I have thoughts that I am ashamed of, but so does everyone. The person linked with me would know I was ashamed of them. I’m not sure why they’d be a problem.
It seems to me that you’d only initially care about these things anyways, as as soon as they have enough information, they would realize that any troublesome thought makes sense. The main problem with sharing your thoughts with someone you trust is that not understanding why you have those thoughts, and jumping to negative conclusions.
The problem is that its even more imperative that you find someone with which you are completely compatible. And it’s much harder to guess. We’d need to be able to have no consequence free trials to know if we’re truly compatible (This would involve the ability to have the memories erased if the free trial doesn’t work out.)
But if I could find the right person: of course I’d be down with it. It sounds like the ultimate relationship. As described, this isn’t the measly TV psychic thing, where you can hear the subvocalizations sent to you (which I’m sure almost everyone would go for.): no, it’s more like a mind meld. Two becoming one. I understand why some people wouldn’t like it, but I’ve been longing to be that well-understood my entire life.
BTW, why are so many people assuming it would be with their spouse, if linking with their spouse is not desired? Are they just your best case scenario?
Given that it’s very difficult to NOT think about something specific (don’t think about a green elephant), I wouldn’t trust myself to keep things that I don’t want shared out of the communication. Shit, sometimes its difficult trying not to SAY something you shouldn’t, let alone think it. It’s not that I have any revealing secrets or anything, it’s just that there are things I’d rather not share.
Ugh no! Life is complicated enough just dealing with my OWN stuff, much less another whole person’s! I sure wouldn’t want to inflict my memories on anyone else either.
Besides the one person I can think this might be useful with would never consent and I don’t blame her. Who wants to be THAT hooked up with their mom?
I’d go for it, as long as my wife wanted to be the other party. I can think of lots of ways this would be very cool and if it could be turned off at will, I think most pitfalls could be avoided.
All the time - I screen all my calls anyway, and if the missus doesn’t sound in a flap, I just let her leave a message.
I’d do the same with telepathy - sense if it’s an emergency, and if it isn’t and I don’t wanna chat, I won’t. I have no problem telling my wife I want to be alone, or hearing the same from her.
This is how I feel too. I’d love to be that close to someone, and never have to be lonely again.
As for who I’d want on the other end, that’s a bit more difficult. At the moment, the obvious choice is my best friend. It’d be awesome - we could hang out all the time! After three years of sitting next to each other in almost every class, meeting for lunch twice a week just isn’t the same. But while this arrangement would work very well for the time being, I can see it causing problems down the line. When I get a boyfriend he might be uncomfortable about me being so intimately connected to another guy. (Like Ender, Novhina and Jane.) Same deal if my friend gets a girlfriend.
I don’t know. Maybe it doesn’t really matter who it is. Assuming we’re not wildly incompatible, this link could lead to an amazing relationship with pretty much anyone.
I’d do it with my wife in a heartbeat. No question. I don’t know how to explain it without sounding sappy and sentimental, but we truly do feel more like two halves of the same person than two different people. I already resent having to be separated when I go to work; anything that could bring us closer together would be welcome.
The truth is, I like my isolation. I love my SO very much but I like maintaining my seperateness and intend to maintain it all my life. There is a core me I never intend to share with anyone. That’s just the way it is. I don’t care that my current thoughts might be about vanilla or the fact that the birds are singing really loudly…or that I want to have sex with the man sitting in the airplane next to me. I don’t care what the thoughts are, I want them to myself, and I certainly don’t want to have to censor myself all the time (the equivalant of sending him to voicemail.)
I don’t really believe most people will do well with telepathy, actually. Humans just aren’t meant to be that way and I think it would drive most people crazy.
I grew up in a household where individuality was considered one of the greatest sins, so I’m sure that contributes. Telepathy - DO NOT WANT.
Yes, I would do it. I think the sex would be amazing, and I’ve always wondered what it’s really like to be a man. So, if I got married again, I’d add on an offer of telepathy.
I think it would be cool – and useful – to have this linkup with my granddaughter, at least for a while. She is 4 months old, can’t talk yet, and it would be great to know just exactly why she’s crying sometimes.