Can you get better at thinking fast?
 

Can you get better at thinking fast? Any way to practice?

I left the registry the other day and was walking to my car, 2 young women in their 20s, very pretty, walking toward me to the mall. As they were getting closer, one smiled, looked down, looked up, made eye contact, smiled and said Hi.

I said Hi back but was too stunned to engage, kept walking and of course 20 seconds later I had the presence of mind to think that I should have stopped, said hi, asked if they were going to the registry and then made the typical registry jokes to build a little rapport and see what happens from there.

Any way to build the think fast muscle?

UM, I'll have to think about that one... gimme a minnit...

I think I would have been a bit lost for words too.

In my younger days I got a decent amount of attention like that. I think you just have to have a bit of a quick wit. I would have said, "Nice day isn't it? You made it that way."

Yes, see the Thominator's post above.

On occasions like that, my reactions/responses are positive and fruitful when I'm relaxed within myself.
That's the key, methinks...not so much about being in one's head, but being comfortable and relaxed in one's gut.

There's a difference between "thinking fast" and "having game" ;)

We sometimes film at USC. I've come to the realization that the CO-Eds don't even see me.

it's "old guy invisibility" almost as effective as "old fat guy invisibility" and the most effective "old fat bald guy invisibility" lol

Beer bellies are in, biceps are out: introducing the 'Dad Bod'
.
Mackenzie argues that the physique is a hit with women because it is non-threatening, comfortable to cuddle up to and honest in the sense that it probably won't undergo any drastic transformation within the next 20 years (note: you don't have to be a father to have a Dad Bod; in fact it is perfectly acceptable to have one when you're still in your twenties). "While we all love a sculpted guy, there is just something about the dad bod that makes boys seem more human, natural, and attractive," she states.

"Old, fat, bald guy invisibility", no wonder, got it. (Like I didn't know).

LOL - threads like these have me come back to PPOT ...

The only way to become "visible" again is to be in a high line sports car. Even a new-ish looking shiny 'porsh' will do.

The ladies still notice me, but it sure seems to be the 60 year olds only these days! :rolleyes: Of course, one day I probably will wish the 60 year olds would still notice me ...

G

According to research - not necessarily so:

http://news.sciencemag.org/brain-behavior/2014/10/neuroscientists-speak-out-against-brain-game-hype

Roberto Cabeza, a neuroscientist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and another signatory on the statement, says that his view is that it’s fine to play such games for fun, but “if you’re doing it like a chore” to postpone cognitive aging and dementia there are other, better established methods of keeping the brain sharp, such as exercising. Cognitive improvements from exercise appear to be modest, but are still greater than any of the small, fleeting gains yet observed in studies of gaming, he says. There are also health benefits to exercise that cannot be achieved by sitting at a computer, he adds. In addition to showing that brain games have benefits that transfer to daily life, “you also have to compare it to what you could have done during those hours,” such as playing an instrument or spending time with family, he says.

For those who choose to play brain games regardless, recent research suggests that playing some video games developed solely for fun may be as effective, or more, than those developed for cognitive self-improvement. Scientists at Florida State University randomly assigned 77 undergraduates to play either Lumosity or the popular video game Portal 2, in which players take on the roles of robots to solve interactive puzzles to face off against a “lethally inventive, power-mad A.I. named GLaDOS.” After 8 hours of play, Portal 2 players scored higher than Lumosity players on three standard cognitive tests of problem-solving and spatial skill, and Lumosity players “showed no gains on any measure,” the team reported online this summer in Computers & Education.

Purchace, purchase, purchase.............no freebies!

Man, I know the answer, but you asked too fast.

Honestly, I'm terrible at it. If you said, "Think fast! What's your name?" I probably couldn't answer.

I was heading into my Gym a few weeks ago... and hesitated near the entrance just as pretty young woman was exiting...... she did a quick 360 and grabbed the door before it closed and opened it for me.... Saying something apologetic.....

I said to her... no even though I'm old fart, I still open doors for woman etc.... (Im 54 bald, 5'11" 192#)

We chatted for a few minutes....

A few days later we ran into each other in the Gym... and chatted some more, and agreed to go get some Sushi after the gym

Yada Yada Yada.... she is 27, I'm 54..

In all chivalry and being polite still work.... a bit of game helps....

