[sjg007]

Go to a doctor and get a memory test done, they know a lot about this stuff. Also you might consider getting tested for ADHD. Also you might have in general high stress levels. Stress inhibits memory formation. A neuropsychological assessment would not be a bad idea.

I can't recall specific conversations either. The brain long term is also designed to forget things that don't make an impact. So one way to make things stick is to add an emotional component (but not too much). A lot of people for a long time remember exactly where they were on 9-11 or some significant event. But also remember that memory is fungible and what people think happened maybe did not. I thought I failed AP calculus and in fact the opposite was true.

You are not wrong about information overload though. I imagine a lot of folks distract themselves from something and then forget to go back to it. Some of that is normal aging. Again since you mentioned high school, get assessed for ADHD. I have to write things down because I will forget them. I have to use a calendar w/ reminders because I will forget about meetings all the time. When I was younger I had no problems.

Introspection is a skill people need to learn. It is related to planning and organization.. so executive function (again ADHD). But you are also demonstrating introspection by examining your own memory.

Also alcohol and substance abuse impairs memory but to the other poster, if you've stopped drinking you will find your memory largely returns. There is probably a cliff in terms of neuronal death but your not likely there due to the fact that you can participate on Hacker News and are otherwise functional.