Wow, it's a while since I've been here, last time I was around this place was still called Flyology...My name's Zoe, or just Zo but I was always known on here as Z. I'm a student at university studying neuroscience and english, I love art and science in equal measure. I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life, which could be a bit worrying, other people seem to have it all planned out but that's never felt right to me...I like to feel free, I'm not fond of boxes or labels, I used to call myself a hippy but I'm not so sure these days, I still identify with a lot of hippy philosophy but I also understand the world is so much more complex than I used to think it was...I've changed I think since I was last here, I'm certainly more mature, and I drink less, which is a good thing. When I was here before I spent most of my time hanging around the galleries putting up artwork, hence not having a huge post count, I've never been much of a talker, I've always preferred to express my thoughts through images...I find it more comfortable. I love music, I'm not too fond of hippity hop rap stuff but I'll listen to pretty much anything, I like rock music and folky type stuff, I know a lot of people didn't like them but I was gutted when The Darkness broke up, I think the world would be a better place if more bands wore glitter. That’s about it for now… let the probing commence!
Where abouts are you studying? Interesting combination of subjects, why neuroscience and English? Yeah, I quite like the Darkness too. My dad was Justin Hawkins's English teacher! And my brother was in a highschool band with Dan. They're about the only famous things to come from where I live, well until Lil'Chris I suppose, but he seems like a goit and I think my dad teaches him too. And feel free to pop your art work in UK Arts, Crafts and Creativity forum, would love to have a look at your new pieces.
Hello welcome back I vaguely remember seeing you around before when I used to be showmet. English and neuroscience is a very strange combination, are they joint subjects rather than major/minor for your degree and do you know anyone else doing that combination?! Who's your favourite author or book and ... what's the most interesting thing you have learned in neuroscience?
The more you think about it the clerer that xZx becomes, I've asked about if anyone else might also. May I boldly say a welcome return then ? After reading your introduction I take it your single, so, do you like innuendo ?
Zoe, welcome (back) to the forums. Love your name, btw, has always been one of my faves. I've been gutted too that the Darkness broke up. My hubby and I's "song"(s) are two Darkness songs. He got me into them and I'm really sad that they had to break up. Hopefully one day maybe they'll reunite. What's your favourite movie? Why?
Lot's of questions! yay! I’ll answer the uni related ones first... I'm studying at Keele, in Staffordshire. Why did I pick those subjects, erm...well partly because I could, Keele has a dual honors system where pretty much everyone does two joint subjects, and they manage to accommodate almost any combination. I chose those subjects because they're the things I’m passionate about, I love studying literature and I love writing, but I also have a love of science, I think too often people get put into the box of either being an arty type person or a sciencey type person, and that never really worked for me, so I went somewhere where I could do both! I don’t think I'm the only one, I know there are other people doing english and biology, and a couple of those might be doing neuroscience. Peace-Phoenix, your dad taught Justin Hawkins, and your brother was in a band with Dan? That’s very cool! Lithium, my favourite author or book...well there are lots, my favourite author at the moment is probably Iain Banks, but it changes frequently! The most interesting thing I’ve learnt in neuroscience, that's tough! Probably something to do with how the two hemispheres of the brain work together, and how they function in people who, for medical reasons, have had the connections between the two halves severed. Dapablo, yep you can take it that I'm single, do I like innuendo?...Well I'm known for finding alternative meanings in things, so yes I guess I do! Phoenix_indigo, thank you! I quite like my name too, my mother picked it because it means life, and I apparently was a lively baby! My favourite movie?...hmm I love movies that make me laugh, think or cry...but out of those I think I like laughing best so my favourite movie has to be 'This is Spinal Tap' If only for the 'but this one goes to 11' line. I think I've answered everything...thank you all for such a warm welcome back... -Z
I'm just reading Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate and he mentioned that. If you give left and right hemispheres different instructions in such cases, the person will carry out both instructions independently, and when the person is asked to justify his behaviour, the left hemisphere will come up with a "coherent but false account" explaining why he did something when he obviously has no idea why it happened, even though the right hemisphere was acting rationally and independently on instructions! Do you believe that the conscious mind is "the spin doctor, not the commander in chief" as Pinker claims? Do we have free will at all?
I've come across quite a few studies that came out with results like that! It's a fairly weird business really and it seems the more studies that are done the more weird and wonderful things we discover...there are some great articles out there by Michael Gazzaniga if you're interested in this split brain stuff... Now that's what you call a question...I believe that the mind is the product of evolution, and that we as creatures are driven by instincts that have proved useful in our evolutionary past. Do we have free will...do we have the ability to control and contradict those drives or is our ability to act totally derived from underlying biological systems? Honestly, I'm not sure. I think at the moment our understanding of what consciousness is and how it arises in the brain is just too small. I'd like to believe we have free will...but then again I'd like to believe in leprechauns…I think it’s likely that the level of free will we think we possess is far greater than the level of free will we actually possess.
Hi. I'd like to believe in leprechauns too. And I do believe in glitter wearing bands. I'm not very good at deep and meaningful questions, so, how do you like your toast?
Well done, with lots of butter, and maybe some homemade marmalade.... Mmmm toast...I think I might have to go and make some now
Ooph that's hard, erm, I don't think I have a favourite band...it varies with my mood... Someone once asked me which band I would pick if I could only listen to one bands music for the rest of my life and I said Led Zeppelin...so I'll have to go with them, and sadly I'm far to young to have ever seen them play live.
Ooooh I have soo many! I will always hold GNR, Bon Jovi and Starsailor close to my heart! Right now I am back into Gogol Bordello - brilliant!!!!
I'd quite like to learn Chinese...just because one my best friends is bilingual and speaks Chinese. To me it seems like such a weird language... it's so different to English...I'd love to know what it's like to flip from one language to another so easily. My friend even says he thinks in two languages, which is something I can't get my head round. When he gets drunk he falls asleep and sleep talks to two languages as well, I'd love to know how that works.
Chinese would be amazing, especially writing it as well. If you were a superhero, what would your power be?
Well, I'd quite like to be able to fly, but when you think about it, it's not all that useful… So I think I'd like to have super strength or something, that way I’d always be able to open stubborn pickle jars and stuff.
Flying would be useful, think of all the time you'd save not being in traffic, or walking anywhere. I think it would be quite tiring though, so strength is a good one to go for. What has been your biggest fashion disaster so far?
Oh dear...there were a few when I was a kid...I had a mahoosive fringe when I was about 8, but mostly that was my mother's fault. Erm the worst thing I've ever chosen to wear is probably the whole 'goth' get up when I was about 15, too much eyeliner and purple hair...not a great look on me, I think I looked like a muppet.
