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Selective Memory

Gordon-not-Ramsay

I was watching (or rather listening to) a video on YouTube by Orion Kelly aka That Autustic Guy. He's an Australian content creator and author of a book about his experiences being an autistic dad with anautistic son (just like me).

This video was about memory. He said there is a trait called selective memory. This sounded like the perfect excuse for forgetting birthdays and anniversaries, but in fact it's about not recollecting certain moments in your past, like having mole holes in the lawn on your memory. It struck a chord with me, as it is the sort of thing that has happened to me, and has caused arguments with my spouse. Let's face it: it is kind of hard to justify not remembering stuff. It's not like you can peer into someone's brain and check for holes (my brain is like a sieve at the best of times).

I've had something of a good day, kinda. The YouTube vids have helped the time pass quicker, I felt enlightened and I was in a better mood when I got back home.

Anyway, what are you "thoughts" (or lack theteof) regarding this aspect of autism? Does it ring true with anyone else?

Parents

  • My memory is definitely selective. It is generally extremely good but there are some things I just don't remember. Like every thing else in my brain it's one extreme or the other.

Reply

  • My memory is definitely selective. It is generally extremely good but there are some things I just don't remember. Like every thing else in my brain it's one extreme or the other.

Children
  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum

    I find that if i have a specific interest in something, that information or memory is locked in, not easily forgotten but easy to recall.

    If it's something that's not necessarily of little interest, but something involving the minutae of daily life, things to do, people to meet, places to go that are neither interesting nor boring - simply are things you're expect to know - it's more likely to fall out of your head. There is nothing to anchor it down, to keep it locked in.

    That's the challenge I think WinkThumbsup