# Would you rather have telepathy or precognition? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777 "2021-06-07T17:03:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/1 "2021-06-07T17:03:15Z")
Precognition: You can see up to 30 days into the future (both personal and impersonal events) with the ability to change it. You’ll also be able to see the outcomes of decisions you haven’t made yet so you can choose which outcome you prefer (with a 30 day limit). Telepathy: You’ll be able to read, control, alter and shut down minds within a 100 feet radius. You can pick and choose who you affect and have fine control over it so as to avoid being overwhelmed. Whatever you do to someone remains in effect even if they leave the radius. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/2 "2021-06-07T17:06:32Z")
I’d say, “Who didn’t see _that_ thread coming?”…but I already know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/3 "2021-06-07T17:07:59Z")
Precognition is much more valuable to me. I’m not really all that interested in what other people are thinking if they’re not willing to share it with me if I simply asked them. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/4 "2021-06-07T17:08:17Z")
Precognition, since one can change the outcomes, one does not need to read or change minds. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/5 "2021-06-07T17:10:54Z")
Under ordinary circumstances, I think telepathy would be a downer. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/6 "2021-06-07T17:11:19Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Precognition, since one can change the outcomes, one does not need to read or change minds I think that just meant you can act in ordinary ways to change outcomes, not arbitrarily alter any aspect of the future. You can tell NORAD about the incoming nuke, but can’t just make it explode over the ocean, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/7 "2021-06-07T17:11:40Z")
Each ability gives some aspects of the other ability. I.e. if I choose Telepathy I gain some minor precog from being able to see the intended future choices of others. If I choose Precog I gain insight into the mindset of others by being able to see their actual future choices. If I can alter minds I’m going to assume I can also heal them to an extent. I’d go with Telepathy. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/8 "2021-06-07T17:12:29Z")
The choice here is between being able to cheat at cards without being caught and being able to mind rape people without being caught. I’ll take the cheating. I won’t exactly be a _good_ person, but I won’t be a monster either. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/9 "2021-06-07T17:13:07Z")
Not sure what I might read in somebody’s mind that would be more valuable than a Powerball jackpot. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/10 "2021-06-07T17:13:44Z")
For personal goals and peace of mind, precognition. Instant wealth via lottery winnings sounds real good. Telepathy could make an enormous difference: what if you could get close enough to a powerful leader and persuade them to take a critical position? What if you could persuade a dictator to abdicate, taking full responsibility for their crimes? What’s a little mind-rape compared to the amazing, world-changing outcomes? But damn, that sounds awful. I’ll take precognition, cheat my way to the top, and try to change the system from within. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/11 "2021-06-07T17:14:48Z")
I was going to say precognition but given that the limit is only 30 days, I’d say telepathy works better instead. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/12 "2021-06-07T17:15:40Z")
Precognition. Play the lottery every so often. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/13 "2021-06-07T17:20:34Z")
Precog is the only answer for me. I can affect my future for the better and retire to the beach in the next year and then easily avoid hurricanes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/14 "2021-06-07T17:21:30Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The choice here is between being able to cheat at cards without being caught and being able to mind rape people without being caught. Yeah, this is all out telepathy proposed by the OP, it’s not just reading minds. > [@Cmyers1980](#): > > you’ll be able to read, control, alter and shut down minds within a 100 feet radius ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/15 "2021-06-07T17:22:58Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Precognition, since one can change the outcomes, one does not need to read or change minds.  My thoughts, too. You know the results of your decisions, which would include seeing how someone would react to something you then don’t do. That covers what I would read minds for. Plus getting rich this way is easy without any real ethical qualms: I just win a lottery. I do admit that mind _control_ is the one aspect that is tempting, but that has so many ethical problems. Sure, it would be an easy solution to certain problems, but I wouldn’t trust myself to not to eventually abuse it. Using precognition to try and solve those problems requires more effort, and thus would hopefully be a damper on it. If ethics weren’t a concern, then the telepathy seems more powerful. You could know what people would do simply by making an alteration. The time limit isn’t really a limit since the change is permanent: you just make them really want to do something at the time when you want it to happen. Sure, you need to get yourself within 30 feet of a lot of people, but you can control people to facilitate that. The main issue is very much the ethical concerns for me. I have much fewer such concerns with being uncannily accurate in my predictions. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/16 "2021-06-07T17:29:52Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > I think that just meant you can act in ordinary ways to change outcomes, not arbitrarily alter any aspect of the future. You can tell NORAD about the incoming nuke, but can’t just make it explode over the ocean, for example. The OP said : “You can see up to 30 days into the future (both personal and impersonal events) with the ability to change it”. I may agree that with normal precognition as seen in fiction you have a point, but that was not the rule here, IMHO that bit about having the ability to change the future makes any telepathy a useless ability. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/17 "2021-06-07T17:36:03Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > … IMHO that bit about having the ability to change the future makes any telepathy a useless ability. What about ending depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems in the lives of the people you care about? Or opening a clinic and permanently healing the public at large? I’d call that more than useless. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/18 "2021-06-07T17:39:29Z")
Well… as others noted, one can get rich with precognition, and then one can help the loved ones by opening clinics, improving their economical wellbeing, just like you talk about. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/19 "2021-06-07T17:45:16Z")
Yeah, but none of those clinics could do it like you can. You have people now who are willing to try mind-altering things like hypnosis or heavy medication or even neurosurgical techniques to find peace with their issues – I’m sure that you being able to change their wiring to “fix” them would be far more effective than those existing techniques no matter how fancy the clinic is. Plus you could charge on a sliding scale and still make enough to open clinics or whatever if you really thought it would help. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777/20 "2021-06-07T17:49:39Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Yeah, but none of those clinics could do it like you can. You have people now who are willing to try mind-altering things like hypnosis or heavy medication or even neurosurgical techniques to find peace with their issues – I’m sure that you being able to change their wiring to “fix” them would be far more effective than those existing techniques no matter how fancy the clinic is. Right, but then again, it shows what one can also do with precog, it is not as limited as the other option. BTW, also knowing what is coming I will be able to prevent disasters that would affect the **mental** wellbeing of my loved ones, a precog can be also proac. \*\* 🙂 . . \*\* proactive. On edit: The thought also occurred to me that since I’m not an expert on psychology or mental issues, I may end up causing more harm than good with the “cures” I believe should apply. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-have-telepathy-or-precognition/943777.md?page=2)