Mina C

Ive was always absolutely appalling at any numbers related component in any and all subjects. So maths, the traditional sciences - forget about it! So in terms of subjects like history, for example, I only really had problems if I was asked/expected to know what date a particular historical event happened.  Other than that, despite over 10 years as a university level academic, I have zero insights to offer in terms of how i learn, except to say that the various educational institutions long time obsession with so called mind maps/word clouds seems to have caused me to develop an actual physical aversion to the mere mention of the aforsaid, still to this day! 

Ive always considered the very concept of empathy to be very....egotistical...and presumptive, honestly. Its not a popular or common view point i know!  But Ive always thought that you can actually  never completely understand, let alone feel, EXACTLY what something is like for another person. Your understanding and knowledge of 'that something' is  unavoidably and irrevocably coloured by who you are, you experiences, your background etc etc etc; meaning it is actually physically impossible for you to feel what another is. However you can, in most general cases,  make a good approximation it, but an approximation means it isnt really feeling what another is, it is just sympathy and compassion...

Oh absolutely. You described my entire house to an absolute t (and as a kid and teen my bedroom was like that too!)