Can't feel no pain.

[J T]

Currently, I'm trying to write a scientific literature review about how people tolerate pain, both physical and emotional. Sometimes I google less academic stuff for ideas. I found these two really interesting question & answer sessions on reddit and thought I'd share them just because they are so fascinating to me.

Q&A with a girl who cannot feel physical pain (CIPA)


Q&A with a guy who cannot feel emotions (Alexithymia)

[Xonticus]

Very interesting read.... Plus the whole Q+A made it 100X more interesting to go through. Still working on the girl one tho.

[RCBH928]

No physical pain is understood , I probably can know why it happens. Some people think it is a blessing, I think it is a curse because pain is a warning to your body. Think of a building with no fire alarm.

As for the guy with no emotion, it is a bit hard.
So does it mean if I rape his sister in front of him, stabbed his mother in the heart , then set them both on fire, he will go out with me later for a chat at Starbucks? He is not upset, is he?

[fingersmaloy]

The protagonist in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is just like that emotionless guy, except that she can shoot axes and zombies from her hands. Eh, maybe he can too, actually.

[MrPopo]

That's really impressive that the CIPA girl has managed to live to 19. A common problem for babies with the condition is that they scratch their eyes while sleeping because there's no pain reflex to prevent it.

[dlmvii]

No physical pain is understood , I probably can know why it happens. Some people think it is a blessing, I think it is a curse because pain is a warning to your body. Think of a building with no fire alarm.

As for the guy with no emotion, it is a bit hard.
So does it mean if I rape his sister in front of him, stabbed his mother in the heart , then set them both on fire, he will go out with me later for a chat at Starbucks? He is not upset, is he?

I suppose in theory he might?
In any case, good imagery.

[jfrost]

There's an episode of House about a girl who isn't able to feel pain. Her life is a nightmare.

[Luke]

This almost begs the question, would you rather suffer traumatic emotional or physical pain?

Give me physical pain any day over emotional, although I've been forced to handle both rather well. Last week I was opening a can of refried beans with a supposedly "no sharp edges left" can opener. Long story short, I couldn't get the can fully opened, so since there were no sharp edges, I tried prying the can lid back with my left hand. The can lid became one with my hand, stuck inside my palm. That hurt. Pulling the can out of my hand hurt much worse. Had it been my right hand, I would have gone to the ER immediately. The wound is still pretty gnarly, but I'm taking good care of it. You wouldn't believe how many people have suggested that I sue the can-opener manufacturer.

[toredauei]

@luke sue the company for sure. Think of all the video games you could buy with the money

I found the q and a with the emotionless guy to be extreamly interesting. I just read all of it in one sitting. Not so much with the painless girl.

[Luke]

@luke sue the company for sure. Think of all the video games you could buy with the money

Yeah, but on the other hand, think about all the gripe I'll get from the wife for spending all that money on games. I wonder if I can secretly sue them...