Mind rape?

[xdoop.insanejournal.com]

While they didn't create the term, TV Tropes defines "Mind Rape" as when "a character is attacked by a villain in the most painful non-physical way possible. Their mind and soul are assaulted with painful, horrifying visions and memories, and broken until they're powerless and numb, but not dead, although afterwards they may wish they were. Nothing sexual occurs, but everything else is there to resemble a rape - violation, helplessness, and the poisoning of what could otherwise be a source of joy."

However I've seen a lot of people throw the term around whenever a character gets their mind read without their permission, as if it's just as bad (or almost as bad) as the act of sexual assault itself.

One such example occurred in New Avengers #19, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.

SHIELD has asked the New Avengers for help dealing with the Collective, which is later revealed to be the unified energy signatures of all the mutants depowered after "M-Day." Spider-Man and the Young Avengers' Vision are on the Helicarrier when SHIELD discovers that the energy readings match those of a large number of the depowered  mutants. When Spider-Man discovers the connection to the House of M, Iron Man tells him to take the Vision and get off the ship.




Later...






Another example of when the term "mind rape" was used was in reference to this scene from Captain America #28, by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.




So, do you think any of these examples are comparable to actually raping someone?

Comments

[merseybeatler.insanejournal.com]

Frankly I find the idea of having my mind read - another person exposed to my thoughts, emotions, fears, memories, secrets, ect - far, FAR more terrifying than physical rape.

[aaron_bourque.insanejournal.com]

Never visit a "psychic."

Or play with professional poker players.

[merseybeatler.insanejournal.com]

One of my best friends is a "psychic". Actually, she's just a bit nuts, but I simply can't bring myself to fear someone who believes that I was an archaeopteryx and a French revolutionary in past lives.

[aaron_bourque.insanejournal.com]

One skill "real psychics" have, the really really successful ones anyway, is the ability to read facial expressions and body languages enough to seem to be reading minds.

[autumn_lily.insanejournal.com]

You have that filthy of a mind do you?

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

So what, only ugly people wouldn't want others to see them naked without permission?

[autumn_lily.insanejournal.com]

Huh?

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

Maybe I misunderstood or you were making a joke, in which case I apologize, but your argument reads as "only people who have something to be ashamed of would hate/be embarrassed to have their mind laid entirely bare to another person". That's like saying that the only reason why people wouldn't want their phone conversations to be monitored was if they were saying incriminating things, or that the only reason why someone wouldn't want other people to see him naked was if he was ashamed of his body.

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

And I just read your answer below. *facepalm* I apologize for the snarkiness.

[autumn_lily.insanejournal.com]

S'okay.

[merseybeatler.insanejournal.com]

My mind is where I keep myself, in my most raw and un-polished state. It's filled with literally everything about me including the things that I haven't shared or come to terms with, memories I may have surpressed, internal analogies responsible for my thought patterns, beliefs that I have abandoned, the reasons behind harmless lies, urges I've never acted upon, questions I've never asked, answers I didn't like, dreams I've never really forgotten, letters I never composed, jealousies I'd never admit, uncertainties I've never dealt with, and every little thought I've never bothered saying aloud.
It's not a question of whether I have a clean or a dirty mind, only that it's the only thing that will ever truly belong completely to me. Rape would frighten, hurt, horrify, and disgust me and likely make me feel insecure with myself and others, but my mind is where I would withdraw into for safety where no one could find me until I was ready to be found. That's where everyone goes when they can't find sanctuary anywhere else.

[aaron_bourque.insanejournal.com]

Reading a mind isn't like reading an encyclopedia of you.

It's like reading fragments of the wiki-edit of you. You're still undecipherable, the reader just knows there are secret shames, now.

[merseybeatler.insanejournal.com]

In this definition, sure. But as it doesn't exist in real life, any type of hypothetical mental-invasion is scary.

[autumn_lily.insanejournal.com]

I was thinking more long the lines of somebody seeing your mental equivalent of porn, like your mom finding the magazines under your mattress. I did not mean this comment as anything serious, only light joking, I apologize for offense.