I did not climb down into a dam and kiss a rotting fish, unfortunately. I honestly regret that I missed out. Not because I think smelling the stench of a rotting fish would be particularly enjoyable, but because it is an experience I would like to have had.
Photo credit: blog,travelpod.com
However, people never ask "What didn't you do this weekend?" It's not interesting to respond:
I didn't go on a treasure hike with twenty-one people.
I didn't split a log with an ax (...shout-out to some patient friends for helping make that one happen safely).
I didn't swim in very cold water.
I didn't choreograph a dance sequence on the porch.
You don't look back and fondly remember the time that:
Nobody threw a ping-pong ball at the ceiling fan and double-bounced it.
Nobody ate a piece of charcoal that was previously a hamburger roll.
Nobody found out what was in that hard-to-reach cabinet.
Nobody participated in a group cheer.
Photo credit: Morgan Elizabeth
Experiences like these, whether they end up being enjoyable or not, are what compose our lives. Some experiences are pleasant, exhilarating, or enjoyable, while others are disgusting, uncomfortable, or silly, but they are all memorable experiences so we might as well do them and enjoy them. Next time the opportunity arises, I will smell the dam fish.
This weekend's camping trip was a success because the crew was willing to try anything. These are people that make everything fun and fully embrace the fact that you only live once.
What's the most hurtful comment someone has ever said to you? Now imagine hearing that insult once a week. Now imagine hearing an insult worse than anybody has even had the guts to say to you out loud. Now imagine hearing those insults regularly.
A lot of people say that they wouldn't want to have the super power to read minds because they think they wouldn't be able to handle the truth. Some people's thoughts would strike you right where you're the most sensitive, confirming your fears and bringing you to tears. Electing to read minds means willingly bombarding your own mind with truths that others purposefully keep to themselves.
While it is true that it would initially hurt to hear what people honestly think about you, it's important to consider the human ability to adapt in the long-term. Some examples:
Acquaintances and strangers think, "Take a bath, hippie." (I Googled "insults" to think of that). Knowing that a stranger/acquaintance rejects your lifestyle choice, you could elect not to pursue their friendship. You could also learn to stop caring about what random people think. In this case, reading people's minds might open your eyes to the fact that you actually do smell, inspiring you to take a bath. Regardless of your adaptation method, you will be happier in the long-term knowing the truth.
You thought your hair looked natural, but people wonder if you bleach your hair yourself. Knowing the truth that your bleached tips don't look as cool as Lance Bass's, you would either do a better job dying them, or stop being sensitive about it. You needed a reality check. Sorry Mr. [name has been removed for his protection].
A friend that you consider platonic thinks about having sex with you. Now that you know, you can either make it happen (if that's what you want too) or take measures to make him/her stop thinking about it (such as bleaching your hair's tips or ending your personal hygiene routines).
Your roommate finds you annoying when you leave dirty sponges in the sink. (Dishes are the most common argument topic in America.) Now that you know, you can stop leaving those sponges in the sink. It's better than your roommate building up anger inside every time they see the sponges.
A guy you're dating thinks, "I'm not necessarily smitten, but she's the type of girl I would hook up with now and then." (That one's from Ashley's season of The Bachelorette.") While hurtful, knowing the truth allows you to make an informed decision to either go with it or keep your distance and devote your time to more satisfying relationships.
Knowing the truth provides you with the opportunity to change behaviors that otherwise wouldn't have been called to your attention, cut out the toxic people in your life, or grow a tough skin. The moral of the examples is that the truth hurts, but it also allows you to make adjustments in the long-term. For this reason, if I was presented with the choice of whether or not to read minds, I would absolutely want this ability. But there are other things to consider.
I may want to read minds, but is it ethical? Most things that you would hear if you were reading minds would be things that others intentionally did not tell you. They probably have a reason for not telling you. For example, your friend refrains from saying that he wants to have sex with you because he wants to build the friendship first and he knows it would scare you off. The sponge thing is only a little annoying to your roommate, so she would rather not say anything and keep peace in the kitchen. People don't say every insult out loud because they're trying not to be mean. Finding out exactly what people are thinking but not saying is a violation of their privacy!
I would also need to consider other super powers. In a fantastical world where reading minds is possible, apparating, flying, and invisibility are probably also options. Is reading minds better than apparating, flying, and invisibility? I've never experienced having any of these, so I really have no way of knowing for sure which is the coolest. This hypothetical question poses quite a debacle!
