I'm finding that my brain has turned into a bit of a
toddler. I love reading, especially about psychology and anthropology, but
something in my brain seems to resent being told what to read. It avoids
reading something on the set list in favour of reading a different article
relating to psychology. I end up arguing with my own brain which has suddenly
become a three year old. Something like this:
Brain: "But I want to read THIS instead! I'll read that later... first I want to read this psychology magazine, a bit of that novel, this 200 comment thread... THEN I'll read the homework stuff."
Me: "Come on brain! It's only two chapters! Read this, then read the fun stuff. You'll find this piece interesting anyway, it's psychology and anthropology! You love this stuff!
Brain: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" [stamps metaphorical foot].
Me: "Come on brain. You're even reading about psychology now, just read this other bit about psychology that we have to read first..."
Brain: "NO!! I WANNA READ THIS!! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! AND IF YOU TRY THEN I JUST WON'T PAY ATTENTION AND YOU'LL HAVE TO READ IT LOADS OF TIMES BEFORE I'LL BOTHER TRYING TO PROCESS IT. SO THERE. JUST ONE MORE SIDETRACK FIRST. WWWAAAAA!"
Me: "[sigh] Brain, you are a pervert. If I HAD to read that post, you'd be avoiding it by reading the material we've been assigned."
Brain: [sucks thumb] "I'm an intellectual rebel."
Brain: "But I want to read THIS instead! I'll read that later... first I want to read this psychology magazine, a bit of that novel, this 200 comment thread... THEN I'll read the homework stuff."
Me: "Come on brain! It's only two chapters! Read this, then read the fun stuff. You'll find this piece interesting anyway, it's psychology and anthropology! You love this stuff!
Brain: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" [stamps metaphorical foot].
Me: "Come on brain. You're even reading about psychology now, just read this other bit about psychology that we have to read first..."
Brain: "NO!! I WANNA READ THIS!! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! AND IF YOU TRY THEN I JUST WON'T PAY ATTENTION AND YOU'LL HAVE TO READ IT LOADS OF TIMES BEFORE I'LL BOTHER TRYING TO PROCESS IT. SO THERE. JUST ONE MORE SIDETRACK FIRST. WWWAAAAA!"
Me: "[sigh] Brain, you are a pervert. If I HAD to read that post, you'd be avoiding it by reading the material we've been assigned."
Brain: [sucks thumb] "I'm an intellectual rebel."
Don't read the assignment. Don't read the assignment. Don't read the assignment.
ReplyDeleteSigned--The Reverse Psychology Hypnotist
(laughing and crying)
ReplyDeleteThe professor part of me waves its hand in exasperation.
The eternally excited and curious child within me says "I like you, brain".
I think the excited and curious child is winning!
These two comments made me smile a lot!
ReplyDeleteGayle - I like your thinking. I will try that! Surely it's easy enough to use reverse psychology to psychologically trick your own brain into studying psychology? In a more orderly and disciplined fashion than the hodge-podge patchwork approach my brain seems to prefer?
Zainab - I think that this phenomena is pretty common, I talked with a few fellow students about it, and they seemed to recognise the symptoms! I shall therefore coin a term for it, and we know that I'm the first to describe and name the syndrome. It shall be known as the dual brain intellectual-perversity hypothesis.
Or! BATTSHIT. Brain of an Adult Turned Toddler, Stubborn, Hyper and Intellectually Truculent.
You heard it here first! :-D
Punch your brain in the face! haha
ReplyDeleteI had exactly the same thing happen to me, especially in the 3rd year of my degree. I love horticulture and plant science, but do you think I could get my brain to read up on alleolopathy, which is one of the most awesome subjects ever? Nope... brain like cooking shows. -_-
I had no idea of what alleolopathy wash. But now I understand kudzu.
ReplyDelete