Calling All Word Experts
I’ve got a couple posts brewing at the moment (one about amibguity and its relationship to binary code and another about The Starbucks Asthetic and theories on theories). Until I get a chance to write them, though, I’ve got a question.
I keep having this thing happen to me where I’ll read an article or someone will tell me something and I will appreciate it then, but not as fully as I should. Then, as time goes on, I’ll find myself quoting it constantly or applying the theory everywhere and I’ll have to go back and examine or reread a few months later.
Anyone have a word for this? I really need one.
If not, how about making one up?
Hi, I'm 
I would call it digestion. Some things are not easily assimiliated without digestion, on the other hand some others are already digested when delivered to you
heyishouldemailyouthatlink would be my one word…
Sergio, digestion is fantastic. Thanks a bunch. Maybe ‘slow digestion’ is even more descriptive?
Michael, I can’t believe I didn’t think of ‘heyishouldemailyouthatlink’ . . . how could I ever miss it? :)
I would call it digestion plus regurgitation (a word I use a lot), becauase we eventually digest things then spit them back up in the form of citations, quotations and mutations.
But the notion of “latency” is a key dimension of digestion and regurgitation.
Hmmm, I’ve been using the word “retrofitting” a lot, to describe going back to something to customize it. So maybe “retrogestion” or “retrosorption” or something to that effect?
A lot of cognitive psych folks refer to a similar experience as “incubation.” This is the period between first hearing an idea (or multiple ideas) and the “aha” moment, during which synthesis takes place. The “aha” moment is when that synthesis becomes consciously apparent. Some people find that they come up with “unexpected” answers to problems at “unexpected” times, based on things they learned or observed a while back.
Any way, my two cents.
I love this conversation! In my line of work, we talk a lot about double-loop learning and reflective practice and I always marvel at people who can synthesize input on the spot, where I need time to process what I’ve seen and heard. I don’t know that I’ve actually got a word here … but the thoughts are percolating :-)
Damnit! Max stole mine. I was thinking latent knowledge or latent processing, something like that. Maybe latent knowledge processing. There ya go! Maybe latent theoritical knowledge processing. Or retroactive latent theoritical knowledge processing. Or maybe digestive retroactive latent theoritical knowledge processing. Or possibly digestive retroactive latent theoritical knowledge regurgative processing. Something like that.
These are all so good.
Another one I thought of is slow boil.
if you ever use the word “retrofitting” and i hear about it, i’ll come after you with a pointy stick.
Dave, “incubation” was first in my mind as well.
I think it makes the process more intimate, because eggs are intimate. After all, what’s more intimate than your inner thought process?
.
I think the word you’re looking for is “obsessive compulsive guilty conscience” because it keeps haunting you, “boiling” your mind. What do you think?
how about “koala infestation”? at first, you’re angry that a bunch of uninvited koalas are in your home but after a short time you realize that koalas are actually quite cuddly and fun and begin to accept them as part of your life.
this is the best conversation ever
not that i have anything to say
Hammer head, or just, hammered.
(Like…when you have an hammer, everything else looks like a nail…)