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Bit of a random question, prompted by the sudden spate (i.e. two) threads on the inkwell about first verses third person perspective.
What narrative modes do you guys use when thinking about yourselves? In other words, while you're thinking, is it in first (I), second (you), or third person (he/she/it/they), or a mix of all three? Or none of the above, as in the case of people who have non-linguistic thought patterns? Also, is it a conscious decision or one you've never thought about before?
Generally speaking, I think about things other than people as a relay of related images—so the concept of "door" isn't expressed by the word "door," but as a series of mental pictures of doors, which is often triggered by someone else saying or me reading the word "door"—and people in a mix of third and second person, with third being the predominate mode and slipping to second only when I'm really really angry and thinking mental insults at someone/myself. Generally my mental image of myself is of someone standing about six inches behind and above, looking over my left shoulder. When I'm sitting down the shoulder-perspective gets a little higher.
And I also have a problem attaching labels/names to people in my head, so that when I think of a specific person I call up an image of their face first and then have to go to a separate folder (if you will pardon the computer metaphor) to look up their names. There's always a delay between seeing someone—even a good friend or even family—and coming up with their name/appropriate label. And I have to concentrate pretty hard to keep that label at the forefront of my mind in case I need to refer to them as such in conversation, which leads to a moment of panic every time I use someone's name ("Oh god I just called them the wrong thing didn't I?"). So when I think about people it's always in terms of a he/she/they label accompanied by appropriate images, never in terms of names.
How about the rest of you?
submitted by TNÖ, age 18, Deep Space
(May 6, 2012 - 6:36 pm)
(May 6, 2012 - 6:36 pm)
A mix of first and second, I think. Sometimes I slip between the two and it is like I am having a conversation with myself. Very wierd.
"You should do this."
"But I don't want to."
"Yes but if you do then..." etc.
I never ever think in third person. It is a strange idea. Also I'm pretty good with names usually and I think that if I have a hard time remembering someone's name I usually have a hard time remembering their face too.
My mental image of myself is basically just a recollection of the last time I looked in a mirror. Nothing interesting there. :P
(May 7, 2012 - 12:06 am)
*pokepoke*
I think the problem I have with names is that, since I'm a predominately visual thinker, and there's not really a good way to visualize names, names get sorted into my memory as a secondary priority. So I think "mid-height flat face light blue eyes cat smile freckles shoulder hair" first, and "Ashlee" second, to take an example at random.
(May 7, 2012 - 10:05 am)
@Emily L. I do the exact same thing!!!!!!
(May 8, 2012 - 2:43 pm)
I'm more of a verbal person. I normally think like a narrative in first person. Some weird things about the way I think, though are (a) My thinking voice is different from my regular voice and (b) if I hear a voice regularly, I can think in that voice. Also, when I try to visualize stuff, I don't really see anything. My subconscious kind of describes it, but not in a voice or anything. More of, I sense the outline. It's really hard to explain.
(May 7, 2012 - 5:21 pm)
I usually think in first person when I'm thinking about myself. Well, I think I think in first person because I've never really paid attention to that. I never think about myself in third person, but I think about other people in third. And I never think about other people in second, but when I'm mad at myself, I think about myself in second.
Wow, that was strange. I never think about how I think.
(May 7, 2012 - 6:28 pm)
I don't think about myself much in any perspective. If I'm annoyed, I think about whatever made me annoyed, not "I'm so annoyed."
I think about other people in third person. Example: "He is so conceited."
If someone says "DOOR!" I won't think of a picture of a door. I'm not exactly sure what it is but normally the word "door" is followed by "Watch out!" or "Um, excuse me!" so I can't exactly meditate on it. But right now, "Door" is followed by the colour brown.
If you yell at me, "Vincent" I'll imagine a picture of Vincent and will recognize him- and most other people- in a heartbeat. I find the only time I can't remember a person's name is if they haven't told me their name or there are too many names to remember (hello, family gatherings).
Speaking of people, when I'm reading I never have a clear image of a character's face unless they were in a movie or they're just special (and described A LOT).
I'm a visual thinker I guess. So is my dad. We both also think in English but my dad's first language is Tagalog. My mom thinks in numbers apparently. I don't know how my brother thinks.
(May 7, 2012 - 8:32 pm)
Yes, this is all very TNO. (I'm referring to the original post here, not my comment.)
First person. Always first person. Except when I want someone to see only my outer actions (and thus get a hint at my thoughts), and then it's third person, always with very complimentary descriptions of myself. A fault of mine. I do tend to think of myself as a character in the book or movie that I'm currently obsessed with- simply more proof (like any was ever needed!) that I live waaay out in my Own Little World. Right now that would be the Hunger Games (Yes, you read that right! Team Gale, by the way...) so I give my thoughts the voice of some nameless tribute (and then victor- I couldn't bear the thought of dying in the Games!) and rebel. Kay, not too many of those, but you get the picture. Or maybe Katniss. I do have a lot in common with her- we're both rebellious, introverted, sullen (at our worst), maybe even brave, and quietly (or in Katniss' case not so quietly) insane... You get the picture.
I hope that sort of remotely answered this question...
(May 8, 2012 - 4:01 pm)
Gollum talks in the third person. Gollum does not know what it thinks to itself in. Gollum has noticed that unless you're reading or writing, people just think in blurbs. (i.e. "What?" "Urgg." "That was stupid." etc.)
(June 9, 2012 - 5:23 pm)