I Would Rather Go Blind
I Would Rather Go Blind
For as many years as I can recall, I’ve had a half-baked theory that we, human beings, would be more peaceful, less prone to being warlike, and more tolerant in general if we were not sight-dependent entities. That is, if we were blind.
Perhaps negotiating our way around and about in the physical world, we might incur the occasional bumped shin, but on the plus side, there’d be less likelihood of the same shin being blown off in a war.
In fact, nature would ramp up our other senses to compensate for the loss of visual ability, we would have more acute hearing, smell, possibly senses would evolve in ways we can’t begin to imagine.
We depend on our sight above every other sense. Consequently, people make instantaneous judgments based on nothing more than a person’s appearance. Whether it’s that their skin is white, black, yellow, pink; that they have long hair, short hair, they have a comb-over or a shaven head. Perhaps they are covered in piercings, tattoos, or dressed head to toe in well-weathered biker leathers — we make a snap judgment. I believe we all do this, not everyone does it to the same degree, but to some degree, everyone does do it.
In cyber space, we may occasionally have an idea of someone’s appearance from an avatar or photograph, but usually we know nothing about the person with whom we’re communicating. We base our opinion on a person’s words and deeds, on who they are, not what they look like. We enter into new introductions with no preconceptions, just an open mind and a warm heart.
My experience to date with the blogging community has taught me that my original theory does have value. The thought of losing my sight is abhorrent to me, and it’s something I fear. But if it meant we could create heaven on earth, no more war, no more famine, no more orphaned children, if it meant that we could achieve this… I would rather go blind.
What about you?
Reward Rebel
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Buddhism and the Law of Attraction taught and teaches me a lot of good things (’good’ in my humble opinion). Two of them are to see and do only good in/to others, and to realize we are all one and the current is (or may be) only one of so many other lives we live(d).
Furthermore, when we think of fighting against something it will likely become stronger (or appears more often) because we put our feelings and attention on what we fight against. Rather, focusing on the things we do want to see and experience is the way to go.
At least for me anyway.
Going blind sounds like a good idea to accomplish the aforementioned.
~Marcus
Internet Business Guide’s last blog post..Internet Business — Implementation Comes After Planning
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I think your hypothesis might have some validity! I’d only do it if the majority of people did it first though! I’d hate to sign up for the whole blind-deal and then a bunch of people pull out after I’d already been blinded!
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Marcus -
Although I’m not, strictly speaking, a practising Buddhist, it is a philosophy with which I’ve identified over the years (and I occasionally chant in accordance with the teachings of Daishonin Buddhism).
You’ve made a very interesting point (in a curious twist of irony) about visualisation, illustrating that there are as many routes to a destination as there are souls to travel them;-D
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
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CyberfiZZle -
Fair comment! I’ll give the “how it’s going to be achieved” aspect of my new cult a bit of further thought before the launch;-D
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100% agree with what you say , in cyber space we judge someone from their deeds and words ,but in real life mostly we already have formed an opinion of a person when we see the person. I have made some great friends in cyber space through games , blogging and forums and I’m glad I didn’t see them first
, But never thought much about it until I saw this post.
Nishadha’s last blog post..Blogger vs Wordpress , which is best ?
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Nishadha -
Reactions to this post have served to reinforce my own belief in the theory, but with all these good natured people around, it puzzles me how the world is so screwed-up;-D
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Will we get a robe when we join the cult? I think robes would be grand! Velvet robes! WooT!
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CyberfiZZle -
We can have lots of meetings to decide the details, and if you’ll take the minutes, you can have a hat, too, possibly with a feather in it! Of course, nobody will be able to see how splendid you’ll look;-D
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Oh please. We’d use our enhanced senses to kill each other. Aggression is inherent in human beings.
Leon’s last blog post..My thoughts on…Barack Obama’s appeal
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Hell no! I would not want to be blind! No no no!
If I am blind, I would not be able to read your article about going blind now, aye?
My eyes are precious, I would not want to go blind.
Actually, regarding your theory, I agree, and disagree. Wait, never mind that.
