I’ve had this issue lately where I read something, process it, and stick it in the back of my brain for a while. We all do it, we passively absorb knowledge each and every day. It may be the newspaper, television, a co-worker, or heck, even something you read on Twitter.
But, then I come to the issue of recalling the knowledge’s source. I can easily describe this random fact or analysis I’ve come up with but I have no idea where it came from. Did I read it in the newspaper or on someone’s blog? Did someone say it to me in conversation and then I later read the details online? I have so much information coming at me I’m not sure who put it there! This becomes especially frustrating when I want to go back and clarify or get more information—I’m not sure where to start looking!
But, the best part lately is this: I start spewing a brilliant idea, concept or analysis and then have to stop myself. “Shoot, did I come up with this or did I read it on Andrew’s blog?” Sometimes I’m the synthesizer of this knowledge (I read fact X, and fact Y and put together thought Z) but sometimes I question myself. Is there such a thing as an original thought anymore?
I’m posting this online right now but some guy in Boston probably wrote about it two weeks ago. Or some philosopher talked about it centuries ago. Maybe?
well now you’re just playing cruel – making me cry in tears of frustation.
you can probably always rest assured that should you be recalling something brilliant, or witty, or wise, or sexy, twas me.
just saying.
Unfortunately I don’t often recall any of the aforementioned…
This sounds like the true definition of ‘information overload’. The built-in disadvantage is just as you said, we can’t go back to the original source because we don’t know where or what it is! Very weird and even moreso that we all do it!
I would like to point out that it was me who called you out on the Andrew’s blog bit…just another instance of forgetting your sources!