The Loop of Consciousness
Imagine this situation: you run into a friend. He asks you, for example, “Hey, did you see that new movie on the poster?” You’re about to answer that yes, you did. But you’re in a great mood, so a short “Yeah, I saw it” just won’t do. Instantly, you remember an exciting story about your trip to see that movie.
The story goes like this: you wanted to see a movie, then your friend N called, you met up, and on the way she broke her heel. At the same time, a big dog started chasing you, and you heroically saved N all the way to the theater. You made it to the movie, enjoyed it, and no one was hurt.
With this story in mind, you start talking:
“Listen, this is a wild story. I’d been wanting to see something new for a while. But work, or just laziness—like everyone, you know. Then suddenly—phone rings: ‘Haven’t seen you in ages, let’s go to the movies!’ It’s N calling. You know N—her dad was a police colonel. Remember when you and I got picked up at the station after Katya’s birthday? He got us out. Tall guy, with gray hair just on the right side. They say he didn’t pass re-certification—didn’t want to pay anyone off. Now he runs private security. Like Sasha’s dad. Have you seen him lately, by the way?”
And that’s it—the Loop has started, and you’ve lost your conversation partner in it. Even if you get back to the original topic, your friend will have to remind you, “We got sidetracked—we were talking about the movie.” But you’ve already wasted time and energy, and confused both your friend and yourself.
How the Loop Works
Let’s look at a beautiful diagram. Point A is the start of your story about the movie. Point Z is the ending you originally planned to reach. Point B is where you veered off course and started looping. And chances are, you’ll never make it to point Z.
Why Does This Happen?
When we talk about something, we might remember extra details or parallels, and it feels important to mention them. (Also known as “Wait, wait, let me say this before I forget.”) There’s even a type of speaker—the “Chatterbox.” They know a lot and feel the need to share every nuance and detail on the way to the point. Like a human Wikipedia: before you find the article you need, you’ll read about the history of stools, the conquest of Latin America, and the story of Vanuatu. And here it is—live!
The problem is, very few people are ready to process that much information at any given time. The more the loop twists, the harder it is for everyone in the conversation to keep track of the original topic.
On the other hand, the Loop of Consciousness isn’t just an abstract squiggly line leading nowhere—it does imply a return to the original point B. That means you need to remember where you left off, and remind your conversation partner.
If you didn’t start the Loop, you still have a chance to hear the ending: just remind your friend where you left off. You’ll also show that you’re a thoughtful and interested listener—which is always valuable.
What Can You Do?
Ideally, don’t let loops happen at all—not even small ones.
- Every statement has a goal. Until you reach it, don’t loop or make “lyrical digressions.” If you do go off-topic, apologize, explain why, and get back on track as soon as possible—before your tea gets cold.
- The main thing is to keep your core idea in mind, so you can get back to it. When you do, briefly remind your friend of the “summary of the previous chapter.”
- Brevity is also a defense against loops. When you speak in concise, simple sentences, you might not need explanations or tangents at all.
The Dark Side of the Force
The Loop of Consciousness can also be a great tool for steering a conversation away from a topic—if you use it intentionally. The technique is different here: you need to speak quickly, emotionally, and vividly. Ideally, you should “load” as many of your listener’s perception channels as possible: show them something, touch them, all while launching your verbal attack.
But if someone uses this tool against you on purpose, immediately cut off contact with that person. If that’s not possible, try not to listen closely and react a little slower than usual. This way, you’ll protect your brain from stressful “overheating,” keep your mind clear, and avoid being manipulated.