Is it just me?
Early on in my public school years, I learned that if I had a question in class, the person sitting next to me was probably wondering the same thing. And when someone else asked a question, I was probably wondering wow, how did they not know that?
Just kidding. Or not? I'll leave that up to you. According to my thesis, what you think is what I think.
Over the years I've observed thoughts, habits, and details about myself reflected back from those around me, beyond just the classroom. One of the most vivid memories I have was when I first experienced existential terror at 9 years old (plus or minus 2 years). I've forgotten if there was a catalyst, but I clearly remember that feeling of first thinking about leaving this world and the void that could lie beyond. It was like peering over the edge of the deep end of the pool at night and seeing only the impenetrable, irresistible dankness. That was when the fear of the unknown became a palpable object for me, a thought that generated sensation: the closer my mind approached that boundary to the unknown, the more I shivered and shrank back. And I knew that while now I could retreat to solid ground, there will come a day where I dive into that pool of nothingness. But remember, I was just a kid and there was no way I was going to fall asleep in that state. I ran across the hallway to my parent's room and cried to my dad. And he held me to sleep and uttered the most comforting words I could hear in that moment: "I felt the same way when I was your age."
I'll hazard a guess that you've felt the same way before (or even right now). The point of this post is to suggest that many of our thoughts and desires are shared. Of course, that's obvious: but given that thesis, what conclusions can we draw?
There's some comfort to be had in knowing that we're not too different from each other after all. We are born; we will die; in between we feel the weight of existential dread. But for me, there's another benefit: it means that if I find some solution to a problem I experience, it'll be useful to others too.
Now let's test this theory.
Tab Origin
If my hunch is right, then you, fellow internet user, have run into this problem too. You'll find a page with a bunch of links you want to check out, like Google search results or Amazon product recommendations. After middle clicking on a few to put them in new tabs in the background, you close the current tab and stroll through the pages you've opened – some you'll save for later, some you'll close, and others will lead to more links.
Eventually, you've reached the last page you opened from the search results, and realize that there was another result you wanted to look at. But now the original page is long gone, buried beneaf a deep stack of already closed tabs. That's where Tab Origin comes in.
With one key combo, the extension takes you back to the page you were on when the current tab was opened. Problem solved and minutes saved! Give it a try for Chrome or Firefox.
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