Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 6 of 10 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
Hydra Offline OP
addict
OP Offline
addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
I already said in post above Sacks admits there are many unsolved mysteries, why put the question when you already know there is no answer to it?

I did not say there is no answer. I said Sacks didn't give one.

What you are really saying is, "Do not ask questions to which Oliver Sacks has not provided the answer" ?

A curious policy: The Code of Sacks; The Sacks Barrier.

Besides, I am free to ask questions to which I don't know the answer. That's kind of the point of questions, actually.

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Z
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Z
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
The man described had a visual agnosia rather than a language deficit. He literally did not See a glove, he saw what we would see - "a unicursal plane infolded on itself with five outpouchings." You or I would then interpret that visual information as a thing that you put on your hand which is called a glove. He could not interpret the visual information usefully. Most likely if you asked him what he would put on his hands if they were cold he would say "gloves."
There are a few people who although blind since birth had a surgical repair in adulthood which gave them the use of their eyes . The majority did not learn to functionally "see." One stated that although he could instantly recognize a triangle by putting his hand on it he would have to deliberately count the sides and corners to visually figure out what it was. "I see people but they look like trees walking around."

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Quote:
What you are really saying is, "Do not ask questions to which Oliver Sacks has not provided the answer" ?
Of course I do not say that.

Oliver Sachs gives no aswer. But his case histories are not less interesting in spite of that (It shows how wonderful the brain is), I do not esteem his work less for that. People often dismiss him as if he were a fraud. I think he is a sincere and compassionate observer.

Quote:
A Neurology prof once said that if the human brain was simple enough for us to understand it we would be so simple that we could not.
That's nicely said , Zed.

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
Hydra Offline OP
addict
OP Offline
addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
I think he is a sincere an compassionate observer.

I have only read The Man Who Mistook, etc. but it is one of the most interesting books I have ever read.

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
he is wonderful interesting man.

i have attended book lectures and heard --and read most of his books.. i especially like Uncle Tungsten.. half a history of chemistry, half an autobiography. (100% excellent!)

Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
You should read An Anthropologist on Mars, Hydra. It's also extremely interesting.

Was it you, of troy, who suggested it to us a few years ago?

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
maybe--I have read it, (i have read, but not all of Dr. Sacks books--and each one has been interesting )

Anthropologist on Mars has many interesting stories.. Temple Graundin (sp of her last name) has gone to much fame since then.. (she works in the meat world, but she should be a consultant for austistic children.. (some of her 'self treatments" like her hug machine have been recreated and used in homes and hospitals)

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
Originally Posted By: of troy
...a consultant for austistic children..


Does she do NZtistic or cantistic or mextistic children too?

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
yep, Pook; that's a good one.

you should be aware though that one of our unwritten rulz is to go easy on of troy for her typos and spellings; she let us know very early on that she is "dislexic." : )

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
Originally Posted By: tsuwm
yep, Pook; that's a good one.

you should be aware though that one of our unwritten rulz is to go easy on of troy for her typos and spellings; she let us know very early on that she is "dislexic." : )


The Pookwife and I are both 'dishlexic' - neither of us seem to know which end of a dishmop to use. Consequently the sink is always full of whatever can't go in the dishwasher.

Page 6 of 10 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5