Which Would You Want: The Power To Read Minds Or Erase Temporary Memories?

[matcom]

it's early so don't ask me how this popped into my head :crazy:

Let's say you could chose EITHER to have the power to read people's minds (think jobs, dating, love, etc...) OR to have the power to erase someone's short term memory (think 'Men In Black' stuff).

Which power (if you had to choose one) would you prefer to have?

On the one hand, you could adjust your actions to satisfy the desires of others (or not if you so choose).

On the other hand, you could be yourself, take risks and get a second chance if you made the wrong choice.

hhhhhhmmmmmmmm

quite the conundrum no? seems to me, both could be fun & dangerous at the same time. :shrug:

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Read minds.

At least until my little one goes to college. Would save countless hours of worry.

[matcom]

2. ah yes. you would then KNOW when she was coming at you with the Ax

:7

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Actually, I'm more worried about him in that way, but yes.

Exactly. :bounce:

[Random_Australian]

3. Read minds.

That way I could collect SO much data with which to understand the world!

Erasing memories just seems to be about manipulating people from here. :shrug:

[matcom]

5. certainly would be easier to manipulate

or WOULD it? :think:

[Random_Australian]

7. Of course.

You don't know who you are talking to.

Ok, I really really hate to admit this, but after all the success at not being sociopathic I've had, the first thought that popped into my mind was still the process of destroying the mind of another utterly until they would do what you commanded. With power like that, I think I could do it in about 18-26 minutes.

:shrug:

Not very difficult, but I'm not going to tell you how in case you work out a way to freak around with memories. :)

I'm nice like that. :)

[buddhamama]

6. read minds

i would know if people were being phony or not; i wouldn't have to rely on gut feeling, which can be wrong.

also, and even better, i would know what my son has on his mind.

[matcom]

8. ah, but how easy would it be then for YOU to be 'phony'?

wouldn't the temptation be too much? :shrug:

[buddhamama]

17. the opposite actually,

i'd probably get myself into a lot trouble because i wouldn't be able to resist calling people on their phoniness.

[terrya]

9. I would not want the power to read people's minds.

I think that's the ultimate privacy. To violate that...to be able to read people's thoughts...is a violation of that privacy.

I'd much rather want to erase temporary memories. Given the choice.

[underpants]

10. How did this pop into your head?

[matcom]

21. that's HOT

but i'm not really sure which part

[LaurenG]

11. lets see, you're thinking...

this or something like it?




edit: spelling like a freep

[matcom]

12. oh no, no, no

MY thoughts were COMPLETELY innocent! :yoiks:

[gfindu]

13. read people's minds

since I need all the help I can get.

[rug]

14. Was this posted before?

[matcom]

15. no idea. thought of it this morning

:shrug:

[Spider Jerusalem]

16. Neither...

the idea of reading someone else's mind seems rather horrible, actually, as does the idea of erasing their short-term memory--both of them are more or less mental rape.

[Mutley]

18. I'd have to pick "erase memories."

For one thing, I'd hate to know what people Really think of me. For another, I agree with terrya above — the mind is the ultimate private place, and that privacy should never be violated.

Having the ability to go back and "correct" my mistake in someone's head would be a handy tool. However, to what extent would that Also be a violation of the mind's privacy?

Ahhh! Too. Much. Thinking.

[bigwillq]

19. Read minds (nt)

[mark414]

20. read minds, but would i have the power to turn it on and off?

because i am thinking of that stupid mel gibson movie "what women want" (yes i saw it, so deal with it) when he was surrounded by a large group of women and all their thoughts were coming into his head at once. i wouldn't like that too much.