# How's your long-term memory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 29, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132 "2010-05-29T01:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/1 "2010-05-29T01:38:33Z")
So, we all know poor short-term memory can be an indicator of serious health problems, but what about poor long-term memory? I was looking over some Usenet posts I made in the 90s, and realized I don’t have the faintest memory about most of the thoughts and events that precipitated them. Many events in my life are similarly fuzzy; I’ve given up trying to verbalize them as anecdotes, because I’m unclear on many of the key details. Often times I’ll remember the upshot of a happening, but not the intricacies. In the case of a few high school stories, I’m honestly not clear on whether they happened to me, or someone else! Oh, and I miss most movie references, because unless I’ve seen a movie at least 6 times, chances are it’s completely faded from my memory. I’m 32. I don’t do drugs, or much alcohol. So, how’s your long-term memory? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/2 "2010-05-29T01:58:42Z")
I remember the Big Bang. ---
**Author:** ![Like\_Fry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@Like\_Fry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Like_Fry)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/3 "2010-05-29T05:47:01Z")
My long term memory only works on frivolous stuff. My memory starts when I was 1 and a half, I remember having a black eye, and getting those little swirled chocolate candies at the elderly neighbors, and he was watching a baseball game, and I remember riding over there in my red wagon. But getting the black eye? a complete blank. I can remember all sorts of things from long ago, or even recently, as long as they arent important, like what everyone had to eat at our table at the Thai place 8 months ago. But damned if I can remember the thing I looked up to learn how to do a week ago. And my short term isnt great, probably bad. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/4 "2010-05-29T05:56:46Z")
I’m 64, and strangely, my long-term memory is getting better with age. I can remember a few things from before I was able to walk or talk. I attribute this to my short-term memory becoming nonexistent, and freeing up large areas of my brain. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/5 "2010-05-29T10:22:12Z")
My memory used to be better than great. After being sick it’s hit and miss with what may show up. It’s not just short term that can get messed up. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/6 "2010-05-29T11:30:06Z")
I have a relatively decent memory. Imho, if you believe you have a bad memory, it will come true…just like not being good at math. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/7 "2010-05-29T11:37:40Z")
How’s my what? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/8 "2010-05-29T19:11:49Z")
My long term memory is really good and it’s a curse. I remember every slight, every mistake and every dissapoiintment. I can rember locker combinations from high school, short cuts on roads that don’t exist any more and the favorite colors of people in cities I don’t live in any more. I wish to God I had some kind of memory purge function. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/9 "2010-05-29T19:20:59Z")
[Do you suffer from long-term memory loss](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N_Nf30ff_o)? (_Amnesia_, Chumbawamba) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/10 "2010-05-29T20:45:20Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Do you suffer from long-term memory loss](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N_Nf30ff_o)? (_Amnesia_, Chumbawamba) Heh, I forgot about that song. ---
**Author:** ![vertizontal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ad7895/32.png) [@vertizontal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertizontal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/11 "2010-06-01T13:55:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > … I remember every slight, every mistake and every dissapoiintment. … I was going to post something similar. It seems that negative events that happened ages ago are still fresh and clear in my memory, and the positive memories fade. I guess it’s because the negative stuff has such an intense impact at the time, and my brain keeps pressing the “replay” button for some reason, keeping those events current. This phenomenon would probably make for a good thread topic of its own. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/12 "2010-06-01T15:40:55Z")
> [@The\_Shroud](#): > > Many events in my life are similarly fuzzy; I’ve given up trying to verbalize them as anecdotes, because I’m unclear on many of the key details. Often times I’ll remember the upshot of a happening, but not the intricacies. In the case of a few high school stories, I’m honestly not clear on whether they happened to me, or someone else! I’m right there in that boat with you. I was told a couple of months ago about the different types of memory. How fitting that _I can’t remember what I was told_! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/13 "2010-06-01T18:35:06Z")
> [@The\_Shroud](#): > > \ > > Many events in my life are similarly fuzzy; I’ve given up trying to verbalize them as anecdotes, because I’m unclear on many of the key details. Often times I’ll remember the upshot of a happening, but not the intricacies. In the case of a few high school stories, I’m honestly not clear on whether they happened to me, or someone else!\ As my uncle who’s close to 70 says, he can’t remember, no one else can remember, so he’s just going to start making stuff up now. 😃 > [@panache45](#): > > I’m 64, and strangely, my long-term memory is getting better with age. I can remember a few things from before I was able to walk or talk. I attribute this to my short-term memory becoming nonexistent, and freeing up large areas of my brain. Well, that’s something to look forward to. > [@madmonk28](#): > > My long term memory is really good and it’s a curse. I remember every slight, every mistake and every dissapoiintment. I can rember locker combinations from high school, short cuts on roads that don’t exist any more and the favorite colors of people in cities I don’t live in any more. I wish to God I had some kind of memory purge function. There is - it’s called Turning 40. My husband is a couple of years younger than I am (I’m 43, he’s 41), and the difference is startling - I can’t remember last week, and he’s still able to remember much better than I am. He says he’s starting to not be able to remember as well, too, though - he’s just a little behind me. I’ve never been able to remember books or movies, though, and I actually like that. It’s all new to me the second time. 🙂 Uh, what was the question again? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/14 "2010-06-01T18:58:10Z")
My long term memory was broken about 20 years ago with pharmaceuticals. Back before it was know what Halcion does to brain cells and that its use should be limited to one or two weeks, I was on it for several months. It’s gotten better, but in general, I have a heck of a time getting things to “stick.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-long-term-memory/541132/15 "2010-06-01T20:10:17Z")
I used to have an amazing memory. Now it is much \*much \*lessened. My surgeon tells me it is not possible, but I swear that I lost a little more each time I had a major surgery. ::shrug:: They were all needed, so it is moot now. Perhaps it is simply age.