The past few days, I've noticed that there is a great deal of repetition in our society. Nick at Nite plays shows from the 60s. People talk of watching movies 10 or 20 times in the theater. Books are re-read, songs are re-played, & history repeats itself. Although novel ideas are created, they often reverberate for many years.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I was wondering why we like re-living experiences that we have already gone through. I though that our advanced brain would only enjoy things one or two times, but it seems that the number is much higher than that.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
There is a limit to how much a person notices at any given time, and how much it retains over time. So the TV show we loved 20 years ago has things we've forgotten or didn't notice then.
We rushed through that passage with Tom Bombadil the first 10 times we read LotR, but on time 11 we really try to delve into the wonder of Tom.
Novelty itself is not an end.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
It took you this long to notice that? See, that's the reason they repeat things : Some people are really slow on the uptake. Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
My husband will watch [teen movie bias] crap like "She's all That [/teen movie bias] rather than re watch something that we knew we liked. Novelty is very big for him. I guess it's just another variant of human nature. At least we both can watch "Groundhog Day" and never get tired of it. But his mom couldn't sit through it all the way once.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Television, and perhaps all culture, reached it's peak at The Dick Van Dyke show. Just thought you should know.
Hobbes Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Dude... if there is a movie or show or book or game that I love I can watch them dozens of times and still be satisfied. Each time is a new experiance and a new point of view.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Sometimes when I am thinking of what book to read, I think "I can read book A, which might be good, or I can read book B, which I know is good."
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
kaioshin, I guess you never:
- listened to one song for about... 4-5 hours ?
- read Ender's Game, or Dune, or <name your favourite book> (much) more than once ?
- seen The 5th Element 6 times ? (anyone, should I be ashamed of that ?! )
- watch a U2 concert each time it's shown on TV ?
Well, I did all that. I guess my brain isn't so advanced as to pick up all the details in one passing. Or I just get addicted to certain things. As the father of a friend of mine once said to me: "You don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't do drugs. As the sum of vices per person is constant, I wonder what yours are ?!?"
Edit: I had to refrain myself from asking what his daughter's are, since she fulfills all the conditions in his statement.
[ July 20, 2004, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Corwin ]
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
quote: I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I was wondering why we like re-living experiences that we have already gone through.
For me, it is because my memory is so bad.
*laughs at self*
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
quote: kaioshin, I guess you never: - listened to one song for about... 4-5 hours ?
Well my favorite band is Tool. And if you listened to any of their songs, you will realize that they're all like 10 min each. So repeating them once or twice is enough for me .
quote:- read Ender's Game, or Dune, or <name your favourite book> (much) more than once ?
Ive read EG 3 times and LOTR 3 times
quote:- seen The 5th Element 6 times ? (anyone, should I be ashamed of that ?! [Confused] )
Never seen it.
quote:- watch a U2 concert each time it's shown on TV ?
Never seen one.
[ July 20, 2004, 05:21 PM: Message edited by: kaioshin00 ]
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Corwin, re: the Fifth Element...
The guy I was dating at the time this movie hit the theaters developed an obsession for it. I went with him to see it in the theaters eight (yes, eight) times. He went to see it at least 5 more times without me.
I didn't think it was that great, frankly, but eh, he was paying... Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
kaioshin, please, please, tell me you know who U2 are !
And 'Tool' ?! What's that ? A band playing with hammers on anvils ?!
As for 'The 5th Element', what can I say ? Despite Milla Jovovich's presence in the movie, that's not why I watched it over and over again. It's just that it was an excellent comedy-action movie, the way it was probably never done before (or afterwards, for that matter). And I only went twice to see it at the cinema, some good weeks apart. The rest was all on TV; the low quality of the other programs might have helped too. Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
Umm .. I think U2 is a band ... dont know any of their songs ...
Tool is a strange band. If you haven't heard of them, you probably won't like em.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
<=== loves "The 5th Element"
<=== has watched it numerable times.
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
You *think* U2 is a band ?! Oh, the world is coming to an end... It's not a band. It's THE BAND ! OMGIDBI !!! (that's short for 'Oh my God-I-don't-believe-in')
Edit: beverly and Megan - it's good to know I'm not the only one... :relieved:
[ July 20, 2004, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: Corwin ]
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
It's the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine..
la la la
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
In my opinion, we like re-living experiences because it's a form of comfort. I have one or two books that I've probably read more than 20 times, and I do so because opening them is akin to slipping into a comfy bed with fresh sheets. Also, I discover new things when I re-read something; who really gets all of "Moby Dick" in a single read-through?
space opera
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I can't stand re-watching a movie or re-reading a book unless it's been long enough that I've forgotten it. I guess there are a couple of exceptions to that rule, those being Little Women and You've Got Mail.
However, I can listen to the same U2 album forty-two hundred times. Especially if said album is Zooropa.
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
Tool is a fantastic band, Corwin! You need to check them out! They are even beginning to rival Radiohead in my affections. Not quite yet. But the fact that they are even close should tell you something! Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
Radiohead ?! Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:kaioshin00 Member Member # 3740
posted July 20, 2004 01:22 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The past few days, I've noticed that there is a great deal of repetition in our society. Nick at Nite plays shows from the 60s. People talk of watching movies 10 or 20 times in the theater. Books are re-read, songs are re-played, & history repeats itself. Although novel ideas are created, they often reverberate for many years.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I was wondering why we like re-living experiences that we have already gone through. I though that our advanced brain would only enjoy things one or two times, but it seems that the number is much higher than that.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote: kaioshin00 Member Member # 3740
posted July 20, 2004 01:22 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The past few days, I've noticed that there is a great deal of repetition in our society. Nick at Nite plays shows from the 60s. People talk of watching movies 10 or 20 times in the theater. Books are re-read, songs are re-played, & history repeats itself. Although novel ideas are created, they often reverberate for many years.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but I was wondering why we like re-living experiences that we have already gone through. I though that our advanced brain would only enjoy things one or two times, but it seems that the number is much higher than that.
I'm sorry, did I repeat myself?
Or you, I mean? Or you, I mean?
Kwea
Posted by foundling (Member # 6348) on :
Wait a minute, Kaioshin00. You know who REM is, but not U2? I find that a tad suspicious.
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