Are we, outliners fans, just a bunch of outlined mind maniacs?

Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Jun 7, 2013 at 08:48 PM

The current psychological jargon for right- and left-hemisphere is far- and near-mode. I’ve concluded that the important factor determining which mode outlining uses is whether the hierarchy is built by abstraction (far-mode) or logical entailment (near-mode). I think mindmapping software tends to encourage abstraction-level outlining, and that’s the reason it lends more support for far-mode (right-hemispheric) thinking.

I’m thinking here about preliminary outlining for writing; I haven’t tried to analyze approaches to, say, task management. The blog entry where is discuss this: “Self-inducing far-mode: Approaches to preliminary outlining” — http://tinyurl.com/62zwpr2 .

By the way, if you’re interested in the resurgence of thinking about lateralization, the book “The master and his emissary” is excellent” in its first half.

Alex wrote:
Of course I’m not really serious when I talk about “outlined” mind, it
>is just a thought that came to me when I was talking to some friends
>about how the things we use leave their trace in the way we think.
>Scientifics say that even language some how sets up our perception of
>the world. Not so that it can determinate our thinking, but an important
>influencial factor (bty, sorry for my bad English, I hope I’m not so
>confusing).
> >I agree that we can’t generalize on “outlining” concept, nor on the
>personality of outliners users. Nevertheless if one feels better when he
>write down his thoughts in a hierarchal manner, and like to work with
>outlining tools, then I think he’s using preferentially his left side
>brain, I mean the logical side. Maybe that’s why some people rather use
>mind maps (vs outlines).
> >I’m not psycologist, I just wonder if outlining tools help us to develop
>our logical skills, but they are too an obstacle to our creative skills.
>I guess all depends on how much we use them and when we use them.
> >I confess that since I begun to use BrainForest for Palm, and then
>Natara Bonsai, I can’t imagine my work and my personal notes without a
>tool like those. And yes, I’m a very logical-thinking guy, though my
>friends take me as a specially creative. I don’t like mind maps. I don’t
>know if I should try them so it can help me to develop more the creative
>side of the brain. What do you think?...