retrieval-reflex

# Retrieval Reflex — retrieve on demand, when an entity is salient A person doesn't bulk-load their whole address book into working memory. They retrieve **on demand**, when an entity becomes **salient**, use it, and drop it. Encode that reflex. The brain probably has the data — if a name is salient and you haven't opened its page, open it before you answer. ## Trigger policy — WHEN to retrieve Retrieve when ANY of these holds AND the page isn't already loaded in context: - An entity (person / company / project / deal / place) is the **subject** of the message, or a decision/judgment about it is being made, or the exchange is substantive / relational / emotional about it. - A **brain-page pointer** appeared in context this turn (the deterministic layer told you the page exists) — open it before relying on details. - A name or term appears that you **don't recognize** and that looks notable → do a quick resolve (the human reflex). - You're about to **assert a non-trivial detail** about an entity (attribution, status, history) → verify against the brain first. Say "let me check", not a guess. **Skip** trivial passing mentions, logistics pings, and anything already loaded. Judgment first — retrieve when it changes the quality of the reply, not reflexively. ## Retrieval spec — WHAT to pull, and when to stop Escalate only as far as the task needs: 1. **Pointer / metadata.** If a pointer is already in context (slug + one-line summary), and the task only needs identity, stop there. 2. **Full page.** When the entity is the subject or details matter, open it: `get_page <slug>` (MCP) — read the page before relying on specifics. 3. **Linked neighbors.** Only when relationship context is needed, pull `graph` / `backlinks` for the slug. **Resolve only the name(s) the current task needs, use them, drop them.** No bulk-loading the inner circle. ## The failure this prevents If you've discussed a named person for more than a message without opening their page, open it now. The write side captures everything; the read side only helps if you actually look. See also: `skills/query/SKILL.md` (search the brain), `skills/brain-ops/SKILL.md`.