“To do lists can become confusing. These are analogous to a stack in computing terms. The problem is that there are different kinds of stacks according to their relationship with time. There is an ASAP stack, whose elements have no specific temporal context or pacing data associated with them, there is also a temporalized stack that has ‘due by’ tags, and there is a stack for elements whose temporalization has different form or imperatives. One of the problems for many of us is that threats are often more compelling than rewards (in some aspects of life and thought), and so the various stacks have to compete for attention and preservation in our minds and behavior. Often, those elements and processes that prosper in this competition are foreign to our nature, humanity and intelligence. I suspect many of us carry a huge threat analysis burden, and that the aspects of mind and concern involved are significant and could be recovered…”

— infraheard