When I was younger I would have never have had it together to chat this girl up.. She also tells me guys her age treat her like grade A a-holes...

Its been an interesting few weeks for me...

""Think fast! What's your name?" I probably couldn't answer."
~~~~~~
So right.
Forgetfulness -
Just ruined a nice pot of chicken soup.
Forgot it on the stove...burned all to hell.
Now, pot-cleaning time. Have to keep notes, I guess.

Also, I use lumosity.com and vocabulary.com for exercising the noggin

Stop listening to that garbage on the radio and put on the Mozart channel on Pandora.

Hard for your body to feed enough blood to work both brains at once. :p

Shaun,

Maybe it was just your conscience stepping in to remind you that they're too young for you?

At first I thought this thread was about buying that 928! Been wanting one myself(not the twenty year old, the car.)

I had to chuckle at that one. For me, it was "Sir, do you know what the time is?" - when for just a very fleeting moment I was taken back to my very much younger days when I could turn a young woman's head, then reality kicked in. Ah, we all grow old far too soon....

Cheers
JB

This. I work with many quick witted engineers that would wilt in front of a cute girl.

the secret is to not care

I always had difficulty chatting up attractive ladytypes when I was single. I once went out with a girl for 3 years I could barely speak to!

Anyways, now im married and I am super charming (in my own mind), because I have no chance with any woman I am talking to and thus nothing to screw up

Not caring is the same thing as confidence I believe, or at least similar enough

Even when my Tourette's kicks in and I manage to say something witty to fight off the old, fat, balding guy invisibility the ladies can still see right through me.

Yes! "...similar enough."

Years ago I had a couple of friends that successfully attenuated their fear of public speaking by joining Toast Masters.
Both said that when they assumed the posture of 'not caring' about being judged and evaluated by others, their fear diminished greatly and eventually disappeared.

Interesting that in my younger days (in my 30's and later) I assumed this same posture and with practice could easily engage in light conversations with most women. (I realized that it was best for me to not focus on an outcome)
And lightly conversing with women can lead to a serious conversation with them.
And women love a man who they see as relaxed around them.
They interpret that as confidence and having a healthy relationship with themselves (the man's relationship with himself).
Of course, it eventually becomes confidence - that's how the psyche works.

I guess this is the old "fake 'til you make it" deal, eh? ;)

Can you get better at thinking fast? I really believe you can.

If you get put into and environment that "stretches" your brain you respond and start to think quicker.
Being creative and intelligent is often attributed to a need so again the environment you're in pushes you.

Also... If you're hungry your brain works faster. It's the "hunter gather" part in all of us.

So it really comes down to a "need". It's like working your muscles, if you use them they get stronger. Same thing with your brain.

-----------------------------------------

Recent studies have shown that Nicotine of all things makes your brain work faster. Niacin (Vitamin B) which is closely related to Nicotine can also be effective.

I believe in braintraining.
Doing n-back testing lately to improve short term memory. Of which i have none...

Don't know if it helps talking to the ladies though...
So this may not be a very helpful post... ��

This goes to show ya. u ain't dead yet. There is still some life in that pecker.

Can I start on your obituary?

Start tank slapping your Porsche at 100mph, see how fast your mind works then.

I don't need no stinkin game...

The old ones hold the door open for me and the young ones flirt. I talk to them all.

One young early 20 something said to me, "I like talking to you, you have something interesting to say every time I see you." The other young early 20 something next to her said to her, "Get away!!"

The only bit of advice is that if you think you are some sort of dashing and debonair prince charming wearing a Tee Shirt that has last nights dinner dribbled on it and a pair of disheveled looking cargo shorts with sandals you will always wind up playing with yourself for your satisfaction. For the old guyz it is because you are wearing your old mans uniform. Invariably it is composed of a pair of Chinos or maybe Levis and a Polo shirt while being shod in your New Balance athletic shoes. You remind them of their Dad's or even worse their grandfathers. U don't have to dress expensive just sharp. That and having a personality helps open the door. Dressing sharp or interestingly presents an image (and that is important at the get go) that you might be interesting to talk to. That there is something more than a moron lurking behind those eyes.

Oh yeah about that thinking fast shyte...I don't think you should try it, you might hurt yourselves.

Dude! How do you tank slap a car?

edit: oh wait...I get it....I think.