normal about it???

[mellosghosts]

that one the pacifier 2005 scene but it's laura annoying logan just a few days before he fucking dies

[ayzaart]

i had a vision… 🇵🇰 miku in a casual gharara with a rubab… with an organza shawl… with little jhumka hoops………. i can see the end of the horizon….. hatsune miku !!

Notes on details and translations below 💚

notes:

the rubab is a traditional pakistani stringed instrument

a gharara is a type of pants that are flared and pleated below the knee usually paired with knee or thigh length traditional shirts

jhumka are ornate bell like earrings

and the specific style of flat shoes depicted here are called khussay.

rose garlands called gajray are sometimes worn by women as bracelets or around hair buns etc, as depicted here. variations exist for different flowers too, such as the jasmine, which is the national flower.