# Why isn't my brain compatable?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-my-brain-compatable/9571>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 1, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-my-brain-compatable/9571 "2000-04-01T00:47:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@eggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eggo)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-my-brain-compatable/9571/1 "2000-04-01T00:47:00Z")

</div>

why are our rational brains so disconected from our instinctual brains? i mean, if i could just tell my body what to do, i would never get sick, i could build muscle without lifting weights, and go to sleep when ever i wanted. why cant we control ourselves?

* * *

eggo

My Web Page:[SMITE](http://www.angelfire.com/yt/smite) _WARNING_ it may offend you.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-my-brain-compatable/9571/2 "2000-04-01T01:47:00Z")

</div>

Uh huh. Go figure the _exact_ sequence of muscle contractions and relaxations necessary to take two steps forward. (Whoops! Don’t forget to compensate for those steps by shifting your center of mass. Never mind, I see that you’ve _already_ fallen down.)

When you’ve come up with _that_ solution, I’ll answer your question.

* * *

“I don’t just want you to feel envy. I want you to suffer, I want you to bleed, I want you to die a little bit each day. And I want you to thank me for it.” – What “Let’s just be friends” _really_ means

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-my-brain-compatable/9571/3 "2000-04-01T02:49:00Z")

</div>

## In fact, some theorize that clumsiness is precisely due to overcontrol- people not letting go sufficiently of conciously directing their movements and letting the “automatic pilot” take control.

You say I’m blind, I say you’re hallucinating.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-my-brain-compatable/9571/4 "2000-04-01T19:10:00Z")

</div>

Actually, this is a very interesting question. If you can get a hold of **The Lives of a Cell** by Lewis Thomas, I urge you to read the essay entitled “Autonomy”. His response:

“If I were informed tomorrow that I was in direct communication with my liver, and could now take over, I would become deeply depressed. I’d sooner be told, forty thousand feet over Denver, that the 747 jet in which I had a coach seat was now mine to operate as I pleased; at least I would have the hope of bailing out, if I could find a parachute and discover quickly how to open a door. Nothing would save me and my liver, if I were in charge. For I am, to face the facts squarely, considerably less intelligent than my liver. I am, moreover, constitutionally unable to make hepatic decisions, and I prefer not be obliged to, ever.”

* * *

“My mind reels with sarcastic replies!” - Snoopy