Re-dream as a different memory?

**AnonymousTipster** · 07-27-2006 09:51 AM

Last night I had a rather weird dream, wierder than usual. It was non-lucid, and the basic plot was something like this:

There was a giant paddle boat, with one large paddle at the front which was made out of k'nex. It was supposed to be eaten by a shark, but due to a 6-year old prophecising it, it did not happen. Because of this, the world was flooded. A short part with several people in an apartment with water up to their chests followed this.

The weird thing was that as soon as the dream started, I remembered the whole thing (like deja vu) but I remembered it as though I had read it in a book called Mortal Engines. During and shortly after the dream I was convinced that I had read this story about the boat somewhere before, but upon careful thought I realised that it was just too preposterous to have read.
Therefore, I can only conclude 3 possibilities:
A. The dream created a memory of me having read the book
B. I had really read the story somewhere
C. At the time I was reading Mortal Engines (several years ago) I had this dream, and because I had it again tonight, I remembered it as though I had read it in a book.
Personally, I think it's C, but I'd like some other opinions on this....

Anyone experienced anything like this before, or have an alternate theory?

**your_rainbow_girl** · 07-28-2006 09:29 AM

I vote "A" ... or a modification of it, at any rate. Recall simply is another way of saying a dream is remembered, thus indicating that you have created a memory of it (I know this is kind of an obvious statement, but the rewording of it brings attention to everyone - myself included - to why we use these names on DV.)

I actually get this phenomenon all the time. The more I get used to recalling, the more I find myself confused! (haha)

Another thing I get, is I'll have a dream, and in it, I'll have a dream memory. I'll "remember" something that has happened with a person before (not actually happened, and not even a dream I've had before.)

**AnonymousTipster** · 07-29-2006 10:42 PM

I think you may be right. After some time I can still remember the dream, and what I remembered during it, but the actual memory that I thought I remembered at the time has faded.

**your_rainbow_girl** · 07-31-2006 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by AnonymousTipster

but the actual memory that I thought I remembered at the time has faded.
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hahaha, you just have to love the confusing jargon that comes with discussing dreams and "reality."

At any rate, I understand perfectly what you are saying. It happens to me all the time.

**AnonymousTipster** · 07-31-2006 06:52 PM

I could have put it worse:

Originally Posted by Confusing

After some time I can still remember the dream, including the illusion of rememberance which I had remembered at the time of remembering, but the actual memory, apparently prior to the time of rememberance that I thought I remembered at the time is no longer as strongly remembered as I had remembered it during the original remembering.
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Not that remembering is even a word.