alt Hacker News>the (sometimes subliminal) states of confusion, frustration, shame, and inadequacy aphantasics feel when asked to visualize
Wow, take it easy.. This whole pathologization of "aphantasia" really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
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He described his feelings, albeit as a generalization of all people with aphantasia. How can somebody describing their feelings be pathologization?
They are missing an aspect of the human mind that the majority of humans have. It's defined as the "inability" to do something most humans can do. Research on cognitive performance shows it's most likely connected to worse memory. Some studies show reduced social skills. Then there are the deficits in autobiographical memory. It's progressive form is indicative of dementia.
How exactly is this anything but a pathology?
Yes. Please don't turn aphantasia into yet another marginalized identity...
Right. I have aphantasia and I've never felt bad about it. Maybe confused a few times, but that happens a lot anyway for any number of reasons.
I posit, without evidence, that the people who feel "confusion, frustration, shame, and inadequacy" about something like aphantasia are simply attention-seekers. If it wasn't for lack of mental imagery, it would be for something else.