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The subject of inner monologue and npc's came up with someone a little bit ago. I'm curious to see what the inner monologue of other people is like.

Ex: Mine is mostly a combination of narration, pictures, visual text, music, and (less so) my other senses manifesting in my mind. Occasionally thoughts simply appear seemingly from nowhere, can't describe it too well. Very vivid place.

The subject of inner monologue and npc's came up with someone a little bit ago. I'm curious to see what the inner monologue of other people is like. Ex: Mine is mostly a combination of narration, pictures, visual text, music, and (less so) my other senses manifesting in my mind. Occasionally thoughts simply appear seemingly from nowhere, can't describe it too well. Very vivid place.

(post is archived)

[–] • 3 pts

I think in birds.

[–] • 7 pts

We live rent free in your head.

[–] • 3 pts

No. I control my thoughts. The birds are but a manifestation of my will.

[–] • 7 pts

That's what insane people with birds in their head believe.

[–] • 2 pts

With my brain

[–] • 1 pt

Depends on the context. I've stopped listening to music on my own accord years ago, so that is largely out. Although I do hum tunes, or more particularly rhythms, to myself.

Most of my actual thoughts however are a dialogue, as if I'm talking to someone. This happens when I have time to be lost in thought, and it's generally me explaining something.

If I'm trying to understand a physical occurrence, like electricity or hydrodynamics, I'll generally explain it to myself while visualizing it.

Then there's reactionary thoughts, like "Fucking Hell" and "God Damned Mother Fucker." This usually happens during particularly harsh activities which utilize your hands.

Then there's silent observation. I'm not saying anything in my head, nor am I visualizing anything. I'm just watching the events play out before me with curiosity.

[–] • 1 pt

I've thought about this and tried to answer a few different times when it comes up. I'm a native english speaker and I can use a few other languages to various (mostly pathetic) extents. But I also have a well-developed spatial sense, to the point where I basically never get lost because I can just about always simply visualize where I am in my memory of surroundings that been assembled in my headspace, and those "which of this figures is figure A viewed from a different angle" questions on mental acuity test is on the level of "why is something this obvious even a question". Also I have pretty well-integrated synesthesia that seems to significantly contribute to perception of letters, colors, textures, words, shapes... But I've found that it does not seem to contribute at all to syllabary or concept-glyphs which makes understanding japanese, chinese, and cherokee difficult.

Any way, the point of that is to get at saying that I do not have an inner monologue that plays out in my head in my native language most of the time. Sometimes when mentally drafting a text or thinking in clearly defined steps. But for the most part it's a sort of symbolic language that's a combination of flashes of the sensory impressions of words and concepts, shapes, links, and interactions. I definitely have an inner monologue, but not like I hear most people describe theirs. And I definitely do not lack an inner monologue, at least based on the descriptions I hear of others who lack one and are able to meaningfully contribute to discussion on it.

[–] • 2 pts

Finally, someone else who gets it.

[–] • 1 pt

It never shuts up. EVER.

[–] • 1 pt

I not only think in English, I think in exquisite English.

[–] • 1 pt

When i were in 4th grade i heard someone talk about narrating your thoughts was the way to go, and only retards had "no thoughts". Prior to this i only thought in images. I started conditioning my mind (slowing down my speed of thought to narrate what i was thinking) long story short i was surrounded by inane mouthbreeding mongrels with superiority complexes.

When i got older i realized that at the moment my narrating inner voice started, the thought was already fully formed and finished in my minds eye.

So basically i was stumping my speed of thought. The term "speed of thought" is something that i came upon while reading where it is explained that in the past, it was most important to find ways to heighten ones speed of thought. One very interesting way it was done in children was that they trained eagles to carry a child around the age of 2-3 from the ground, where it had been living in a small space, to the heights of the clouds. Or they carried the child to a high place, for instance the top of a tree or a mountain top. This was done to create an explosion of consciousness withing the little human.

In my own experience narrating your thoughts and not using images or emotions to think is an inferior and much slower way of thinking.

