Opinion Poll - Read _before_ you vote =}

[MrsKsr]

Now, I can appreciate that this may seem random and out of place on a gaming forum. But I was asked this question a while back by my cousin and it really made me think, so I figured I would share it with as many people as possible to see how others feel.

The question she asked was, "If you had to choose, which would you live without, hearing or sight?" She answered straight away and gave hearing... "I couldn't go the rest of my life not seeing my kids grow up etc."

I can completely understand that, but I just don't know if I could live without hearing things, music especially. Even as I write this I'm listening to music (flying lotus). I love it, cliché as it sounds, i live & breathe music. I listen when I wake, even when I'm asleep. I sing almost 24/7.. It's in my veins and always will be. If you're not a huge music lover then that will sound stupid to you and that's fair enough, I respect your opinion - this is an opinion poll after all =}

However, think of it this way.. You know when you wake early in the morning and you hear the birds outside chirping? Isn't it beautiful? Just to listen to the world waking up.. Nature waking up.. I love it. Or if you love the city life, imagine not hearing the hustle and bustle of people moving around, people selling at market stalls, the things we take for granted. I can only imagine that being deaf can be quite lonely at times... but that's just my opinion, I guess I can't comment there..

On a different note, going back to sight.. Imagine never seeing another sunset, or sunrise. Never starring into space at the stars at night. Never watching clouds float by and making random shapes out of them. Imagine never seeing a beautiful lightning storm, you're children growing up, you're daughter/son's wedding.. These are all things which are so enjoyable to witness. Could you do it?

On reflection, as much as I love all the things I just listed about being able to see, I honestly don't think I could live without music. For that reason I would choose to live without sight.

Anyway, all I can say is that I am happy that I have both my hearing and my sight. Never take them for granted. Take a moment to observe these little pleasures in life.. One day you might not get the chance..


Please add a comment to your vote? =}

Appologies for the total randomness..

[kyle]

you can still feel music w/o hearing.

[Phytotron]

This is one of those questions you start asking each other in elementary school. What would you rather lose, your arms or your legs? Your sight or your hearing? Without hesitation or ambivalence I say I would rather lose my sight.

[Word]

there's so much noise these days, i really start to enjoy silence

[compguygene]

I have been watching and thinking about this topic, since it's inception. I definitely would choose to live without hearing. I too am a music lover and would miss hearing. However, I really think that I would lose a lot more by losing sight. Also, I would still be able to appreciate music some, by playing very loud music that has a strong bass line and drum beat. The hobby I spend the most time on is doing geeky stuff and light duty programming related to Armagetron. That would be pretty tough w/o sight. And I really feel that I would miss out on much more in life if I lost sight.

[Van-hayes]

Definitely could not live without sight, you wouldn't be able to go for a run, drive, ride a bike, read a book, watch t.v/movies, post on this forum, play this game, use the internet, etc. It would make just about everything you do much harder from getting around your own house to walking to the store down the street or even working. Not to mention that I like to travel and actually see different places. The worst part would be that if you were struck blind today it essential takes away most of your independence and would make you rely on others to do things for you, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but how long would it take for you to start feeling like a burden or that you were getting treated like a child? I'm not saying that it would last forever, eventually you would become somewhat independent again, just not to where you were before.

Music is great, so is hearing a voice and having a conversation with someone, but hearing just doesn't compare to seeing for me.

Oh ya, I like to stand when i piss, that becomes a lot riskier if you can't see where your aiming. Not a huge deal, but still.

[Phytotron]

You obviously don't know a thing about the lifestyles of blind people, Van-hayes. Simply ignorant statements.

[Van-hayes]

How exactly am I being ignorant, I see blindness as a bigger disability then deafness. Please enlighten me on how I am being ignorant with my opinion in this opinion poll. If i went deaf tomorrow I could probably still do the same things i normally do day to day without as much help as if I were blinded. I'm not saying blind people are completely dependent on others to live, I am saying if you go blind tomorrow you pretty much are dependent on others for a while, longer then if you were to go deaf.

[Hoax]

Big difference between being born blind and losing your sight later in life, vice versa for hearing.
I bet most people have thought something similar to the question proposed, why you need to ask it publicly though idk

[MrsKsr]

I figured I would share it with as many people as possible to see how others feel.

To further that.. Quite simply to see how "rational" my decision was based on that of others.. After all, questions are meant to be asked right?

[Mecca]

You obviously don't know a thing about the lifestyles of blind people, Van-hayes. Simply ignorant statements.

Please explain how you can go for a run or go for a drive when you cannot see.

I am a 400 meter runner. If I could not see, the race would be impossible.

[Hoax]

If you was being rational I'd say you would need to base it on practical aspects

Anyway pointless topic since sight is more beneficial to play arma

[sinewav]

Anyway pointless topic since sight is more beneficial to play arma

Actually, a fair amount of my kills come from hearing my enemies seeping toward me off-screen and turning at the right time.

[Mecca]

Anyway pointless topic since sight is more beneficial to play arma

Actually, a fair amount of my kills come from hearing my enemies seeping toward me off-screen and turning at the right time.

True, but I am sure that if you could not see which side of your wall your opponent was grinding on it might be a bit of an issue when it comes to deciding which way to turn.

Also, I would think that if you could not see, you would have crashed into a wall long before that situation presents itself. I could be wrong.

Hi Sinewav!

[Hoax]

Anyway pointless topic since sight is more beneficial to play arma

Actually, a fair amount of my kills come from hearing my enemies seeping toward me off-screen and turning at the right time.

I knew someone would say that, that's why I said "more beneficial".