Some people can't recognize faces - not even their own in a mirror. It's a condition called "Prosopagnosia," and one of the only reasons we know about it is because of the internet. From an article in Wired:
Developmental prosopagnosia came to light in large part because of Internet groups. Before that, most people born with the condition assumed they were just bad with faces. It's not the type of thing most would go to a doctor about, and even if they did, their physician probably couldn't help, because many doctors are unaware of it. In many ways, this is a neurological condition discovered by Yahoo.
I wonder how many other conditions, shared by a small number of people, have come to light because of the internet.
On a personal note, this last summer I discovered I have a problem with what's called an "earworm." According to research, 98% of people have had a tune stuck in their head. Top songs include Chili's "Baby Back Ribs" (Bar-B-Q sauce...) and "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
A smaller percentage of people have this happening to them ALL THE TIME. That'd be me, especially when I'm stressed and trying to concentrate on finishing something due in the next few hours. Have you ever tried writing about Nietzsche with the Beach Boys stuck in your head? It's hard. Real hard. (And yes, those mid-west farmer's daughters really do make you feel alright.)
According to the most reliable source of information on the internet, medications used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety can alleviate the symptoms of earworms. So chalk up another mark in the OCD category for me - whoopie!
And to think, just like all those people in the face blindness group on Yahoo, I would have never diagnosed this without the internet.
Interesting to know.
Posted by: Silvana | October 29, 2008 at 09:13 AM