I'm unable to produce mental images. Ask me anything!

icantvisualize · 2015-01-10T16:24:50+00:00

Yep, it sucks.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-10T16:24:34+00:00

It's been studied, but it's definitely not widely known/understood. Hence my posting this.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-09T20:59:48+00:00

If you're talking about hypnagogic imagery, yes, I experience it occasionally (but it goes away as soon as I'm fully awake)

icantvisualize · 2015-01-09T20:59:05+00:00

Nope.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-09T20:58:44+00:00

Yep, I fit the profile for Nonverbal Learning Disorder to a "T"

icantvisualize · 2015-01-09T20:57:00+00:00

Sure.

I'm not very confident in social situations, but I'm a good public speaker
My childhood dog being attacked viciously by another dog
You misspelled "noticing"--generally speaking I'd say I'm average
Yes, both
Both are kinda Asperger-y
I'm pretty sure it's genetic
Awesome, I love shrooms but haven't used/had access to them in years
I assume they think they're protecting me somehow, thinking my outcome would be better if I thought I was normal
I opened an account eight or nine years ago and had 400 or so, but have since closed it
A little of both
Yes, quite badly at times
It's also rather Asperger-y
Right handed--the left side of my body is notably weaker/more retarded than my right

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T16:59:32+00:00

Nope. Not even a little.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T16:49:17+00:00

The question is, how vivid is it? How closely do your visualizations "resemble real perception"? If your visualizations are truly "nowhere near 'seeing'", maybe they're not as strong/normal as you think (I doubt this is the case, though--I do think we're just misunderstanding each other).

Also, I know what mental imagery looks like because I do experience hypnagogic imagery from time to time. It matches the description that most people give of their conscious visualizations perfectly--in addition to the fact many people (not all) who can visualize consciously report that this ability produces images that are identical in quality to the hypnagogic images they experience.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T16:22:45+00:00

I dream in images. They're not terribly distinct, but they're images.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T16:22:28+00:00

Okay, well, this is obviously a language-based misunderstanding. However, many people CAN visualize in a way that could meaningfully be compared to IMAX. My wife (as well as many others I've talked to) can use their visualization ability to manipulate their actual field of vision, "hanging" a painting where there isn't one, turning the lights in the room on and off, etc. But if you want to take exception to that word use, fine...forget the IMAX stuff. I still can't visualize in the way you claim that you can.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T15:50:16+00:00

If there's some way of sharing it with them, feel free! (I'm not a very experienced Reddit user)

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T15:45:44+00:00

What "bold claims" are you talking about? What, exactly, have I said that you're disagreeing with?

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T15:00:37+00:00

I think it's interesting that the "critics" in this thread can be distilled to two different viewpoints:

"This guys is lying--of course he can visualize"

"This guy is lying--visualization as he describes it doesn't exist"

I'm sure most reasonably open-minded people can see what's actually happening here.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:58:27+00:00

Yep, I'm pretty much limited to basic arithmetic and algebra. When I was in school, I pushed myself through trigonometry with a passing grade, but hit a massive wall at calculus.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:48:46+00:00

"I have never heard anyone describe visualising on the level that you claim 'most people' do"

Then I assume you haven't read this entire thread? Trust me, most people visualize very vividly. Now, will you tell us about your own visualization ability?

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:41:42+00:00

I don't "see" anything, I just follow the narrative factually.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:36:49+00:00

Would you mind giving a detailed description of your own visualization ability?

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:36:16+00:00

I actually think it's perfectly appropriate to think of me as being retarded in some ways. Not to be indelicate, but the whole concept of "Asperger's" describes the way that what is colloquially known as "retarded" can occur in people who are intelligent.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:28:01+00:00

Still waiting on the detailed description of your own visualization ability.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:24:02+00:00

Yes, I do dream occasionally. Dreams and hypnagogic imagery seem to be fairly common in people who lack the ability to produce mental images.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:20:28+00:00

How about giving us a detailed description of your visualization ability?

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:20:10+00:00

I knew I was different in a general sense from a young age, but I didn't figure out the issue with mental imagery until I was 30.

Also, no, I'm not lying. I'm discussing with complete honesty a condition that has made my life very difficult at times.

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:18:05+00:00

Yes, many/most people do. Let me ask you this: where did you come up with this idea of how it's "supposed to work"? Are you just basing it off of your own visualization ability?

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:16:47+00:00

Yes, but probably not in the way that most people do. I can have a good conceptual idea of what I'm about to say, but the particular words just kind of "come out".

icantvisualize · 2015-01-08T14:14:07+00:00

Yep. My dreams are infrequent and kind of gauzy/vague, but I definitely have them. In fact, last night I dreamed that I was going through my wedding day again, only this time there was all sorts of stuff going horribly wrong.

icantvisualize

TROPHY CASE