Keir Starmer doesn't dream

[Maia]

According to this article from the Guardian, Keir Starmer doesn't dream. Nor does he have a favourite book or poem, and wasn't scared of anything as a child. He also doesn't know if he's an optimist or pessimist, or an introvert or extrovert. He apparently doesn't think about questions that people ask him, and sometimes refers to himself in the third person.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ar ... erview-yet

It's that never dreaming one that really gets me, though. How is that even possible?

[accelafine]

I read somewhere that everyone dreams, it's just that some people don't remember them. Hmm. If you don't remember a dream does that mean you haven't dreamt, like the 'does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if there's there's no one there to hear it' question?
I've noticed that people who say they never dream tend to be either idiots, psychopahts, or both.

[Maia]

I read somewhere that everyone dreams, it's just that some people don't remember them. Hmm. If you don't remember a dream does that mean you haven't dreamt, like the 'does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if there's there's no one there to hear it' question?
I've noticed that people who say they never dream tend to be either idiots, psychopahts, or both.

I've heard that too, but how would they know? Presumably by measuring brain activity during sleep, but there is no guarantee that there's an exact correlation.

[Iwannaplato]

I read somewhere that everyone dreams, it's just that some people don't remember them. Hmm. If you don't remember a dream does that mean you haven't dreamt, like the 'does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if there's there's no one there to hear it' question?
I've noticed that people who say they never dream tend to be either idiots, psychopahts, or both.

I've heard that too, but how would they know? Presumably by measuring brain activity during sleep, but there is no guarantee that there's an exact correlation.

I don't think there's any greater chance you are those things if you think you don't dream. If you actually do not dream, which is rare, you probably have some serious problems: lack of sleep, are taking drugs, brain injuries. But it's rare that we find someone who does not dream or at least doesn't have any indications of REM sleep.

Many people think they don't dream but they probably do.

If you leap out of bed, you're less likely to remember. If you're not really interested, you're less likely to remember. Medications can also interfere. But what I notice, and this anectdotal, is that people who say they don't dream, don't see very aware of their whole psyche's. They are less aware of their dark side. They don't realize that they might have unconscious feelings - that other people are more likely to discover. They have a simpler sense of self. I know X is true and I have no mixed feelings about that. it would be very hard to convince such a person that, for example, they were being passive aggressive. it's not pleasant for anyone to become aware and acknowledge such a thing, but in my experience people who don't remember any dreams, take themselves at face value. No, I was just pointing out the stain on your shirt, giving you information.

[Maia]

I read somewhere that everyone dreams, it's just that some people don't remember them. Hmm. If you don't remember a dream does that mean you haven't dreamt, like the 'does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if there's there's no one there to hear it' question?
I've noticed that people who say they never dream tend to be either idiots, psychopahts, or both.

I've heard that too, but how would they know? Presumably by measuring brain activity during sleep, but there is no guarantee that there's an exact correlation.

I don't think there's any greater chance you are those things if you think you don't dream. If you actually do not dream, which is rare, you probably have some serious problems: lack of sleep, are taking drugs, brain injuries. But it's rare that we find someone who does not dream or at least doesn't have any indications of REM sleep.

Many people think they don't dream but they probably do.

If you leap out of bed, you're less likely to remember. If you're not really interested, you're less likely to remember. Medications can also interfere. But what I notice, and this anectdotal, is that people who say they don't dream, don't see very aware of their whole psyche's. They are less aware of their dark side. They don't realize that they might have unconscious feelings - that other people are more likely to discover. They have a simpler sense of self. I know X is true and I have no mixed feelings about that. it would be very hard to convince such a person that, for example, they were being passive aggressive. it's not pleasant for anyone to become aware and acknowledge such a thing, but in my experience people who don't remember any dreams, take themselves at face value. No, I was just pointing out the stain on your shirt, giving you information.

I'm not sure that I've ever met anyone who doesn't remember their dreams. To be fair, though, the topic hasn't always come up in conversation, so perhaps I have. I can certainly understand how such a person might seem shallow. I always make a point of recording mine, if they seem in any way significant or noteworthy.

[Iwannaplato]

I'm not sure that I've ever met anyone who doesn't remember their dreams. To be fair, though, the topic hasn't always come up in conversation, so perhaps I have. I can certainly understand how such a person might seem shallow. I always make a point of recording mine, if they seem in any way significant or noteworthy.

I have met some. Most of them added when questioned that they had had dreams on rare occasions and/when they were children, but that most nights they do not dream, period. And they have often seemed either defient or proud when they said they didn't dream.

I think if one is actively curious about dreams and writes them down or records them or talks to other people about them, this increases the chances more will be remembered. Of course someone very rarely remembering dreams can't start doing this, but they could keep their eyes closed when they wake up and just see if any snippets come. That'd be a start.

[Maia]

I'm not sure that I've ever met anyone who doesn't remember their dreams. To be fair, though, the topic hasn't always come up in conversation, so perhaps I have. I can certainly understand how such a person might seem shallow. I always make a point of recording mine, if they seem in any way significant or noteworthy.

I have met some. Most of them added when questioned that they had had dreams on rare occasions and/when they were children, but that most nights they do not dream, period. And they have often seemed either defient or proud when they said they didn't dream.

I think if one is actively curious about dreams and writes them down or records them or talks to other people about them, this increases the chances more will be remembered. Of course someone very rarely remembering dreams can't start doing this, but they could keep their eyes closed when they wake up and just see if any snippets come. That'd be a start.

I go through phases where there's very little to remember, or write down, for a while, and then they come thick and fast. Not sure why this is, as it doesn't seem to correspond to being more, or less, active, or anything else that I can think of.

[Chasman]

I have a friend who can't imagine anything at all. She can see and recognise things which are in the room. But if you ask her to imagine an object, she can't do it. I think she said she doesn't dream, either.

It's a known condition called aphantasia

https://aphantasia.com/what-is-aphantas ... o3ivHOKtAm

[beetsglean]

It’s definitely strange to think about someone not dreaming at all. The idea of never dreaming makes you wonder about what’s going on in their mind during sleep, especially since dreaming is such a universal human experience. There are some people who rarely recall their dreams, but to not have any at all sounds really unusual. Scientists believe everyone dreams, even if we don't always remember them, so maybe Starmer just never recalls his.

[LarryLynx]

I have a feeling that the people who claim this do not self-reflect to the extent needed to identify their inner world. Less time spent on introspection. However, there are interesting forms of neuro-atypical people that demonstrate varying levels of aphantasia.

[thornystern]

Keir Starmer’s claim of never dreaming likely reflects poor recall rather than an absence of dreaming, which is rare. Most people experience dreams during REM sleep but forget them. Sleep quality or waking habits can significantly influence dream awareness and memory.

[Martin Peter Clarke]

He doesn't bother recalling dreaming. Normal. I'm a deeply introverted extrovert, an optimistic pessimist. He had a damn good childhood. I have many favourite books, poems, films. And will always refer to myself in the third person if someone talks about me as if I'm not there.