What's Your Problem? | Getting Real: The Science of Forgetting and the Importance of Passionate Problem Solving

What's Your Problem? | Getting Real: The Science of Forgetting and the Importance of Passionate Problem Solving

When we solve our own problems, we create tools that we're truly passionate about. This passion becomes the driving force behind our commitment to using and caring for these tools. And when others see our passion, they too become inspired and passionate about the solution. Open Source developers understand this concept well. By scratching their own itches, they become their own users, making them experts in the decisions they have to make. This is why they often find solace in working on open source projects after a long day of coding. It's relaxing because they genuinely care about the outcome.

But what happens when it comes to remembering our experiences and the solutions we've created? The science of forgetting tells us that our default mode is to forget. Our brains have a complex process for memory that involves encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it, creating physical memory traces known as engrams. However, much of this information is lost unless it is consolidated during sleep. This consolidation makes memories more stable and long-term.

One theory suggests that the hippocampus acts as an index for memory retrieval, similar to a Google search. During retrieval, the memory trace neurons in the hippocampus and cortex are reactivated. Our memories are centered around our life stories and the events that impacted us personally. However, the more events we experience, the harder it becomes to capture and remember all of them. New memories interfere with older ones, making it difficult to recall specific details.

This phenomenon is particularly relevant when it comes to our memories of the pandemic. As a society, many people don't want to hold onto these memories. We tend to view the future more positively than the past because the future is full of possibilities, while the past is fixed. Remembering the past is an active process that depends on our current emotions, knowledge, and attitudes. This has direct implications for how we look back on the pandemic and shape our future.

To truly preserve our autobiographical memories and make them a part of history, we need cultural artifacts like books, movies, statues, and museums. Without these artifacts, memories may fade away, consigned to the entropic dustbin of history. It's essential for us to actively engage in documenting and preserving our experiences, so future generations can learn from them.

In conclusion, solving our own problems with passion and care leads to the creation of meaningful tools and solutions. However, our natural tendency to forget highlights the importance of actively preserving our memories. By understanding the science of forgetting and the factors that influence memory retrieval, we can take steps to ensure that our experiences are not lost to time. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to consider:

1. Embrace your passion: When solving problems, choose projects and solutions that you genuinely care about. Your passion will be contagious and inspire others to get involved.

2. Document your experiences: Whether it's through writing, photography, or other mediums, document your experiences and solutions. This will not only help you remember but also contribute to the preservation of history.

3. Share your knowledge: Pass along your knowledge and experiences to future generations. By sharing what you've learned, you ensure that your solutions and insights have a lasting impact.

By following these steps, we can create a world where our solutions and memories are cherished and remembered, even in the face of our natural tendency to forget.