I'm not sure whether this has ever been talked about before on here, but as I've been re-reading (I would just like to note that I haven't read 'The Sending' because I'm slowly rereading, and just want to make sure that I'm not spoiled, but really want to discuss this, so hide anything to do with 'The Sending' please) I've wrestled with the idea of the ethics of Misfit Talents.
Clearly I'm not really talking about Healing, Futuretelling or Tecknoguilidng (but those do have their own set of ethical and moral issues, which can be explored). And Farseeking isn't really an issue, because that is only between other Talents, unless combined with coercion to 'deep-probe' someone's thoughts. Though, I'm not sure whether Farseekers (pure ones, with no secondary or tertiary talents) can get inside another Farseeker's thoughts, like Elspeth could, but I'd hazard that they couldn't really. Even still there are still some ethical concerns (possibly quite major ones, so this can be discussed too) with being able to read another person's thoughts when they didn't want you to, or in the case of Empathy, being able to feel someone's emotions (or manipulate them, but because Emapths tend to be so gentle natured, I don't think we need to worry too much about them)
So I'm really talking about Coercers. Now there are obviously different 'types' of coercion, each with varying levels of concern when it comes to ethics and morality (I'm not too sure what the difference between those two really are, if anyone has any thoughts, it would be welcome!).
Firstly, Coercers can 'tweak' other people's thoughts, to make them believe something that otherwise they wouldn't. For example, Elspeth making other people see her as a fully grown Gypsy or a boy. Now that isn't too unethical, because it doesn't really matter. But if this is used to make a person more at ease with, let's say Elspeth, and it leads to information being given or things being talked about, then isn't this unethical. Because they are abusing a person's trust and instinct, by manipulating someone's own senses.
Secondly, coercers can obviously make someone do something they don't want to. For example, a few times in a group Elspeth has 'prodded' someone to make a comment to draw attention away from her and diffuse the situation. Now this isn't of major concern, because usually Elspeth is playing on the already present thoughts of a person and is just giving them a little push to vocalise these thoughts. But still it leaves the person confused, and wondering why on earth they did that, and I don't think we have ever seen the consequences of an ordinary person who has had their mind 'invaded' like this, and whether they would think themselves mad or feel vulnerable from the experience.
Thirdly, coercion can go a step further than just making someone do a single thing they don't want to do. I'm not too sure of this, so bare with me (I am only on a re-read of book three, so beyond this I'm not clear on everything that happens, I haven't read them for a while) but I'm sure it is possible for Elspeth to control someone for an extended period of time. I can't think of an example but Elspeth or any coercer could probably make someone do something physically, like get out of the way, open a locked door, attack someone, or not attack someone, when they weren't planning on doing so. I think this physical 'abuse' is worse than pushing someone to say something.
Lastly, coercion is able to wipe someone's memory or alter someone's memory and also change a whole person's thought patterns. Now this is probably the major ethical concern. Removing or altering someone's memory is a dangerous thing and when the person has no idea, then that is 'abusive'. Altering someone's memory to make them forget seeing Elspeth is one thing, but even still I'm sure it leaves the person with some confusion. Now a more major wipe or alteration would have greater effect and could remove things that aren't related, causing the person to forget special memories that they have had in their life. What if someone forget that they got married, that would lead to awkward situations. So this coercion has serious consequences.
This is going on for quite a while, and my thoughts probably make no sense, so I'll wrap it up. I have an issue with coercion and tampering with someone's mind. There obviously have to be boundaries, otherwise people will start to abuse their powers, and I know Obernewtyn tries to deal with some of these ethical issues, but I just want to get everyone else's opinion on this. A person who has had their mind altered will be confused, and it is likely they will feel very exposed and vulnerable and the random people Elspeth and other's mentally abuse (this is a stretch, and in most cases mentally abuse is way too strong, but you get the idea) will surely have some sort of 'side-effects'. And I guess if you had this power you would have to figure out whether doing these things so you were protected and you gained the upperhand is acceptable given the inherent ethical grey-areas.
Thanks, and sorry for the blabbling!
