I'm having an ambiguity problem with the following sentence:
What's the first thing you remember?
If I'm right, it may mean either:
1) What is the first thing you can recall, the furthest in your memories, the earliest thing you remember? (like from your childhood = your earliest memory)
2) What is the first thing that comes to your mind just like that? (the first thing you can think of RIGHT NOW)
Am I right? Considering I am, how would you rephrase the sentence, to get rid of the ambiguity problem?
Best Answer
To me, they are different. "What's the first thing you remember?" always means "what's your earliest memory?" never "what are you thinking right now?" This is so because present thought is not memory, again only in my view.
"what are you thinking right now?" is a question about meta-thought -- a thought about a present thought, just as "what's the first thing you remember?" is a question about meta-thought, but a thought this time about an earlier thought.
"A penny for your thoughts" is a lot different from "what's the first thing you remember?"