Who would ever want to be a mind reader?
By natnickeep
@natnickeep (2336)
United States
August 13, 2010 12:11pm CST
Seems like an easy enough question. A lot of people would probably jump with the answer yes. I would love to read everyones mind. But the truth is unless you are playing high stakes poker I don't think it would be nice at all. People think a lot different then they act. I for one wouldn't want to know my husbands fantasies and what he thinks about. I wouldn't want to automatically know how a stranger perceives me that's the whole fun of getting to know someone. And I wouldn't want to know peoples negative thoughts, especially if they were about me. I think being able to read minds could hurt more than help. It would be really awkward in a lot of situations. What do you think? Would you want to be a mind reader even with all of the downfalls?
6 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Only if I could turn it on and off. If someone is really quiet and doesn't say anything, what does that mean? Shy? Dislikes you? Doesn't understand English? Listener/observer and quite comfortable with being quiet? Thinks I'm an idiot, but polite enough to keep his or her mouth shut?
The truth of the matter is, you can tell by tone of voice or facial expression, unless the person is guarded or acting contrary to what they think, anyway. If you've been trained by the prison system, like I have, you tend to know when they're lying. It's the stoic in voice and facial expressions that are a challenge, most other people, you can read like a book. It's how I know some of my students haven't a clue what I'm saying or have tuned-out and are day-dreaming.
But no, I don't know exactly what they're thinking and some times, that's just as well.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Aug 10
But it could also save your life if you knew someone was going to kill you, how, when, where, etc.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
21 Aug 10
Yes i agree some people can read people better than others. I am a people watcher and pay lots of attention. It's like that lie to me show, that stuff really does work. People and how they act about their feelings are more systematic then we may know. But as far as knowing everyone's thoughts word for word, I wouldn't want to know. I might be scared and grossed out. Might realize more people have bad thoughts than I thought.
@dorisday1971 (5657)
• Philippines
14 Aug 10
I wish I could be a mind reader.
That would be fun if I could read other people's minds.
This reminds me of my favorite line of the Spiderman song, "Can you read my Mind".
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
21 Aug 10
So you don't think there is anything you wouldn't want to know?
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
21 Aug 10
That was my thought exactly. If someone really didn't like our hair or clothes or US, would we really want to know or still have a mutual civil okay relationship with them. There are some truths we just wouldn't want to know I think.
@advokatku (4033)
• Indonesia
14 Aug 10
can read the minds of others, glance may be fun but if we think deeper, it seems it was not fun because there is no longer challenge a way to subdue others.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
21 Aug 10
Yes I don't think it would be interesting anymore. Knowing everyones thoughts. We wouldn't have much to wonder about.
@tymfactor03 (60)
• Australia
13 Aug 10
hmmm interesing thinking you have there, though i think is fun for a moment. But for me i would not want to be a mind reader. As i don't want people to think i am either a werido or a crazy person. and reading people thought does not sound ethical as i think they have secret that they want to keep. and knowing too much may not be a good thing as at the end you knowing too much may not do any good and you might lose stuff you really treasure most.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I agree somethings, a lot of things are just better left unknown, are not for us to know. Just think you would never be able to get a surprise of any kind.
@theduke247 (25)
• Canada
28 Oct 10
I love this question. I have been very interested in this topic lately...is it possible? If so how so? Is it dangerous? I myself would love to read minds, but when thinking about mind reading you have to go in remembering an old saying, "with great power comes great responsibility" I do believe it is possible and have been reading a lot about different techniques. And along with my readings i have also read a lot of warnings. If a good human being can do it than a bad one can aswell. There are alot of people out there today that read body languge so well that it seems like theyre reading your mind and believe me its not fun. Not being able to control ur actions and allowing someone to be able to read you so well is very uncomfortable sometimes. Thats why responsibilty comes into play. Certain situations call for a mind reader where as others do not...Its up to the mind reader to figure that out
