Greetings. I've been thinking about this topic a great deal and I'm just curious as to what you guys think.

Would you be willing to trade love (including the ability to feel or receive love and the ability to emotionally bond with another human) for complete immunity to any form of emotional pain including loneliness, rejection, any mental illness, or any other type of hurtful emotions?

If you choose the immunity option, you would be able to function completely alone without needing to socialize or feel understood by another human being ever again. You would also be able to still enjoy sex although solely on a physical level.

Why or why not?

[SillyKitty]

Yes. My feelings are too painful. I end up hating the person and loving them cyclically, which has to hurt them, or resorting to SI. Also, my oldest daughter has inherited mental/emotional problems from me. My other two are obviously at risk. I could be a good mother and wife without the UP ups and DOWN downs. My emotions end up causing problems anyway.

[I'm Worth It]

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

Greetings. I've been thinking about this topic a great deal and I'm just curious as to what you guys think.

Would you be willing to trade love (including the ability to feel or receive love and the ability to emotionally bond with another human) for complete immunity to any form of emotional pain including loneliness, rejection, any mental illness, or any other type of hurtful emotions.

If you choose the immunity option, you would be able to function completely alone without needing to socialize or feel understood by another human being ever again. You would also be able to still enjoy sex although solely on a physical level.

Why or why not?

No I would not trade love for immunity from emotions. Emotions give "color" and texture to life. Love, even if is only for a little while, is worth all the other things I might and do experience. You cannot filter emotions. If you are blocking negative emotions you also block the ability to experience other emotions that aren't even about love. There are other emotions besides love that are not negative or hard to deal with.

You would also be able to still enjoy sex although solely on a physical level. -- This may be true, but the person with whom you are being sexual with will not enjoy it and will move on quickly, unless of course, they are as emotionally shutdown as you are - two robots having sex.

[I'm Worth It]

I also want to add this: A person needs to experience negative emotions in order to fully appreciate, recognize and nurture a loving relationship/love. If it rains for a couple of days, you appreciate the sunshine again when it comes. If there are never any rainy days, you take the sunny days for granted and they become dull.

[s4ndm4n2006]

although the idea of being immune to the pain - especially that do to lost love and broken relationships is tempting, I have to say I'd still choose love because for me this does not always mean relationship type love but being loved by friends and family too. If I gave up love it would be a far larger sacrifice than that pain I have had to endure time and again for love.

[divine1966]

Heck no. I wouldn't able to fully experience life at all. As about sex I had more partners in my younger years than I care to admit. Sure many without love. It could be fun but can't compare to making love to someone you truly love.

I had to add that I wouldn't able to love my daughter or my nephews and niece etc etc what awful idea!

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[Trippin2.0]

I agree, that would be a ghastly idea.


My daughter would be just another child, my bf would just be an orgasm generator...


What an empty and pointless existence that would be for me.


I wouldn't even feel human.


I've had to deal with quite a few emotional atrocities, a paedo brother, an abusive exbf, a murdered beloved eldest brother, a doting father who wished himself to death... Add bipolar and BPD to that and its been one heck of a ride for me.


Yes, it would've been nice to be spared all of that, but at the price you mentioned?


No thank you, my challenges have contributed to the woman I am today, and they have colored my world instead of tainted it.

Even if it doesn't always feel or seem that way.


In life you have to take the good the bad and the ugly, or you'll never learn appreciation, gratitude or humility.

Originally Posted by I'm Worth It

You would also be able to still enjoy sex although solely on a physical level. -- This may be true, but the person with whom you are being sexual with will not enjoy it and will move on quickly, unless of course, they are as emotionally shutdown as you are - two robots having sex.

Fun fact about me: I'm a biohacker/body mod freak who is obsessed with the idea of using future science or cybernetic implants to make myself better and my ultimate desire is to become a super strong and super intelligent cyborg that is immune to any form of weakness including emotional or physical pain and processes everything via logic and reason. Maybe in my lifetime we will have the means to do such a thing haha

On a more serious note, thanks for the responses guys. Many of you opened my mind up a bit on the subject enough to where I almost considered changing my answer from "immunity" to "love" but my desire to not need anybody and function completely independently without being prone to loneliness is still more important to me.

Also, it seems to be that the people who are choosing "love" seem to have the most success with their mental health and love life, therefore, it seems like love is the most enjoyed and appreciated by a happy, healthy mind.

I'm curious as to if somebody who isn't satisfied with their love life or has a mental illness that still negatively impacts their life in a major chose "love" and why if they did.

I didn't vote, but after struggling with depression for much of the last 30 years, I have to say that it's tempting to choose immunity. Between the depression and my other (medical) health issues, I have already reached a state where I don't have enough love or human connection in my life and if I have the opportunity to have more, I usually am not able to handle it.

You didn't mention spirituality and the feelings of love and being loved by God/other higher power that go along with that. I would not want to give that up.

Thanks for the question. I like thinking about topics like this.

