The mental process by which a person polishes their own flawed memories and biased opinions until they shine like flawless facts in the jewelry box of their mind. It’s the psychological tendency to focus on the "brilliant cut" of a memory that supports one’s current worldview while completely ignoring the dull, cloudy, or contradictory facets of an event. When two people engage in a heated argument, they are essentially each holding up their own polished cognitive gemstone, insisting it's a perfect, objective reflection of reality.
Example: "In his mind, he was the hero of every story, a flawless diamond of charisma and wit. His friends, however, were well aware of the cognitive gemology at play, remembering the numerous times he'd been more of a dull, clumsy chunk of pyrite."
by Dumu The Void February 14, 2026
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