Check out the following scenario instead:
Scenario 1
Physical Realm:
1. Peter discusses something with Jane
2. Peter disagrees with Jane
3. Peter got pissed off
4. Peter’s facial expression, vocal tone clearly indicates that Peter is pissed off
5. Peter enters into a berserk rage and proceeds to bludgeons Jane with a club
[Bad example of male physical violence]
Scenario 2
Cyberspace:
1. Peter discusses something with Jane over MSN Messenger
2. Peter disagrees with Jane
3. Peter got pissed off
4. Peter would like to bludgeon Jane one day
5. Peter comes across Jane one day and proceeds to club her
[Another bad example of male physical violence]
Scenario 3
Cyberspace:
1. Peter discusses something with Jane over MSN Messenger
2. Peter disagrees with Jane
3. Peter got pissed off
4. Peter would like to bludgeon Jane one day
5. Peter did not express his emotions over the MSN Messenger chat interface
6. Peter dates Jane out one day
7. Peter clubs Jane during the date
[Yet another bad example of male physical violence]
Well, I think that is enough scenarios for today, I believe you get the picture already, aye?
Of course, one must always think of the bright side, but it does not hurt to be prepared for the worst, aye?
Cheers, mate.
Deimos Tel`Arin’s last blog post..Reciprocative EntreCarders Guild (REG) Registration Of Interest
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I’m half blind (blind in my left eye) therefor I think I’m smarter!
Yes, I like the internet “blindness”. We judge less since we don’t see the person in front of us. I have already got great advices from bloggers and found out later on there were in their teens. I mean, I’m in my 20s myself but real life I may not have listened just because the person in front of me was younger.
Zhu’s last blog post..Canadian-ism (s) — Part V: Sweet Tooth
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Leon -
Aw, c’mon, now I’ll have to draft an opt-out clause;-D
Deimos -
You’re a crazy dude, but I luvs ya! Thanks for taking the time to add such a complete (and complex) perspective;-D
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It might be half-baked but definitely worth a second look. in fact, placing it in the context of the cyberworld does make sense.
One reason why most people prefer to remain anonymous (or at least use aliases) is for other people not to judge them by their physical traits that readers naturally sifts through first before they even read the pages.
The end product? We and the readers judge each site and blogger by what he is and who he is from what he/she writes.
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Zhu -
Heh heh, half blind = twice as smart… I like your style;-D
Buraot -
Absolutely. In order to know us, people must read our documented thoughts and opinions. Yep, even when we do provide an avatar, there’s u glancing back over your shoulder, away from camera, and me skulking behind dark glasses. Ah, the mystique… perhaps we’re really just romantics at heart (chortle);-D
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Reward Rebel,
These exchanges have certainly taken some time but it’s well worth it. There are insights gained from the comments that could awaken even the passers by to this blog!
We all wear masks, real or psychological, perhaps to avoid being judged based on our self perceived weaknesses or faults and other insecurities. Aliases and avatars are certainly forms of masks, to enable us to express freely what we may fail to say in person. Add to this the difficulty for some people to take rejection and are intimidated by those who show strong personalities.
The non-visible person can also use the avatar to reinvent himself or be the person that he/she is which he/she cannot fully project for some reason or another.
However, to those with a keen instinct for sensing real thoughts and feelings, much can be obtained from the words and thoughts of those making comments and the posts they publish, in terms of their true personality and character. I’m sure a lot of people can discern what is sincere and what is more of self interest than sincerity.
The internet is definitely a great place to be free, be philosophical,be creative, be funny, and be yourself; as a unique human being. –Durano, done!
Durano Lawayan’s last blog post..Church Control of Contraception
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Durano -
True… the internet provides the opportunity for each of us to reinvent ourselves exactly as we’d like to be. Well, apart from being wealthy;-D
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I think the whole blind thing could work. We would have to remake computers so monitors could output in braille!
And about that feather, I only think the upper echelon should get the feather. The peasants shouldn’t get no feathers! That’s my vote! (Err…as long as I’m in the upper echelon that is!) I would let people who needed to know I was of the upper caste/class feel my feather as proof!
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