[–] • 2 pts

i was surrounded by inane mouthbreeding mongrels with superiority complexes ... In my own experience narrating your thoughts and not using images or emotions to think is an inferior and much slower way of thinking.

You were wrong the whole time about who had the superiority complex.

[–] • 1 pt

In hindsight my guy. I didnt consider the adults around me as being wrong. But in hindsight, i saw the patterns as indeed someone who had the need to feel superior. Without the mental faculties to support that belief. Sadly most teachers fit into this category..

"Hurr, I haef goen school for 5-6 years, I aer smort, de-duurrr"

[–] • 2 pts

I've noticed this as well. Narration for me happens mostly when I'm trying to plan, it's more solidifying that way.

Regarding those that don't claim an inner monologue at all, how many of them are simply more efficient thinkers, rather than dumb mouth-breathers? I suppose it's obvious who's who on the surface...

[+] [deleted] • 1 pt
[–] • 1 pt

Curious. Have you ever prayed to God in silence. If so, what does it sound like/what is happening?

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

yeah, well. Ive really felt God's precense quite succinctly while observing nature. I mean, how could you not. looking at any sunrise/sunset, or just nature in general. without the ego, it is an amazing feeling. and i feel, that is the greatest prayer, being able to be thankful for His Creation. a Creation we should not strive to comprehend, but indeed make use of. for the fullest. the sadness in me is that im borne this time, in a world that has forgotten that value, and find value in inane objects of lust.

and that indeed is a prayer within, without any kind of narration. it is quite blissful.

but reading the really made me comprehend how you even begin to gratify in His Works.

[–] • 1 pt

Interesting. Would you say a prayer within without narration.. would you say that's kind of like mind reading? Perhaps, God reads your thoughts? Like a telekinesis?

[–] • 0 pt

I have a friend who is Cuban and English is her second language. I asked once if she thought in English or in Spanish and she wasn't sure. Then the conversation turned to the Helen Keller situation. There would be thought undeniably but in what manner would it be framed?

This is a good question and of long interest to me.

[–] • 0 pt

You think primarily in your native language. You will seamlessly think in your second or third language when it better conveys an idea. Much the way you'd slip into a second or third language in conversation to get a subtext or non-literal across. This is particularly the case for idioms or inside jokes.

E.g. "Porque no los dos?" literally means "why not the two?", but idiomatically conveys choosing between two (usually unwise or bad) ideas and smacking BOTH buttons at once for the lulz. E.g. "Should we do tequila shots or streak through the neighborhood" would beg for a response of porque no los dos to point out how bad an idea either is.

As an alternate example, if I'm cajoling my spouse, the goto thought or phrase always starts with mon cheri in an outrageous French accent. I wouldnt even think of that in English because it's a stodgy language to convey over the top flattery.

[–] • 0 pt

I hadn't considered the Helen Keller situation. I've worked with a handful of native Hispanics, they all thought in their native languages.

Maybe Helen thinks in whale noises

[–] • 0 pt

Janet had been in the US since age 6 and felt that she lapsed back and forth when she "thought". We decided that must be a higher abstracted layer therefore with something lower guiding it. That led to discussion of the Keller case.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

Like most men; I think with muh dick. But most people visualize words as images. I say 5 and your mind pulls up an image of a 5. at the point of narration, you have already gone through this process of visualization.

[–] • 0 pt

Correct. I've also read this in my own voice in my head

[–] • 0 pt

Most people never get around to questioning why/how they think the way they do. keeping a clear mind helps in the thinking process. don't lie, it builds distrust of your own mind. good luck in your journey.

[–] • 0 pt

Thanks, brain's been hurting a little from this discussion. Not sure if any of this is actually applicable to my life, though I find it fascinating.

[–] • 0 pt

I don't get people who don't have an inner monologue. How do you talk to God?

[–] • 0 pt

DO they talk to God? Does anyone know someone like this?

[–] • 0 pt

Normally the narration part. Occasionally pictures/memories.

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