Future seems closer than the past | F.A.C.T.S.: Forum for Active Critical Thinking & Skepticism

Deleted
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Future seems closer than the past Oct 20, 2013 11:57:13 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2013 11:57:13 GMT -5

How we see the past and future could have an impact on our own happiness.

In general, people experience time as moving toward the future and away from the past. In a new study, social psychologists found that people see the distance of past or future events very differently and that difference, speculates one of the authors, could affect their overall happiness.

www.insidescience.org/content/future-seems-closer-past/1445

Last Edit: Oct 20, 2013 11:58:35 GMT -5 by Deleted

raybar
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Future seems closer than the past Oct 20, 2013 18:22:20 GMT -5

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Post by raybar on Oct 20, 2013 18:22:20 GMT -5

For me, the past seems to be mostly a solid block of timelessness. That is, new memories quickly join old memories in "the past." Memories from years ago are just as close as those from last week.

Likewise for the future. Looking forward a few weeks isn't much different from looking forward 20 years.

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Future seems closer than the past Oct 20, 2013 20:43:18 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2013 20:43:18 GMT -5

For me it changes with age. The past seems too far gone and there is nostaglia to live it again and relief that I don't have to. It used to be the future was in the foggy distance and anything was possible and I could still touch the past. With age, the future is too close, choices are limited and I'd rather stay in the present. The future, anyway I look at it, personally or globally, is not looking pretty.