# I Am a Dimensional Traveller from a World of Highly Sensitive Rationalists

I'm not actually a dimensional traveller. This is a writing exercise.

**"**[**Sensory processing sensitivity**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_processing_sensitivity) **(SPS)** is a temperamental or personality trait involving 'an increased sensitivity of the central nervous system and a deeper cognitive processing of physical, social and emotional stimuli'", according to Wikipedia.

So what is my world like? Mostly I want to talk about how people communicate.

[Communication is telepathy](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/c3eyHvK7zCYbBfEce/words-are-imprecise-telepathy). You are not just saying words, you are putting thoughts and images into someone's head. With people being more sensitive, and processing what you say deeper/more-intensely*,* the rules of communication are more restrictive. Saying certain kind of things may require consent, rather than being assumed to be allowed by default.

There is a notion of being in-harmony while conversing which is what to you would look like a regular conversation. It requires sufficient-level-of-mutual-understanding.  
When there is sufficient level of lack-of-mutual-understanding, the conversation will fall back on a more robust algorithm, where one person will take the role of listener and another of sender.   
The listener's task is to form an accurate understanding of what the sender wants to express, as verified by the sender.  
The listener is *not* allowed to express opinions or ask questions (without asking for consent for that first). The listener is allowed to say "here is my understanding of what you said <....>, is this correct?".  
This continues until the sender is satisfied with the listener's level of understanding.  
At which point the listener and sender may switch roles, or continue in the same roles, or agree that they are in-harmony and return to an unstructed kind of conversation.

Why do it like this?  
Because understanding and expressing your mental-model in words is a delicate task. Someone with a high sensitivity would experience in as **painful** if someone interrupted them by injecting a *conflicting mental model* into their mind while they were trying to do that (which is what expressing a disagreement *is*).  
I suppose it might be harder to understand why being asked a question would interfere with a person's mental processes this way. Can I just say "different neural architecture" and leave it at that?  
Communication requires consent and you *do not* express your own opinions or disagreements unless the other person has *consented* to hearing them. You do not ask questions unless the other person has *consented* to hearing you questions.  
Your only task as a listener is to help the sender clarify their own understanding of what they want to say, as well as understanding it yourself.

People do talk "normally" as well, but the Primary Communication Algorithm always serves as fallback. When talking about more sensitive things, people would usually start with the Primary Communication Algorithm to being with.

People in this world who I've tried to teach the Primary Communication Algorithm usually don't see the point of it. Which I understand, if your neural structure is more robust and doesn't require protection. You can talk more freely.  
Some people feel it's restrictive (when I explain the idea to them). From my perspective, the standard way you talk is *muddled,* with you trying to perform the tasks of understanding, querying, expressing disagreements, and verifying someone's mental model *all at once*. Though, it seems to work for you, so I can only be impressed with your cognitive resilience.  
Also, actually using The Algorithm is really fluid for people from my world (that is, highly sensitive people who are experienced in it and have been using it all their life).

Sensory processing sensitivity *is* a trade-off, and the upside of the trade-off is the ability for deeper understanding. I do not feel that the people of this world fully or sufficiently understand me, or even understand what I mean what I say that I want to be deeply understood. I am trying to make my peace with that.