Hearing the News vs. being there

This week we ready Hearing the News vs. being there by David P. Pillemer. This reading was all about flashbulb memories and how things can be different depending on if you witness them on the news or if you actually take place in the action in person. Along with the reading we had a student come in and disrupt class to see what we as students remembered through the experience. We saw through this that even if you are there you cannot remember all the events that happened in order.

Many people can connect better to a situation if it will affect them personally. For all of us in class the boy that disrupted did not personally affect any of us. It did not strike a cord that would emotionally damage or cause any change in any of the students present. The boy simply disrupted class, and showed an attitude not many of us had seen in class before. As we presented what we thought had happened in those 5 minutes it was clear which parts stuck out to all of us: the swearing. The boys foul language stuck out the most, and the fact that he was blatantly texting in the middle of class. Much of the lecture and the interaction between the professor and the boy was forgotten or mixed up.

Most of the time if an event personally affects us personally, directly impacts us, or we are in the very heart of the conflict we will remember the exact details. For example my brother passed away last July, i remember every event of that day perfectly. I can remember where I was when things happened, and exactly how i felt at that moment. Other flashbulb memories include the twin towers collapsing, i can remember exactly where I was when i received those messages. Things that affect a person so deeply and personally tend to stick with them longer.
Me and my brother the Christmas before he passed away.