would you erase someone from your memory?

I just watched Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind again and it gave me an idea for a discussion.. so what do you think? Would you?

I honestly don't know. I think I would. I mean, I know what it's like already not to remember people, because I had brain damage and was amnesiac about certain people/events and it's a very, very weird feeling to read journal entries about them, without knowing who you're talking about, or read/hear about things that happened and you don't know.. it's like.. it hurts your brain, if that's possible. You try and search for the missing information and it's aggravating, it's.. I can't explain it.

But I think I would want some people completely erased from my memory, if all the memories I had of them were negative, painful. I already try and not think about them, but sometimes, something, someone reminds you and it's most unwelcome.. but.. I think I auto-erase stuff I don't like already. It's like a psychological, healing, well-being, peace-of-mind process.

I wouldn't erase someone who I had a share of unhappy AND happy memories with though... even if it was mostly unhappy... I cherish happy memories.

I think I'd be scared of the consequences though.. you know, like in the movie? What if you saw them again? What would you do? What would happen?

Kinda makes you think about the following question: would the same negative events repeat themselves? And what if they didn't.. wouldn't it be worth it to try and see..?

It's interesting.

Anyways, I love that movie. I remember the first time I saw it, how impressed I was and a little scared too.. isn't the brain an amazing tool? So misunderstood on so many levels.. so.. crazy..

 

Most science fiction is unplausible crap, but that movie had no holes, and the end was killer, too, cause... edit - (deleted. don't want to be a spoiler)

 

Ah yes, my favorite movie.

And no, absolutely not, especially after seeing that,

 

I think it kinda makes a point about.. living in the present is all that matters.

 

i think everything happens for a reason. good and bad. if you had a bad experience, learn from it. dont wish it never happend

 

no i would never do that, everything that happens to you and all the people you know are what make you who you are.. well a big part of it anyway.

 

No, i wouldnt have the heart to do it

 

that's true.. but some things only manage to make you bitter and paranoid, and judgemental, besides teaching you.. I think negative things, though they teach you, shouldn't remain your focus when you move on, cause.. past is past.. they can make you stronger, but they can hold you back too.. from great things. I don't know. I think I wonder.. would I have come to realize certain things.. would I be the same if I didn't remember some things, though bad? Probably not.. still I wish I could retain to the benefits without the bitter memory..

 

I could see how it could be good for certain situations, like in the case of child abuse for instance, or battle trauma.

 

Great movie. No, I wouldnt want to do that. How sad.

 

"ignorance is bliss".. but.. ignorance is also the absence of experience.. of wisdom.. yet does someone have to suffer to be wise?..

 

But erasing someone from your memory doesnt mean it never happened.... just that you cant remember it (i mean obviously but ....i think its kinda scary)... i have things that i DONT remember cause i kinda naturally erased things as a defense mech. but its bugged me for a long time.. not remembering....

 

it is sad.. but what if it gets rid of the pain? of the various.. traumas.. I don't know, some people really were a big mistake in your life.. they did nothing but fuck everything up, nothing positive at all..

..well in my case, maybe make me more intelligent, and selective when it comes to choosing what kind of people I will share my life with.. now that I think about it, I'm thankful.. without certain people.. even from my youngest age, without certain things happening.. I'd be a complete idiot now, easy to manipulate, easy to fool.. they made me open my eyes.

In fact, the more I write and the more I realize I'd wanna keep all my memories, even the most traumatic. I just don't wanna think about them, if I could... not erase the trace they left.. but the memory itself, like I said before.. keep the benefits only. I mean who wants to think about stuff that'll make them angry again, that'll make them cry, that'll bring them back to a time that's over, done.. who wants to be influenced by what's past? That's not a good thing.. I mean it can be, but I think only now matters, be here now..

 

I remember President Regan during the Iran-Contra investigation........The man had an ability to erase a memory that would have made John Gotti proud.

The ability to memory erase must be a requirement to run for political office in the US.

 

Anything can have a negative or positive impact on ones life, whether it be a painful or pleasant experience. Joseph Campbell compared Christians who strip themselves of personality for their faith to filleted fish, warning not to cut out the worst part of yourself lest you also cut out the best.

 

I do the same thing. I mean I forgot stuff cause of a coma but I also forget stuff cause I just want to.. like my mom says, I have a magic eraser in my head.. and it's not just ignoring too, as some people told me, it's not "not wanting" to remember, I really do forget, it's insane

 

I quote myself to contradict myself: in fact.. maybe keeping a trace of the negative memories isn't such a good thing.. if it turns into bitterness. Isn't being bitter being like having a shadow in front of your eyes that disables you from seeing the light just as bright as it really is?.. hmmm.. this is really difficult, I think I'd be better off saying I don't know what I would do, cause I actually really don't..

 

Yeah I had some bad stuff happen to me when I was about 18 and barely remember anything from a six year time period..s oooo many details missing but im sure i did it to protect myself. crazy that can happen.....

 

I say keep the experience and what you learn but try to find a way to move past the experience being able to be PAINFUL. Which counseling can be good for....

 

Erasing memories is essentially what ECT was for:

Here's a scene of it from another great movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCUmINGae44