Choose your pain.
 

I was just checking the Truth Hurts thread recently and posting a few questions. One of the questions asked by another member, I think it was Hyde, was if you had one disability, would you rather be blind or deaf? I've struggled with this question for the longest time, if I were to somehow get into a freak accident, either my eyesight or hearing ability would be wiped out. From this standpoint, it's just too hard to think how different your day would be if you couldn't see nor ear.

However, I'm adding a third option to the pole, and that would be that you can see and hear perfectly, but you have no left or right hands - lets say you got into some car accident and both of them had to be amputated to save you.

Despite this rather depressing and morbid choice, choose your pain and explain your rationale?

And even after all this, I'm still indecisive, but I'd go with being deaf - I find eyesight just so much more useful to get around daily life.

I'd rather be blind. Life without reading would be... difficult, to be sure, but life without hearing would be absolutely insufferable. I don't know what I would do if I was unable to converse.

You thief!!

I would also take blindness. If you are blind, you loose your connections to objects, however if you are deaf, you loose your connections to people. I would rather be able to talk and communicate than see.

I think people automatically answer that they would rather be deaf without really thinking about the implications.

No left or right hands? Well if I can keep one, I guess I'd choose this option. Being blind sucks and being deaf is bad for your ears.

When you are deaf, you can still use sign language, body language and writing (and even speech, unless the question assumes that you are deaf from birth), while leading an otherwise quite normal life, whereas being blind means that you pretty much lose the ability to work, read (braille :rolleyes:), ever travel by yourself, et cetera; you're basically dependant on other people for the rest of your life.

I disagree, with any disability you can learn to over come it to some extent. I'd rather not be able to hear than not be able to see. The reason is I know what it is like to be nearly blind. It makes functioning as an individual so much harder when you can't see, for example with out my glasses I can't drive my car, safely walk cross the street by my self, use a computer, read a book, etc. If it were my hearing that was impaired I wouldn't be able to listen to music, talk on a phone, etc. I think it is alot easier to learn to overcome a lack of hearing than it is to learn to over come a lack of sight.

There are a lot of deaf people who don't hear the truck coming from the right, though.

I pick blindness. Eventually you'll adapt to it. I dunno about deafness for others, but personally, I couldn't live in silence since I am a music lover. And lacking a hand is also filed under the inability to play music or do a multitude of other daily activities.

I would rather keep both and loose the hands. I can continue to listen to music and browse the internets AND I can get a pair of hooks for hands and act like a pirate Yaaarr! :)

Blind. The two things I like the most are books and music. As long as I can hear and have hands I can listen to music, play my instrument, and still listen to audio books. I'm a sappy motherfucker so it would be terrible to not be able to look at the moon and the ocean and snow and women, but hey - priorities.

Actually, I was meaning losing BOTH your hands.

I was paraphrasing neuroscientist. In his work, he interviewed patience who became blnd and deaf in their adult lives. At first, I felt the same way about hearing, but the literature was quite compelling. The interviews made it very clear that being blind restricted contact with humans much more than being deaf,

I stand by my original statement. I can't articulate my thoughts as well as my professors but I was immeadiately pursuaded upon hearing and reading the text. Coming from a visual person, this is a very strong statement. I find a world of silence to be much more terrifying than a world of darkness.

I pulled a quote from Helen Keller

I was legally blind for years before I had eye surgery, and although I could see colors (if the thing I was looking at was very large) I couldn't make out distinct shapes at all. The big "E" at the top of the eye chart that I couldn't see when I was seven years old became a big chart that I couldn't see by the time I was 15. It really wasn't as unbearable as people think. I believe I could be completely functional without eyesight, so that's what I'd pick.

The Cons of both are just too great. On the sight side, there's no more movies, no more video games, no more TV (ok, so i guess those are pretty much under one category) no reading, hard to get around.

For the hearing side, there's no more being able to interpret speech, no more music. Music is a huge thing for me, so that one's right up there.

As for hands, that'd mean no more video games, no more being able to properly manipulate stuff, and worst of all, not being able to hold hands with my sweety :(. I can imagine that many forms of physical contact would be hindered by that one.

If i had to chose one though, out of the three, i'd probably go with blindness. I need to be able to hear to function, whether it be music, speech, or whatever else have you.

My hands. I usually play RPGs and such so I could always learn playing them with my feet. But then again, I enjoy both shoot and beat 'em ups a lot, too. I guess I could sacrifice those two if I can keep my eyesight and hearing. They are far more precious, in my opinion.

Deaf. I can live without sound if need be, and I've had ear issues in the past that've troubled me to no end. Honestly, your entire loss would consist of sound.

You'd still be able to watch tv with subtitles, browse online, type, read, work, and do almost everything a normal person's capable of doing - unless it's specifically involved with sound itself.

I just cannot imagine sacrificing your eyesight or arms (both which would cripple you from working and doing a variety of things) when there's an obvious alternative which has more benefits over detriments.

To be truthful, I am keen on Alice and Elixer's comments so far because they have experienced either a deficit in hearing or sight. Everyone else in the thread, myself included, is just speculating what such a world would be like. Understandably, each poster adds insight and thoughts to the thread, but I've found Alice and Elixer to be the most compelling. This is not said to lessen the worth of some other posts, afterall I am one of those posters, but just an observation I made.

ps: I added a Helen Keller quote above. Being both deaf and blind, I think her words have great weight in this argument.

I chose both hands.

To never be able to see or hear your loved ones would be too much for me, and I'm not much of a musician compared to other people.

Sure talking on message boards or AIM would be hindered, but if I get some sort of thumb like object, I can at least still press keys (and the X button on the PS2 controller :P). No more FPSs or Smash Bros. though - still living on RPGs, being able to have full conversations with people, the ability to listen to music, and watch nature would still be a fulfilling life in my eyes.

I choose sight.

I am way too involved with the music I listen to - More so than the games I play or anything on TV or in the cinema. Coping with audiobooks wouldn't be so hard either.

Losing both my hands? That'd be hellish.

I would definitely choose deaf. If I were blind, I wouldn't be able to know what is going on around me at all. Sure, I'd still hear things, but it would be much more difficult to understand what is going on without seeing it. Also, I wouldn't be able to watch porn/

Deaf, most definitely. That would mean I would have to give up playing piano and guitar for myself. I'd be only ever to play for others, and really badly at that, but...

I wouldn't want to lose my sight, since I'm already legally blind and getting worse. One day I plan on eye surgery since my prescription is well over -10.00 and not slowing down. I'm utterly dependent on seeing things for daily life, and honestly don't think that I would settle for just hearing things around me. Everything would scare me if I was blind and could only hear noise. I'd also have to be meticulous when walking and thus would have to give up listening to music, unless I want to get hit by a car.

Never both hands. Typing takes up the majority of my day, and video gaming. I might as well be dead unless I managed to master usage of my feet and legs to replace my hands. What job could I possibly get where I have no need for my hands?

Lots of tradeoffs to consider but I choose being able to enjoy myself over a severely handicapped life.

I chose left and right hands in the hopes that advanced prosthetics will one day become available. I could not live without both my sight and hearing.

I have a similar situation as Alice (my vision got 50% worse each year for almost 10 years) and I have the opposite opinion. I am a visual learner so seeing is very important to me. This is really all a matter of opinion, not really an argument or debate.

I chose "deaf" but imagine life without any music. Makes it seem a little lackluster. :) I could actually cope being deaf, but I can't say the same for being blind. I would find it incredibly difficult. Being deaf has all of the hassle of learning braille anyway. (as for being born blind or deaf...damn that's harsh)

I couldn't really handle being without half of my limbs, too. An immense struggle it would be to go outdoors with people's judgmental stares...

My eyes aren't necessary to "see" anything that my ears and mind cannot. A life without hearing is like a life without salt.

I agree with you that it is a matter of opinion. Hopefully I didn't come off as argumentative or presumptuous. Its interesting you have a similar situation as Alice but ended up with an opposite opinion.

I couldn't live without my hands/hearing (for piano), I'm too music-based :P

Amen ciph3r!!!

That's exactly why I voted "blind" there are several great pianists who became blind and continued to play... even in concert. I think I would die if I couldn't play or hear my piano!

RnB

Without hands. At least I can see and hear who is coming up behind me and bludgeon them to death with my stumps.

no seriously

Although I understand that sight is one of the senses that humans are most dependent on, living without it is doable. I know of two blind people on my campus who are perfectly capable of doing everything a normal student can do. The difficulties they encounter, especially in programming or mathematics, are severe, but I can't even imagine a deaf person being able to attend classes easily either.

On top of that, music is that important to me. Without it, or even without being able to converse normally with people, life would be utterly dull.

That is a really good question. It's very difficult to pick which I'd rather have, I however have chosen deaf because, I'd like to be able to see my family and friends.
But I love listening to music so its a pickle. I hope I never have to go through any of them.

I would rather be death. Cause, then I can see people and enjoy the beautiful things outside of my home, such as seeing the sunset everynight. Besides, being blind would be scary to me.. nothing but darkness.

^ Cop out.

I'd be deaf either way. Not to debunk Helen Keller, but there's no such thing as profound deafness unless your ears are just completely gone. For example, like Mush was mentioning about one wouldn't hear a truck coming. That is true, but you must also keep in mind in something similar to a railroad tracks. You can definitely feel the train coming, and to a deaf person, he/she could feel the rumble if close enough... :\ I'm sure its too fast to be able to tell where its coming from. But you get my point.

That rumble feeling is similar to a sound effect of silence in a way. Born deaf btw, and having no sense of sound doesn't really affect me as much like Helen was saying, losing touch to people? At least you can see your own children to love and hug and take care of them.

