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Comment by micromacrofoot | Hacker News Reader

There’s a lack of this inner thought which is an actual condition people have, but I’ve discussed with people before who thought they lacked it… and really it was a misunderstanding based on how it’s described. I have an inner voice and can picture things… but it’s important to note this is “mind’s eye” stuff… it’s not literally equivalent to seeing or hearing something.

When I picture something in my mind and close my eyes, it’s not equivalent to sight… it’s a representation of my a priori knowledge of something. Kind of a mental mirage.

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Oh good. Think everyone here is trying themselves right now. I don't really see anything when I picture stuff in my head, it is more that I know how something looks or should look or could look and it's much less than a picture, but for sure more than words. And for the inner voice, I hear my own voice in my head, it's like I'm talking to myself all the time, like a crazy person. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

>I hear my own voice in my head

But you don't actually hear anything either, right? I mean, does it sound like a recording of you talking? Or is it you thinking in words / having an inner monologue (dialogue?)

It's not through the ears so it's different, it's not like talking with the vibrations and bass from the throat. It's a milder voice for me but it's still more like I'm hearing my voice than anything else I think.

it’s kind of like a memory of what you think your voice sounds like, definitely more like a monologue

yes, “less than a picture but more than words” seems like a good way to put it!

To people that are confused, I offer the mind bleach test.

Have you ever imagined something that disgusted you so much that you wished you could "bleach" the image out of your head?

E.g. if you read a detailed description of the kinds of things a facebook content moderator might have to look at, is it possible for those words to generate an image and for you to regret reading the description?

>There’s a lack of this inner thought which is an actual condition people have

I find this so hard to believe. Are these people even conscious? I can solve math equations, think about my life, write code... all without any inner voice, especially when I'm in a flow state. When I do have an inner voice, I would describe it more like talking to myself without actually mouthing words. But never, ever did I have no "inner thought" at all. Like, I'm always aware of myself and that I'm thinking.

The “mind’s eye” stuff you described very well, I think.

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