Would you rather: Lose hearing or lose sight?

[PtldPlatypus]

Just thought it might be fun to have some "would you rather" threads, so I'm starting the most pedestrian one possible, hoping others of you will come up with more interesting sequels.

So hypothetically, you are afflicted with a disease that will permanently, irrevocably destroy your sight, with no other aftereffects. However, the only cure for the disease--which is available free of charge--will permanently, irrevocably destroy your hearing. Which do you choose, and why?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Reading is quite important to me. Not "getting info from books" b/c I know audiobooks exist. It's reading.

 

[crowTrobot]

I'd miss seeing tits more than hearing moans.

 

[magnifier661]

Visuals are soon important to me. I actually wouldn't mind being deaf, so I wouldn't have to hear the bitch and moans from idiots around me! I also have a permanent "ringing in my ear", from my rock and roll days. I would love that to go away too!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Being blind would give me am excuse to get am awesome dog.

If you're deaf, you have to learn ASL. Although if you're blind, you need to learn Braille.

If I were blind, my other senses would undoubtedly heighten. Does the same happen if you're deaf?

Blind people have an excuse to carry a weapon all the time. But deaf people can still drive (I think).

If I'm deaf, I can't listen to Wheels anymore. If I'm blind, I still have to listen to 'Tone.

For me, it would have to be losing sight, because I just love music too much.

 

[Sean.ivity]

I would pick losing my hearing. I had a deaf roommate and he seemed good. Would tell me he could feel the vibrations of music... plus you can ignore people and they can't get mad at you, lol.

 

[kjironman1]

I have permanent hearing damage from the war and my trade. I wear hearing aids but really they only work so well. I have a combination hearing loss and what is called tinnitus.(Ringing in the ears). That being said the effects of my hearing loss have recently been much easier to deal with as the advances in communication have increased. I nearly always text and i have a special blue tooth device for talking on the phone. TV's all have Captioning and really i don't even have to spell the words anymore when i do text. Voice texting is making a huge impact. Soon i guess i will be able to talk to my computer also.
Now because i am getting older i am also starting to need reading glasses. This is different. Not sure how i would handle total sight loss or even very significant loss of sight?
I would have to go with hearing loss before eyesight for sure.

 

[Draco]

Sight is definitely more important to me. I'm pretty surprised anyone would pick hearing. Losing music would suck. If it was only a temporary loss for a couple months I'd probably learn a hell of a lot from being blind.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

That it is even a question shows how different people are. I would think one would rewrite the definition of retarded if they picked being blind over deaf.

 

[PDXFonz]

I remember in grade school there was a day where we started off in the gym randomly picking a disability (being deaf, blind, having a body part amputated, etc..) and then spent the rest of the day like that. I don't remember what exactly I ended up with, I think I had to have my dominant arm tied behind my back the whole day. What I specifically had to do wasn't the take away, the take away was the respect for others who by birth, or an event in life, have to overcome such adversity. I remember it wasn't easy, and it was really frustrating.

Try getting into and taking a shower without opening your eyes... It is not easy, but I'm sure in time you learn how to cope with it and do the best you can. I wouldn't wish for either of them but should I find myself in the odd 'SAW' like situation where I had to chose, I would probably choose to lose my hearing. It's not an easy choice, I don't have children, but should the day come when I do I couldn't imagine not being able to hear them say their first words.

Great thread plat, helped remind me just how important the gifts we have are, and how easy it is to take them for granted.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Without music, my life would be useless. Without sound, I would be lost. I can go without sight; I've had bad eyes all my life, so I'm halfway there already. I'd go insane without hearing; I'd seriously contemplate suicide if I lost my hearing entirely.

 

[MARIS61]

As you know, I'm a glassishalffull kind of guy so I'll ask You would you rather have x-ray vision or superhearing?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

As you know, I'm a glassishalffull kind of guy so I'll ask You would you rather have x-ray vision or superhearing?

Well then, start your own "Would you rather" thread!

 

[donkiez]

I think about this question every day. For me this is not a hypothetical. I am loosing my vision to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa. Currently I am legally blind because of my reduced peripheral vision. My central vision is still near normal though, but the eventual prognosis is complete blindness. No one knows how long that will take, probably 20-30 years. My doctor says that I will probably always be able to sense some light, but thats a guess. Science has some amazing things on the horizon so there is lots of hope, but even without that Im ok with whatever comes my way. One of the biggest bummers though is the thought of not being able to actually "watch" my trailblazers anymore!

I have lots of friends in the disability community, and even though I am obviously bias, from what I've heard most think its better to keep your hearing because being deaf is more lonely.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

I'd miss seeing tits more than hearing moans.

This

 

[kjironman1]

The thing with my hearing loss is that people think i'm stupid. I guess it's just a normal way of reacting. It get pretty old.

 

[donkiez]

The thing with my hearing loss is that people think i'm stupid. I guess it's just a normal way of reacting. It get pretty old.

Thats funny cause its true. One of my best friends had a premature stroke and fucked him all up, including his hearing. I remember catching myself all the time talking to him loud and slow like a 2 year old. After he got his implant it was pretty amazing how with it he was and is still getting. Same holds for different languages, ever catch yourself talking to a foreigner like they are dumb and instead of speaking a different language? It usually just makes me feel like the stupid one when Im caught doing this.

 

[Jade Falcon]

I've already lost most of my hearing to inner ear nerve damage. I'm 90% deaf in my left ear, and 70% in my right. I wear hearing aids in both ears.

I'm a sticker for keeping what hearing I have, so I'm big on ear protection when I go to the range to shoot (as ANYONE should be).

As for eye sight; yeah, I wanna keep that too. I'm long overdue to renew the Rx on my glasses.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Easy answer! Lose hearing! At least I could still see beautiful women, and I dont have to hear them complain!

 

[KingSpeed]

I would give up sight. There's no way I give up music.

 

[kjironman1]

Easy answer! Lose hearing! At least I could still see beautiful women, and I dont have to hear them complain!

I use the selective hearing thing all the time anyway. With as bad as i hear i get away with quite a bit.

 

[barfo]

Love is blind. Love is not deaf.

barfo