If you could only have one of your senses, which would you pick and why?

[bif]

I'd have to go with sight. I couldn't live without seeing all the beauty in this world.

[FM123]

1. Yes, me too.

Sometimes just looking into the faces of my loved ones is the only thing that keeps me off the ledge.

[raging moderate]

2. Also, that is how you maneuver in the environment.

Especially in new places, sight is very important. Various schemes and skills have been developed to compensate for deafness almost completely. Loss of sight is more diffiicult to manage.

[Siwsan]

3. Same for me. Sight

I survived losing my sense of taste when I had carbon monoxide poisoning. I survive losing my sense of smell pretty much every allergy season. I can use my mind to recall sounds.

Admittedly, the lack of a sense of touch would be hard, too, because I'm a very tactile individual.

[FeelingBlue]

4. Hearing

So I could still be in the game with other people. I’ve tried sign language and found it really difficult to read. I’d want, still, to hear the voices of my friends and loved ones- and music, etc. But, then I’d leave the stove on, burn down the house, not feeling the heat or smelling the smoke and it wouldn’t matter.

[tazkcmo]

5. Me too, sight.

After all, children should be seen and not heard! Lol

But seriously. Sight.

[iscooterliberally]

6. That's a tough question.

I was once a full time musician, so I would really hate to lose my hearing. The one sense that would scare me the most about losing though of all things is my sense of taste. I know that sounds weird, but if I could not taste food, I might not want to eat anymore. That would kill me off pretty quickly. Taste and smell are directly linked. I guess I would go with those above the others. Without them I don't see how I could survive. I guess we could argue about this being two senses, but I don't think you could even have one without the other.

[Zoonart]

7. Even though I am an artist...

and you would think that I would go with sight. I have to say that without touch, we are locked into this human body.
There is so much joy in touch.... that is my choice.

[Chainfire]

8. I have lost a substantial amount of hearing because when I was young no one thought to protect it,

however I have seemed to have suffered no ill effects from it. In fact, there are times when a hearing loss is a blessing. Smell and taste have good and bad qualities; I would miss the smell of honeysuckle, but not dog farts. I would hate to lose my sight; I couldn't see my enemies sneaking up on me.

[Doodley]

9. My sixth sense. Oh, so that's what you think! I knew you would have that reaction.

[TubbersUK]

10. Someone who is both deaf and blind once told me that hearing is the bigger loss

because the communication difficulties lead to social isolation.

She said that it made her lonely, even when she was with people.

[Budi]

12. Absence of hearing would be unbearably isolating

I need my ears & eyes

[unblock]

11. I'm going to go with touch. I think it's the most indispensable sense.

My sense of taste and smell are lousy enough anyway, losing them entirely would be no big deal.

Sight and sound are more important, but people function without them, there are ways of adapting to losing them, and communities for support.

But with touch, I think you can have a tough but functional life. Without it, I don't know how you get by.

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and the power has gone out. You can't find a flashlight in the dark and you can't feel around for it.

You bump into something or trip over something and don't even realize it. You could easily fall down the stairs. I guess you'd have to plan for this and always sleep with a flashlight on.

But you'd still have to constantly look at your arms to make sure you haven't bashed your hand or sliced anything open accidentally. Yeah, I think sense if touch is the most fundamentally vital.