Do You Think Mind Meld Is Invasion Of Privacy?

[Paradon]

It seems like Vulcans are very private and keep to themselves, but how come when it comes to mind meld they are all for it? It's like they love to know what the other person is thinking...there deepest darkest secret. [chuckle] Or do they only meld when it is absolutely necessary? I don't see them explaining to other person how personal it can get when their mind actually become one.

 

[T'Girl]

The majority of mind melds that we've seen have been consensual, now what Deanna Troi does is definitely an invasion.

 

[Captrek]

Or do they only meld when it is absolutely necessary?

That's what was suggested when the mind meld was first introduced in Dagger of the Mind and given at least lip service in The Devil in the Dark. After that for the most part they did it without reservation whenever it served the needs of the plot. It's kind of like how pon farr was something that couldn't be discussed when introduced in Amok Time but discussed freely thereafter.

 

[horatio83]

The majority of mind melds that we've seen have been consensual, now what Deanna Troi does is definitely an invasion.

Indeed. How can a mind meld be an invasion of privacy unless it is a mind rape like Spock/Valeris or Tolaris/T'Pol? Sex is pretty private but not an invasion of one's privacy as long as it is consensual.

 

[Paradon]

True! If it's consensual, then it's kindda like sex, I supposed. But I think the person that is doing the meld should explain to the other person, perhaps humans and other non-telepathic races, how intimate it can get and the side affect from it before performing the procedures.

 

[horatio83]

On the one hand it does not hurt to provide some warnings, on the other hand the word "mind meld" seems self-explanatory. As you seem to be a fan of a libertarian politician I am sure you value the latter "it's your choice, you do it on your own risk" argument.

 

[Paradon]

Nothing like first hand experience. That's all I have to say about it. [smile]

 

[CaptainMatt]

As long as both parties unbderstand what it means to undergo a meld, I see no porblem with it being an invasion of privacy. Now what Spock did in STVI will forever be a shocking violation to me.

 

[Greg Cox]

Yeah, Spock got pretty casual about extracting info from people's brains. Kelinda in "By Other Name." John Gill in "Patterns of Force."

And that was just the two episodes I watched tonight!

 

[Captrek]

Nothing like first hand experience. That's all I have to say about it. [smile]

My girlfriend won't let me do it through the hippocampus.

 

[KB24]

Agree, if all parties are willing, all is well. Enterprise played a bit on the mind rape concepts but I don't think it was handled as well as it could have been there.

So then, what do we consider what Spock did to Valeris?

 

[Captrek]

So then, what do we consider what Spock did to Valeris?

He raped her while his friends watched.

But it served the needs of the plot.

What does the novel say about it?

 

[Gov Kodos]

The majority of mind melds that we've seen have been consensual, now what Deanna Troi does is definitely an invasion.

Exactly, it was always something that bothered me with TNG. I really couldn't believe folks would be so non-nonchalant about the Betazoids and their casual and indiscriminate use of telepathy with other species.

 

[Pavonis]

As an empath, rather than a telepath, isn't Troi's ability to sense emotions more akin to picking up radio broadcasts? Or just overhearing a conversation? It's not really invasive.

It's not the fault of the Betazoids that other species are effectively mentally shouting their thoughts and emotions at them, is it?

 

[Paradon]

I still don't get why an introvert group of people, people that likes keeping to themselves that value privacy above all else they are, can be for something like a mild meld? Mind meld is a very intrusive procedure.

 

[Nerys Myk]

As an empath, rather than a telepath, isn't Troi's ability to sense emotions more akin to picking up radio broadcasts? Or just overhearing a conversation? It's not really invasive.

It's not the fault of the Betazoids that other species are effectively mentally shouting their thoughts and emotions at them, is it?

More like picking up a radio broadcast from a station with a real weak signal.

 

[Pavonis]

^Weak or not, it's not invasive. Consensual or not, a mind-meld is definitely invasive.

 

[maneth]

Vulcans didn't always feel the way about mind meld they seem to in TOS. I feel the ENT way to be a lot more credible.

 

[Paradon]

Exactly...they are introverted race and the idea of mind meld didn't always go well with them. People that like to keep to themselves and value privacy above all else, I think, would shy away from an invasive procedure like this.

 

[horatio83]

Vulcans didn't always feel the way about mind meld they seem to in TOS. I feel the ENT way to be a lot more credible.

Note that before the Vulcan Reformation mind melds have been a taboo and T'Pau, one of the main reformists, was ready to mind-rape Archer.