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The type of brain tumor I caught is an Oligodendroglioma. These are according to experts in the field, incurable. Experts in medicine don't usually toss that word around lightly. In other words, the chemo I'm doing now isn't meant to kill the glioma, just to stop it from killing me any sooner.
ANYWAY. Average survival rates are somewhere between 3.6 and 20 years (usually on the lower end). Given the grade and other factors of my tumor, I'm likely to survive no more than 15 years, and that's an optimistic estimate. I was diagnosed in 2007. So I've had it for five years, which leaves me ten years to go.
Granted, medical science is always advancing. Maybe they'll figure out a 'cure' before my time is up, or at least a better method to extend my expected lifespan.
Still, it seems prudent to plan for a final curtain at the age of 42, in 2022.
What's that song? "Live like you were dying"?
Don't worry. I plan on finishing Eric's story well before then.
**NOTE: This is in the context of erotic/fantasy literature more than reality**
Since I write some mind-control erotica, and hypnosis is a fetish of mine, when I see people compared mind control to rape, I start thinking about it.
So, mind-control is "mind-rape?" Okay, sure. but...let's consider the consequences of ordinary rape:
* physical trauma, which we'll define here as pain
* psychological trauma, which we'll define her as pain
* secondary traumas to the victim's loved ones
I think we can argue from a utilitarian point of view that ordinary rape is a pure negative, as trauma is pretty much the only result.
I cannot think of a single BENEFIT to ordinary rape (other than the whole 'adversity builds character' adage, which I don't think counts, because otherwise we could use that argue that there's a benefit in any harmful act; it's a moral 'divide by zero').
Let us now consider 'pure' mind-control:
(Plot devices, side-effects, and the like are not being counted. I'm just postulating thoughts-and-feelings-editing without any other catches)
* physical trauma is unlikely, unless specifically carried out by the controller
* psychological trauma is, again, unlikely, at least for many representations of mind conrol
(but, I will grant, the mind-controller CAN certainly ensure that physical and psychological traumas are created - "punishments", bad judgments, etc.)
* secondary traumas to loved ones - more likely to happen, but judicious and cautious controllers can mitigate this.
Now, are there benefits that can come along from being mind-controlled? In many cases, yes - in many cases, we can see the victims being happier, or otherwise enjoying certain neurological benefits. Of course, again this depends on the use of the mind-control by the controller.
So, unlike rape, 'pure' mind control can be used to 'help' people by creating a net positive outcome.
In other words:
The individual who performs a rape is plainly creating a bad, a negative.
The individual who uses mind control is not necessarily creating a bad, but certainly has the potential to create much more pain than a rape.
HOWEVER, the individual using mind-control CAN apply judgment and compassion to ensure a positive outcome for their victims.
A rapist cannot do that.
the only immediate objection I can think of is: "but they both violate!"
And yes, they do. I'm not arguing that they don't have similarities. Can we go back a step and ask the question: why is this violation objectionable? I get in the case of rape - it immediately causes physical and psychological trauma.
But in the case of mind-control, there is no necessary trauma.
And yes, I know that the (potential) happiness that our theoretical mind control victim might feel is 'artificial.' But how much does that matter? And why?
Can we acknowledge that the feeling(s) are real even though they are artificial?
In which case, how does this differ from psychiatric medications? Or how does it differ from the after effects of brain surgery (or other cranial traumas)? Or mood changes from hormonal imbalances?
None of these are necessarily the 'choice' of the person experiencing them (I know many people who were given psych meds against their will, and are grateful). So they are outside the bounds of choice.
Are we going to give this an exemption because it is a human-instigated change, rather than one instigated through "natural" events (cranial traumas, hormonal imbalances)?
Even so, we should look at the consequences and the results, rather than perseverating on the violation of free will and identity (both of which blow with the biological wind anyway).
I suspect that a lot of objections boil down to a fetishistic desire to preserve the 'self'/'identity'. Speaking as someone who's had brain surgery, and had to deal with the changes - I still possess the same identity as I did before I had some of my left frontal cortex removed. But I am *different*.
I don't think mind control is qualitatively much different than that.
But I can see people proclaiming that the loss of identity and choice IS 'trauma' by its very nature. It is certainly a violation, yes. But I think I need more than that to be convinced it is traumatic.
(Again, this is 'pure' mind control I'm talking about. Stories have different gimmicks, which can have different side effects and other implications, which in turn should be considered through their framework.)
Whether or not one believes 'mind control' is moral, I think it is different enough from rape that it's kind of incendiary language to compare the two.
Mind control allows for a spectrum of choices (with different outcomes) that rape does not - either you rape, or you don't (and maybe you use protection).
And so mind control CAN leave the victim in a better state than they were before. With rape this is impossible.
So, within the framework of "Mind control exists, I have access to it, and I will willingly use it" (which one can argue IS an immoral stance):
There can still exist 'nice' controllers and 'bad' controllers.
A relative 'good' and a relative 'evil.'
OF course, this may be different in a particular story, because of the various plot devices, gimmicks, side-effects and other ground rules for the story's mind control.
So, as I mentioned in the author's notes for the stories for Eric (my 'Z stories') his story is inspired by my own life, and specifically by my struggles with cancer.
The last chapter of Zeroes was written just before I had to go in for another brain surgery (my fourth), which was May 2011. I spent the entire month recuperating, and then discovered I needed to do chemotherapy for the next year.
The story is still outlined, and I am attempting to keep writing. But things are effectively on pause, especially with Eric. I apologize, but thank you for the emails requesting more chapters. I'm doing my best, and hope to have something soon.
things are getting a wee bit tangled, so I'm spelling out the internal calendar
Trip commences: departure Friday, June 1, arrival in Italy Saturday, June 2
Sunday June 3 - Thursday, June 7: classes, first meetings, et cetera
Zoners 01: Thursday, June 7
Zoners 02: Thursday, June 7
Zoners 03: Friday, June 8
Zoners 04: Saturday, June 9
Zoners 05: Sunday, June 10
Zoners 06: Sunday, June 10
Zoners 07: Monday June 11 to Tuesday June 12
Zoners 08: (a blur of time)
Zoners 09: Weds June 13 to Saturday June 16
Zoners 10: Saturday June 16 and Sunday June 17
---surgery, Monday June 18---
Zeroes 01: Monday June 18 - Sunday June 24
Zeroes 02: Monday, June 25
Zeroes 03: Monday, June 25
Zeroes 04: Tuesday, June 26
Zeroes 05: Wednesday, June 27 - Thursday, June 28
Zeroes 06: Friday, June 29
Zeroes 07: Saturday, June 30 - Sunday, July 1
Zeroes 08: Monday, July 2
Zeroes 09: Tuesday, July 3
The hypnosis show is happening on July 6. This is the likely end of the 2nd novel.
The summer session in Italy from Zoners ends August 2nd, most students will arrive back in town on August 5. This is a likely end of the 3rd novel.
Since I've decided finestories.com will be the "primary" home of Tritone, any blog entries on that story will happen on my blog over there.
The first entry is already posted.
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