# I've \*finally\* realized how to explain it! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509 "2001-11-21T01:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nukeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Nukeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nukeman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509/21 "2001-11-22T20:08:17Z")
Everyone thinks abstractly, to an extent. For me, I sometimes think in words like ‘Right, now Ive got to get this, that and the other’, but I can just as easily think ‘I need these three things’ and picture them in my mind, it depends on the context. AHunter3 gets it pretty succinctly. Very often I’ve been talking to someone and thought something out in my head that seemed beautifully sublime at the time but then I go, ‘YEAH! and then like, stuff happens!!!, you KNOW! STUFFF!’ or something. Another thing I just realised - Im pretty articulate on paper, but when speaking I find it hard to sort out the sentence properly, and it ends up much like Roger the Shrubber’s over excited post. I know EXACTLY what went through his head at the time. First he thought it up, it seemed absolute genius, he feverishly logged on to the SDMB wrote ‘I’ve _finally_ realized how to explain it!’ and then it all sort of fell apart as he was typing it, as it was more of an abstract thought in the first place. Am I right? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509/22 "2001-11-23T07:15:06Z")
My two senses worth … I hadn’t thought about this in many years, but some while back I came to the realization that by the time words came out of my mouth, it was the third time I’d thought about them. First, the thought comes through as a pure concept. Immediately after, the concept is formed into words, and lastly I speak the words. Typically I’m unaware of the ‘echo’ but can still ‘hear’ it when I try. What I am now wondering is if anyone else sees the words when they think/say/hear them? I can literally, or rather figuratively, see the words spelled out on my mind’s chalkboard when I speak or when I listen. Does anyone else think this way, and if so, is poor spelling your pet peeve too? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Diogenes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509/23 "2001-11-23T15:59:47Z")
Thinking works in two distinct ways with me: **Internal Dialog** and **Images** **Internal Dialog** is just what you might imagine, a discourse in my native language (English) that I “hear” within my mind. Sometimes it spills out into vocalizations or into a word processor. **Images** are patterns, mental pictures or symbols that represent certain ideas or concepts. They are strung together or compared against one another. Both of these types of thinking are used interchangeably or in concert. Generally, I don’t consciously pick or choose which method to use in a given situation - they just happen. In some instances, though, I _do_ pick the method. ---
**Author:** ![Nukeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Nukeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nukeman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509/24 "2001-11-23T17:11:46Z")
Diogenes is right. ‘Internal Dialog’ is a good phrase for it. ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509/25 "2001-11-23T20:45:38Z")
**Inner Dialogue** is the way I usually think. For example, as I type this post, I can ‘hear’ my OWN voice in my head. (In english) Funny thing is, sometimes, as I read a book or story(ie. sherlock holmes) I will ‘hear’ another voice, quite distinctly male. :eek: My inner man? Oh my. **Images** , or more specifically patterns, aren’t as common for me, as I usually ‘think’ or ‘imagine’ in a setting ALONG with the inner dialogue. (mmmm… sexy daydreams…) The ‘patterns’ are very important to me when programming. I’ll often think of a way to solve a problem, but have NO idea how to explain it in english. So, perhaps people tend to think more in one, but _learn_ to think in both, eventually? ---
**Author:** ![whatever1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@whatever1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatever1)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509/26 "2001-11-23T21:05:35Z")
Sometimes I’ll be thinking in concept and its sometimes feel like there isn’t a word to explain the concept that I’m thinking.I don’t know if thats clear to you for example, you know how to anwser something, but you can’t think of any words on how to explain it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-finally-realized-how-to-explain-it/94509.md?page=1)