Originally Posted by jo_thorne

I didn't vote, but after struggling with depression for much of the last 30 years, I have to say that it's tempting to choose immunity. Between the depression and my other (medical) health issues, I have already reached a state where I don't have enough love or human connection in my life and if I have the opportunity to have more, I usually am not able to handle it.

You didn't mention spirituality and the feelings of love and being loved by God/other higher power that go along with that. I would not want to give that up.

Thanks for the question. I like thinking about topics like this.

Sorry that I left this out. I'm not religious so I didn't factor the spiritual aspect in.

I only stated love and emotional connections between humans so it's safe to say that any kind of higher power wouldn't count.

[crosstobear]

Life is nonstop pain and suffering, and real love is truly hard to find, especially if you're mentally ill. I wouldn't make the trade. In fact, immunity to emotional pain- look at all the sociopaths? Emotional pain keeps you from repeating the same mistakes, keeps you conscientious, helps you develop as a person and find meaning. Life is not worth living without pain, IMO.

Oh okay, good. So God & my cat are not ruled out.

[AbsurdBlackBear]

Definitely love. I would go through hell for love. And sex for just physical enjoyment? lol. Seems like it isn't worth it to me without the emotional aspect of giving yourself to the other person. Granted I'm a virgin so I never experienced sex, but still, to me the emotional aspect seems like it is what I'd value the most of it.

[crosstobear]

Originally Posted by AbsurdBlackBear

And sex for just physical enjoyment? lol. Seems like it isn't worth it to me without the emotional aspect of giving yourself to the other person.

Originally Posted by AbsurdBlackBear

Granted I'm a virgin.

Comes with time, lol.

Originally Posted by AbsurdBlackBear

Definitely love. I would go through hell for love. And sex for just physical enjoyment? lol. Seems like it isn't worth it to me without the emotional aspect of giving yourself to the other person. Granted I'm a virgin so I never experienced sex, but still, to me the emotional aspect seems like it is what I'd value the most of it.

If it makes you feel any better, all of the sex that I've ever had was solely one night stands and with women who I had "friends with benefits" style relationships with so I don't know what it's like to have sex with somebody that loves you.

Sex without love is fun, sex with love is better. I have to trust someone to have good sex with them.

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

Sex without love is fun, sex with love is better. I have to trust someone to have good sex with them.

I wish I could experience this one day but I have a long road of therapy to ride before I can even begin to trust somebody enough for this.

In a way, I'm still a virgin because it seems like I've never experienced "true" sex.

[AbsurdBlackBear]

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

If it makes you feel any better, all of the sex that I've ever had was solely one night stands and with women who I had "friends with benefits" style relationships with so I don't know what it's like to have sex with somebody that loves you.

Haha. It is fine. I prefer being a virgin than to being willing to have sex without love. I simply value sex as a way to express your deep affection towards someone.

[freaka]

sex is nothing but a release of physical tension. i don't get the importance of an emotional connection. so i can basically live without it, sex partners are just props to me so i don't have to lick my own *****.

[emwell]

Definitely LOVE!!!!
But that may have not been my answer 30 years ago.
I have always struggled with demons.
I could not abandon LOVE to get rid of those demons.
All of it makes me who I am.
When I speak of love I do not just speak of significant other love. I speak of all forms of love. Parental, environmental, pet, friend, teacher, self, etc.

Originally Posted by freaka

sex is nothing but a release of physical tension. i don't get the importance of an emotional connection. so i can basically live without it, sex partners are just props to me so i don't have to lick my own *****.

I feel the same way Maybe when I'm older, my thoughts on sex and love will change but as of now, to me sex is nothing more than a physical stress reliever similar to getting a massage, doing yoga, or taking a walk in nice 70 degree weather.

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

I feel the same way Maybe when I'm older, my thoughts on sex and love will change but as of now, to me sex is nothing more than a physical stress reliever similar to getting a massage, doing yoga, or taking a walk in nice 70 degree weather.

Wow, I don't mean to sound condescending or anything, but that sounds exceptionally sad and empty compared to sex with love and intimacy.

If that is how I experienced sex I would stick to yoga, no pregnancy scares and fear of STDs that way....

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Wow, I don't mean to sound condescending or anything, but that sounds exceptionally sad and empty compared to sex with love and intimacy.

If that is how I experienced sex I would stick to yoga, no pregnancy scares and fear of STDs that way....

We're all dealt a different hand, my friend. It is best to make best with the hand you're dealt in life and my hand just happened to be issues with love and trust via a history of being abused. One day, I may grow out of my problems or finally move on to a brighter future via therapy or a self help method that works, but until then, I do what I must to survive and thrive while making the best out of my defects.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

If it makes you feel any better, all of the sex that I've ever had was solely one night stands and with women who I had "friends with benefits" style relationships with so I don't know what it's like to have sex with somebody that loves you.

One day you'll know. It can't be compared

No judgement as I had sex with no love at times. But please use protection. It isn't worth to get std or worse

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