Re: averages

On 2009-07-05, Tim Harig <usernet@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 2009-07-05, Mark McIntyre <markmcintyre@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Some years ago, it was indicated by Bill that he has mental health
problems which manifest themselves in terms of memory loss, difficulty
grasping concepts, etc.

That Bill has mental issues is apparent to everybody (it has been mentioned
several times in these two threads [averages and averages2]). The question
is whether those issues are due to intellectual deficiency or simply
behavioral.

I have not been able to find the origional post where Bill indicated the
exact conditions of his supposed illness; though, I have found several
references to it in the usual usenet archives. Most of these references
point to 'short-term' memory problems.

Short term memory problems could result in repetitive behavior. In order to
make a resolution to change your behavior, you require memory. If tomorrow you
don't remember that you made a resolution, then you can't possibly keep it.

The problem has not really been with Bill's memory or comprehension. The
problem has been that Bill is given good suggestions (often with working
code) and then simply dismisses them. When it became almost impossible
mis-comprehend the thread -- Bill just moved to another one where he could
hopefully entice more people into the fray.

Even if Bill realizes that this behavior is counterproductive and makes
a resolution to change it, he will forget it in a few days (supposedly).

The fact that he seems to have been using this behavior for years indicates
that he has had plenty of time, even with memory issues, to progress
beyond the basic level of calculating an average (even a moving average)
and making decent programming decisions.

Not really. If his memory disappears after three days, then, in spite of the
passage of years, he has only retained the last three days. The last five or
ten years essentially didn't happen at all.

If he were to understand everything from all those years, it would have to be
condensed into three days worth of reading, in a way that he can understand in
three days. By which time, he would be forgetting the beginning of it already.

In the software field, a good memory is of tremendous value, and one that we
easily take for granted when we have it.

Maybe his problem is simply behavioral.

I don't think you can cleanly separate cognitive and behavioral/psychological
issues.

Don't feed the trolls.

Though Bill might not be a troll, the waste of time is the same.

Where is the satifaction in instructing someone, if it evaporates in several
days?
.

Relevant Pages

  • Bad judgements about people can affect our meories of them
    ... Viewing a person as dishonest or immoral can distort memory, ... said David Pizarro, assistant professor of psychology at Cornell. ... drank and the amount of his bill. ...
    (uk.philosophy.humanism)
  • Re: Computers in Philately.
    ... APS computers in Philately first edition Vol1 Num1 ... Bill Sharpe ... The entire operating system, including the Microsoft BASIC, was resident in read only memory - as soon as you turned the computer on, it was ready to run. ... The earliest printer was a thermal printer that used a special aluminized paper - it looked like the print head was shooting fire out at the paper as it printed. ...
    (rec.collecting.stamps.discuss)
  • Re: averages
    ... That Bill has mental issues is apparent to everybody (it has been mentioned ... point to 'short-term' memory problems. ... beyond the basic level of calculating an average ... In programming classes that I ...
    (comp.lang.c)
  • RE: Mshtml.dll Error
    ... "Bill" wrote: ... The new 1gig og memory are placed and with no problems you both are great. ... "nass" wrote: ... that match and will install them. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Why cast to Object to compare strings?
    ... >> you know that all references to identical strings point to the same ... >> memory location...? ... Bill ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp)