At a speed dating event I went to a while ago, one of the women asked me a very interesting and original (for the event) question: if I had to give up one of my senses, which would it be?
It took a little while to think of an answer, but eventually I decided on sight. I chose sight for a very simple reason, and it’s one that you might have to think about for a while: from my experience, the way one sees something physically changes everything about it – to them.
For example, have you imagined how an item of food you’ve never seen before tastes? How often does that food taste exactly as you’d imagined, based on just looking at it?
Or more to the point, how often do you assume that someone’s a particular kind of person, just by the way they look?
I’m convinced that relying solely on what people see with their eyes is one of the root causes of many of the world’s problems, particularly when it comes to interacting with other people. Even though discriminating against aesthetics and appearance has almost always existed, we’ve gotten to a stage where it’s become acceptable and strongly encouraged. The result is that we don’t know how valuable people are as people any more.
I thought about some of the other senses I could give up if the situation arose. One I could definitely not live without is touch.
The ability to feel things is – to me – far more valuable than is immediately fathomable. I couldn’t imagine having my hand on something and not being able to feel the texture or warmth. I also associate touch with being able to feel emotions.
Which of your senses would you give up?
Tags: Aesthetics, Appearance, Emotions, Senses, Tastes, Texture, Warmth