Chris from Off the Shore of Orion starts off the Ask Roger Anything jamboree with:
You can only have one of these three powers: infinite strength, the ability to fly, or the ability to read minds.
Which one would you pick, why, and what would you use it for?
I decided to deconstruct this. How often have I said, “Boy, do I wish I were stronger so I can do X?” Not that often, in the grander scheme of things. Maybe during my many moves, but many hands make light work. Besides, I’d probably end up schlepping stuff for others far too often
I’ve wanted to fly since I was a child, had flying dreams and everything. It would save time, and time is a finite, not a fungible, commodity. Thought that would be it.
However, the idea of the ability to read minds was too intriguing to pass up. How often have I wondered, “What did he REALLY mean when he said that?” or “What does she REALLY want?” I can imagine trying to finally broker peace in the Middle East by knowing what the REAL bottom line is on each side! It would also come in handy when dealing with my daughter, who is not always as forthcoming about her feelings as she might be.
Then I wondered about how obtrusive it would be, to hear everyone’s thoughts, to hear the truth behind all of those white lies. Would I be able to turn OFF the noise of everyone’s mundane or petty thoughts? It’d be kind of spooky – violation of privacy and all that.
So I believe I would fly.
What would I do with the ability? Depends on the particulars: how fast could I go? If it’s hovercraft speed, then it’d just be a time saver. If I could go fast enough, I’d be inclined to visit my sisters in California and North Carolina, maybe travel to places around the world I have never seen. Hey, do I have temperature-resistant garb, or in the alternative, will the wind chill not affect me? THAT would DEFINITELY be a factor!
***
Tom the Mayor, who I know from the Albany YMCA and FantaCo wondered: Have you ever had a talk with Lydia about racism? It is a tough subject for a parent to talk with their children about.
To which Lisa from peripheral perceptions added: I think your answer to Thomas’ question would be very interesting. Count me in on that one.
I don’t think you have a talk with kids about racism, any more than you would have a talk about sex. You look for opportunities to point out situations where racism exists, even today – shocking, I know, but they do present themselves – and discuss what might be the motivating factors.
Now, my daughter has developed a pretty good sense of HISTORICAL racism. She came home from school one day and asked if she would have been a slave; I had to articulate that not all black people in the US were slaves and that different states had different laws. She’s amazingly well-versed in the Negro Leagues of baseball.
In some ways, racism these days is harder to explain compared with what it used to be like. Colored-only water fountains and the back of the bus are simpler to describe than banks redlining districts so no blacks can move into a given community, or Driving While Black.
Sidebar: we have been fortunate that she has gotten to go to preschool and elementary school with a wide range of types of people.
***
Scott, who seems to have unfortunately given up blogging for the nonce, asks a time-sensitive question:
(As always ask in the spring) Who do you think will win the World Series this year, and who will they beat?
In the AL West, the whatever-the-geography-is Angels over the Oakland As. In the AL Central, Detroit going away, though KC could be a distant second. In the AL East, Toronto over Baltimore. In the NL West, the LA Dodgers over SF Giants. In the NL Central Cincinnati Reds over the St. Louis Cardinals. In the NL East, the Braves will come in second.
I’m seeing an all-Canada WS. Toronto Blue Jays over the Montreal Expos.
What, you say Montreal moved? Several seasons ago? OK, Toronto over the FORMER Expos, the Washington Nationals.
***
My buddy Charles O wrote on Facebook: If time flies like the wind, do fruit flys like the fruit?
I want to fly like an eagle.
My annoying friend Broome, who I’ve known personally for over 30 years, wrote on Facebook: “You DO realize what a dangerous position you have just placed yourself, don’t you? Hmmm let me think……. “.
To which I wrote something about getting out of my comfort zone.
Then a short time later: “When did you stop beating your wife?”
May 31, 1952. Not a random date on my part, BTW.
Have more questions to answer, including for Scott. Still taking questions, too, and answering them, as well; but note: GIGO.
I did a similar thing on the “Fly vs. reading minds.” I always wonder how I’m perceived by others, so I often wish I could read minds.
But studying psychology has taught me that maybe I don’t really want to know. I know many of my thoughts are darker and more complex than I’d really like the world to know. I also know that there’s a difference between “thought” and “will.” Sometimes we accidentally think things we don’t want to think. (A thought I often have when I notice a colleague has accidentally started talking to my chest. There’s one in particular who’s a sweetheart and not sexual towards me at all, but still messes up occasionally and starts talking to the boobies.)
So I’d fly. It’s almost as good because you can check out what bad people are doing. It’s even better because you can rescue good people. That was a recurring dream for me – rescuing good people and flying them to safety. I thought about that a lot when I heard of all the terrible things during the two big Asian tsunamis.
Good answers. A little bit more specific question than “ask about racism”: have you mentioned the Cinna/ Hunger Games thing? She’s the right age for Hunger Games and I can say for me that struck me a s a huge example of “Wow, racism has gotten complicated but is still lurking around behind people’s eyes.”
Good choices. As a Tigers’ fan, I hope you’re right about the AL Central. And it would be nice to see the Nationals/Expos repeat last year’s regular season performance.
First, I’m a Cubs fan, in memory of Grandma Blanche, who lived in Chicago for years. Of her love for the sorry=ass Cubs, she said, “It builds character.” And so I carry on “the streak”!
I’d fly, too. I agree, from the “consumer” side of mental health, I don’t want anyone in my head, nor do I crave to know the thoughts of others… unless it would stop a Newtown incident. Then I’d drrrrrrrag the police to where they needed to be.
On racism: I was born a suburban WASP child. I became what one band member called “White Chocolate” because I was raised around all races, all gender preferences, all ages, and I sing a pretty good blues without sounding like I’m trying to be anything other than myself.
My mom was a civil rights advocate who found herself on the “wrong end” of many arguments in our neighborhood. She was called some pretty ugly names, but as she said, “That’s nothing compared to what the Montgomery folks are going through, Amy, and don’t ever forget that.” Any daughter who cared to listen (that would be me) knew about the bus boycotts, the Holocaust too. She mourned Dr. King; she sang with Slam Stewart a couple of times. She gave us small, teachable moments, like pointing out a ‘whites only’ drinking fountain in a magazine and saying, “That’s wrong, separating people by how God made them.”
So I raised Riley the same. Environment diverse. Teachable moments, and the same history Mom gave me, because we CANNOT forget the horrible way Black Americans are still treated. Obama as a lynched chair, last election. And now it’s also LGBT folks who are getting treated the same, for different reasons. No, for the same reason: ignorance and fear. My two cents, Amy
I think I’d bite the bullet and opt for mind reading. Though maybe only for a day.