Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / Are There Poisonous Snakes In Maine?

Are There Poisonous Snakes In Maine?

Are There Poisonous Snakes In Maine?

Why am I asking if there are poisonous snakes in Maine?

Well, I’m not.

I am asking you – one year after you read this post – if there are poisonous snakes in Maine.

Because this intuition is correct here.

And 10 months after I read it for the first time, I had completely forgotten the fact.

Likewise, if we are busy, stressed, distracted, or otherwise depleted mentally, we may keep something marked as true without ever having taken the time to verify it—when faced with multiple demands, our mental capacity is simply too limited to be able to handle everything at once, and the verification process is one of the first things to go. When that happens, we are left with uncorrected beliefs, things that we will later recall as true when they are, in fact, false. (Are there poisonous snakes in Maine? Yes, as a matter of fact there are. But get asked in a year, and who knows if you will remember that or the opposite—especially if you were tired or distracted when reading this paragraph.)

-Maria Konnikova, Mastermind (Amazon)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #CriticalThinking, #Memory

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Notifications of all new posts by email.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • 31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
    31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
  • Our Mercenary Heart
    Our Mercenary Heart
  • Derek Sivers On Writing
    Derek Sivers On Writing
  • The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
    The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
  • Writer's Toolbox, Stephen King
    Writer's Toolbox, Stephen King
  • How To Care For A Sad Person
    How To Care For A Sad Person
  • Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
    Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
  • Another Great Riddle For You To Try
    Another Great Riddle For You To Try
  • Instabooks 217
    Instabooks 217

Supporting = Loving

Buy Me a Coffee

Recent Posts

  • Better Than Being A Droid
  • On Identifying Actual Journalists
  • Random Thoughts – 392
  • Running Out Of Time
  • The High-Priced, Low-Volume Strategy

Copyright © 2023 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in