i always use this as an example of how deeply the languages we use shape how we understand the world
even the answer to the question "how many fingers do you have?" changes depending on the language, and that's a physical fact that seems to not have any degree of subjectivity to it
i believe this is the job of science communicators who try to explain complicated processes and ideas so that people outside of that specific scientific field can also understand what's going on
i think i once had a dream(?) about my friend telling me about the plot of Madagascar 3, no details but the overall theme and general events. i later asked that friend if she remembered that happening, and she told me she never did that. so i'm guessing it was a dream?
truly extraordinarily useful information, not "hey kid invest in bitcoin" (it was in like 2008, right after the release of Madagascar 2) not "did you know, all those feeling you're feeling is gender dysphoria? you're trans" not even a "when you grow up you'll be lactose intolerant, it'll take you years to connect the fatigue to the fact you had too much diary that day" but the plot of Madagascar 3. my brain looked into the future, and the only thing worth knowing was that
fun fact! when you put a bunch of people from different nationalities in a room together, and lock them in for prolonged periods of time - their accents will eventually blend into one. linguists have noticed exactly that happening to scientists at polar research stations, where you get stationed usually for 6 months at a time. linguistic mimicry is a rather strong thing
i think the biggest ??? happens to Poland when we're talking "central vs eastern europe". because geographically - pretty central, historically - pretty eastern, and right now? who knows
it annoys me how people seem to think that children are stupid, or incapable of picking up or understanding vocabulary that is all around them. simplyfing a concept doesn't always result in a simpler concept, quite often it just becomes incoherent and meaningless. if a child can read (or is learning to read) then they understand the concept of "decoration", hell, throw "baubles" at them, if they ask "what's this?" just explain, it's the perfect exercise for that kind of thing, tell them what it is, and then watch them engage with the idea for the next 10-15min as they doodle
i one up the invasive thought. oh so the next car that drives by will run me over? okay but what if a meteor gets me first??
"what if a meteor gets me first" has been helping me ground myself, it highlights in my mind how most of my intrusive thoughts are just– so unlikely, that worrying about them is completely pointless
i always use this as an example of how deeply the languages we use shape how we understand the world
even the answer to the question "how many fingers do you have?" changes depending on the language, and that's a physical fact that seems to not have any degree of subjectivity to it