Will memory suppression will be the next big thing in entertainment?

[Braznor]

Let me explain what I'am talking about:

Lets say you watch a movie, a really good for one for the first time in your life, you enjoy it tremendously. But if you happen to watch it again, you would enjoy it the way you did so when you watched it for the first time, why? The answer is pretty obvious, its because you have seen it already, you would know everything about it, the surprise factor is no longer present.

So if you can erase your memory of watching that movie, then the next time you watch it, you would have the same sense of pleasure as if for the first time. Now imagine this being extended to every sphere of recreational actitvity. Nothing would ever get boring again.

Of course , the technology to do this is several decades away. But given a choice, would you opt for it and does this makes sense?

 

[thelanx]

There so many great things to experience out there, why would you want to erase your memories? Maybe a limited set of people in a limited set of circumstances would use this, I don't see this taking off. Also, some things get better the more you experience them. Some subtleties and thing that you notice after going through again.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Personally I'd opt out, but I have no real traumatic experiences in my life. I think the real purpose of this concept is to better heal people who've been horribly victimized. Victims of rape, child/sexual abuse, etc... could benefit from this, as those experiences often have personality changing, depression inducing consequences.

 

[wfbberzerker]

i'd say it isn't really possible, just considering how everything in our memory is so interconnected.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
i'd say it isn't really possible, just considering how everything in our memory is so interconnected.

Probably, but then it'll depend as well. Say a girl gets raped, and they treat her with memory suppression very soon after, it's possible that she won't have associated enough things with the rape yet and be able to effectively "zap" it out.

OTOH, they'd probably have to treat right away. But then she'd be of no use as a witness in catching the rapist at a line-up, and especially by the time it got to trial...they'd have to treat sooner than that, and end up relying completely on forensics and the rape-kit (which get screwed up so often it's stupid).

So, in the end, it might be something that's possible in limited circumstances, but not something that'll take off.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I'd sit in my house and watch The Matrix all day every day. However, the problem with this idea is that even surpressed memories are often resurfaced when they're re-introduced. Essentially, you'd probably remember the movie 10 minutes into it.

 

[Ika]

I doubt its possible, and even if it was, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with it.


erp... been watching too much Fruits Basket lately...

 

[aswedc]

If this is ever invented the last thing I'll be worrying about is entertainment. The technology will be massively abused by people in varying levels of authority everywhere.

 

[bluewall21]

Originally posted by: aswedc
If this is ever invented the last thing I'll be worrying about is entertainment. The technology will be massively abused by people in varying levels of authority everywhere.

This is true, and quite a frightening proposition at that.

If you want to find out more, read any sci-fi novel ever.