I pretty much agree with what Philia summed up.

For me, I'm pretty blessed that I'm a physically able being with all limbs attached with proper function of five senses. If I had to choose whether not to see or hear though, I would choose not to hear. I can imagine I can still do work without the ability to hear, but not being able to read, write, or type (as much of my life involves sitting in front of a computer to be connected with people), would just completely put me in solitude.

All three options are pretty horrific to me. I'm a classical musician and music is my first love so the thought of losing my hearing is agonizing to me... and I'd need my hands to play... and I'd need my eyes to see what I'm playing.

I suppose if I *HAD* to make a choice, I'd lose my sight.

If I had to make a choice, I'd choose losing my sight. I think I'd go crazy never being able to hear anything again. I go crazy if I go more than ten minutes without listening to some form of music. (The week I lost my mp3 was particularly tragic.) And I'd hate to lose my hands, because I wouldn't be able to play the clarinet. And I wouldn't be able to learn any of the other instruments I plan on playing.

Death is not an option. Try again.

I can't live without hearing the wind, music and tone of voice. So I need my hearing. I like to read and I like seeing different things. So I need my sight. I also love to draw but you don't neccessarily need only your hands for that. So i picked loss of left anf right hands. I like to sing so loosing my hands wont stop me from singing.

I'd lose my hands, since I'm sure we're closer to inventing invent nuclear powered cyborg hands than we are eyes or ears.

A picture is worth a thousand words. I'd choose hearing to go. At least I'd enjoy the prospect of learning to read lips more than the prospect of learning braille.

If you're blind, you're much more vulnerable to any kind of assault since people know you're blind. If you're deaf you can carry on a decent conversation without the person knowing you're deaf since you can read lips.

I love music as much as anyone (maybe even moreso since I have a degree in music education), but music comes second to personal safety and general functionality in the world. No matter how well a blind person may function in the world, or how well a handless person may function, they just doesn't have the same level of functionality for working or living that a deaf person has.

considering i love music...i couldn't choose deafness. i need my music to survive!
and i love art and movies and such, so my sight is loved.

so D= my hands. ;__; i guess i coulds get hooks or metal fingers or something. And then i could be named...the claw
hawt.

I think I'd rather lose my hands. I want to see my kids grow up and be able to communicate with them. I probably couldn't brush my daughter's hair or play ball with my son, but I'd still be able to read them stories.oO; I talk about my kids a lot, eh?

i'd rather be deaf. i'd rather learn sign language or read lips or something than not be able to see the colors and beauty in the world. sounds cheezy i know ^_^ but yeah, and my hands! i like having fingers :D

I'd rather be blind than deaf because I really love music. If I couldn't hear music anymore, I could not deal with it.
Without hands, I'd just feel really helpless because I had to manage everything just with my feet and there are some things you just CANNOT do with your feet...

A majority of communication comes from body language. It's so deep that it's developed into our subconscious. Communication is part auditory, but not exclusively.

I'd think most people can appreciate movies better and understand the basic plot through pure audio cues rather than pure visual signals. Think of radio dramas for example. And still after making this thread, I can't single out the three choices and make a definate decision.

That's entertainment though. It's a movie. Hyde's post was referring to contact with people and that relies a lot on the visual aspect of communication. You can say "hi" a lot of different ways, but the subtlety of your facial expression and body language add a lot more depth to that "hi."

I agree that it is a really tough choice though.

Hands seems like the most obvious answer. You could still make music. You'd just have to compose it and have other people play it. Or you could make it using computer programs and other music producing stuff. Really, losing your hands wouldn't limit you near as much as any of the other choices.

I'd rather be blind than deaf and unable to play the piano without hands. Sometimes I believe that my eyes provide a distraction to my mind. My hearing allows a great deal more food for my soul, largely because of music. Hearing the sound of loved ones is also wonderful.

I would like many other people choose to lose my eyes. There is so much in the world that I don't want to see. There are some many things that my eyes are wasted on. T.V. being one thing that my eyes distract me with. Without your eyes touch becomes so much more powerful and all the other senses. I couldn't live without music though. Without hands I couldn't give massages and what would the world be like where I couldn't pet my dog. Sight is so overrated. Why do you think people close their eyes when they kiss. You can duplicate sounds and sights but touch is always the truest sense.

^^^Nice! I completely agree with you.

I absolutely love music, but I think life would be harder without sight than without sound. I would miss listening to Jazz and game music the most, but I could still do all of my other hobbies, albeit in silence.

Being 100% deaf in one ear since I was 14, I would have to say that to be totally deaf would totally cut you off from people. Not very many people know sign language, and you would not be able to communicate in normal everyday settings, even just at the grocery store, etc. Being blind, also cuts you off almost totally. So therefore, I would have to go with having one less arm, since you can still function fairly normally in a social setting, and could still function on your own.