Why does it matter..............

[10ClarionSt]

........if you can remember where you were when you heard the news? Not just with this but other events as well?

[Loosehead]

It doesn't "Matter" as such but it gives weight to certain Historical events when they induce memories. It's very subjective as to what you consider significant and hence what detail you retain. I certainly remember where I was as the 2 towers incident unfolded, but I also remember where I was when England won the world cup in 2003.

[B00]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh the rugby world cup, I spent ages puzzling over your 2003 comment loosehead- lol.

[mimififi]

at my grandpa's bed side. he died the following day. We saw the events on the tv in the nursing home, but it wasn't until I got home that evening that I realised the magnitude of the situation...

We need to keep historical events of social/cultural/political etc alive in order to help our decision making for the future.

History is who we are, what we have become.

[sp1814]

Interesting question, and I bet that everyone who's read it so far have questioned where they were when they heard about Kennedy/Diana/Twin Towers etc.

I think that part of it is something to do with 'social cohesiveness'. When we share experiences with strangers, it kinda ties us all together...

Like everyone I know, know shot JR, but no-one I know admits to being regular Dallas watchers.

[wonder years]

hee i loved watching dallas it was my fav prog at the time

[scuzzball]

no.

[dot.hawkes]

I consider it a valid concept, and taken as a reference point in my life, where was I when I heard John Kennedy was shot? Vaguely remember being at school, but Bobby Kennedy was different and I remember always the exact second there was a news flash on Radio 1 show that morning. We were on school hols and we listened to the news for the next few hours whilst he was being operated on.
Pete Duel for me is another one, I was in my room listening to records and my brother shouted up to me, it was New Years Day morning.
In my mind's eye I can recall the colour of the wallpaper on the stairs at home, the type of TV we had, all the little details of the house, which on days like that and in moments like that, must burn onto your brain with the whole impact of the news, but if anyone were to ask me what colour wallpaper we had on the stairs in January 1972, I would have no clue, it is information that only comes to mind when I recall that one memory.
I can also vividly see the hospital bed with curtains around from 18 months ago when my dad died suddenly, I know what colour they were when i picture that image. I have been to hospital many times, but I couldn't tell you the colours of any of the curtains I saw on any other occasion with such certainty.

[Loosehead]

So 10CS have you got no memories of events where you remember your surroundings then?

[Peter Pedant]

I dont think it matters, clarion-cherie

There are few events that we remember also the circumstances, and these are said to be important.

Oddly enough I remember the circumstances of Kennedy's death - I was hanging onto a changing room cross bar talking to X and a Latin master, but my comment was so what ? showing I didnt think it was important at the time - yet I remember it !

Clearly I am some screwed up teddy-bear or terminally sad donkey.

[Loosehead]

I can't see how the RWC was meaningless, perhaps you could explain, it was certainly more significant than the 1966 world cup which really doesn't count as it was home field advantage and we didn't win all the games. Anyway 10cs the point that I and others have been making is that what you remember and why is subjective. In those terms despite your scowling contempt for our admitedly rare sporting achievments I thought it note worthy enough to remember where I was.

So you are so bereft of passion that there is no event in your life that you can say you remember the circumstances as applied to yourself, what a sad life you lead.

[brachiopod]

Nice one, Loosehead,

Just to re-iterate - it doesn't matter per se.

I could tell you exactly where I was when I heard that my Dad had thrown my favourite teddy on the bonfire, when T.S. (a non-famous friend - but name not reproduced) smashed her front teeth after falling off her bike, or when A.R. got caught nicking sweets from the corner shop.

But then there is no "commonality" in these events, so they will mean nothing to anyone else.

Kennedy, the Beatles splitting up, Diana and 11/9? We all have a common 'interest' . Does it matter? No.


(Answers to the last four events mentioned, (personally speaking);
1. Too young to remember.
2. Dancing under the kitchen table.
3. In a bar on an Italian mountain
4. In a pub in South Wales)

[A Chill Wind]

Personal context. Certain things resonate in your life that don't mean a hill of beans to me and vice versa. Human condition, innit?

[tara20]

I think it`s the "shock effect" that imprints your surroundings like a flash photo in your mind. At least that`s the way I look at it.