Would you rather go blind or deaf?

[Master Z]

I've been thinking about this question... actually, a lot, lately. It's kind of difficult for me to answer this. The thing is, I want to have a future career in game design, which would be a difficult path to pursue if I was blind. Being blind would also cut me off from my favourite things, namely, using my computer. And even though I love music, I don't need any hearing to remember songs I've already learned.

But even with all of this... I think I would rather be blind. My reason for this is that, though I may not know what it's like to be blind, I'm fine with not being able to see. I can close my eyes in a dark room and still be able to function normally, though I've had more than a few stubbed toes in the process. Not being able to hear, though? I've never had any experience like that. I can't just shut off my ears and make them stop working. I can always hear something, even if it's just the humming of a lightbulb or the sound of my heart beating. I think it would be disturbing, at least at first, to not have constant auditory stimulus.

Though, if it came down to it, I think I definitely could handle both. As long as I didn't have both at once!

Anyway, what is everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

[Dark Spark]

Blind. I've decided to take a stab at learning braille just for kicks.

Well, not quite for kicks. One of the notes I have in a detective short is that the murderer switches out one of the normal braille plates the victim used to navigate around in a building with ones which led the victim to their meet their fate. The detective, as a matter of course, notices straight away that the braille instructions don't tally with reality just because they happened to know how to read it.

[FredTheGreat]

I would say blind too. Because listening to music beats seeing in my opinion.

[Abel]

It's a though question. I love music. I listen to various genres when watching movies or playing video games I spend more attention to the music than anything else.

On the other hand, I also love art and videogames. I like to draw, I spend hours in front of my computer. I love movies and TV series.

All in all I think I'd 'prefer' being deaf. Most of my hobbies are centered around screens and reading, so being blind would be a real problem for me. Also, I'm a bit of a loner sometimes. I don't think I'd miss conversation that much, to be honest.

[JimDaniels]

Id rather be able to see the sunrise than hear the moaning of people.

[Avron the S'wit]

I don't think I'd miss conversation that much, to be honest.

You could still have conversations, though.

I would much rather go deaf. As big of a sense as hearing is, sight is extremely overwhelming and awesome; and, already having a profound history of sound, there wouldn't be too much I was missing and couldn't imagine. Plus, I love to read and interact with others through writing, so going blind wouldn't be as beneficial. There is still an entire world to communicate with while deaf.

Plus, signed languages are pretty awesome!

[The-Shadow-One]

Well there is a sort of flaw in your question. I'm profoundly deaf in my left ear, which means I need a hearing aid to hear coherently in that ear, my right is completely deaf.. so I'd rather go deaf as people are able to counter-act that with technology...
Seeing things is too good a sense to lose.

[Archea47]

Being blind has the added cool-factor of heightened hearing, right? What do you get if you go deaf - heightened smell? "Wow I can tell you ate a bunch of doritos earlier"

I think I'd prefer to be deaf for reasons of ...

Knowing I have spinach in my teeth
Being able to fire a gun (ear protection? what ear protection??)
Watching tv/playing games/reading (oh, that movie wasn't in English?)
Sight-seeing and foraging (these mushrooms *feel* safe!)
Work in IT (ok, now press the Start button - I hear it's a circle now)

[Kerr]

I was wondering if I would get here before or after TSO.

If I had to pick one then deaf. Then hopefully become a neat cyborg and circumvent the whole thing.

[Frost Mage]

It all really comes down to video games or music, with me... I don't really know what I would choose, I couldn't live without either one of them.

[Hrolf Alfblod]

This is a tough question. If I go blind, I could never see my wife's beauty again, or watch my children continue to grow. If I were to become deaf, I'd never get to hear them say I love you again. I don't think I could choose.

[Taters]

I would much rather go deaf. Not being able to hear would have its cons, but not being able to see would be much worse, IMO.

[philfredobob]

(removed)

[the Savage Hippie]

Blind!!!

[Fiar]

Blind, cause so long as I can hear my music, I'm happy. I cannot imagine a life of complete silence, when I've already been exposed to what I find joy in.

[Hissien]

Deaf, because Art(visual) is a large part of my life. Also, to never see the sunrise, the trees, pets, family, friends... I do not think I could live like that.

[kailay]

Such a tough choice. As a dancer I need both.
With loud/strong enough beats I could still feel the music and dance to it I guess. And I would need my sight for riding as well. So I think I'd go with deaf.

[legoless]

I'd choose deafness, but TBH I'd probably sooner commit suicide. Life without visuals or sound isn't worth living. It would be different if I never had the sense; losing it would drive me insane.

[Fiar]

Definitely go deaf. It's really nice not having to listen to people. You won't hear about the state of world; the wars; the death and suffering. It would be amazing.

Until you see it of course, and then it sucks.

[Durnehviir]

Deaf I could not imagine not seeing besides it would be easier to ignore people, and I like looking around less so with hearing.

[Br3admax]

Both. But definitely blind first, the heightened other senses make up for it. Then I go deaf with age, being able to enjoy my final days in my own little world. Peaceful. Also you can still play Ocarina of Time blind, but not deaf(some kids found a way, so how.)

[Generalno1]

YouTube Link
Blind isn't so bad.

[Archer]

But she could sense vibrations in the ground and we can't.
I probabley would choose to go deaf. That way I would still be able to function in society and not depend on anyone for sight. If we were to extend this, however, I would choose to go mute. I don't talk much anyway, so it wouldn't be a big deal.

[ClockworkCadaver]

I'd prefer to go deaf instead of blind. Life would be much harder for me if I couldn't see. I would miss the music, though...

[fortune]

Both are terrible. But i would choose deaf.