Would you use magic to influence a loved one's mind?

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

Like Willow did to Tara...you're in the midst of an argument with your lover, but you just want it forgotten. Would you cast a spell to make them forget? Think of all of the potentially unpleasant situations in a relationship that you could fix! Or do you feel it's a violation of trust?

Frankly, I think it would be quite handy to influence someone's thoughts! And I would NOT hesitate. But that's me. What about you? Tell the truth.

Please bear in mind that this topic is about magically influencing someone; let's try to avoid comparisons to sexual assault, rape, etc. Thank you. 🙂

 

[DeepBlueJoy]

No. I consider what she did to be soul rape. As a survivor of abuse and head games of some severity, I really think people who control and lie others are the scum of the earth who don't deserve to be here, so no, I would have zero use for that person... and any time I discovered their deception and/or control of me, they'd be out of my life (if it were 50 years later, and they needed me, they'd be alone and without help), Though I am not generally a vindictive person... well, let's just say they might want to hide. Because I have very violent impulses toward rapists of any kind. Hatred would be too mild a feeling for what I'd have for that person.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

No. I consider what she did to be soul rape. As a survivor of abuse and head games of some severity, I really think people who control and lie others are the scum of the earth who don't deserve to be here, so no, I would have zero use for that person... and any time I discovered their deception and/or control of me, they'd be out of my life (if it were 50 years later, and they needed me, they'd be alone and without help), Though I am not generally a vindictive person... well, let's just say they might want to hide. Because I have very violent impulses toward rapists of any kind. Hatred would be too mild a feeling for what I'd have for that person.

Actually the question was, would you use magic on someone else.

 

[thrasherpix]

I would not. And saying this matter of factly rather than with snark, plenty (though far from all) do recognize a need to treat others the way they want to be treated themselves, and this is especially true in those we love and connect to. It's much like how we wouldn't cheat not necessarily because there is no attraction to others, but because we would not want to be cheated on and therefore recognize how wrong it would be for us to do it ourselves.


The following is thinking more deeply on it without speaking of myself specifically...

I do recognize that spells of this time would be used a lot if they were available. Manipulation and deceit to control us is rampant in society, and if spells could be used that simplify the process (for criminal, political, religious, and many other reasons) while increasing the results (or on a mass scale, saved millions to billions in marketing to sell products and politicians) then of course they'd be used for even trivial reasons (unless there was a way to detect their use with swift punishments following, though the wealthy and powerful often see themselves as above the law, and more often than not rightly so). Same for love spells (and not just for self gratification). And many (but far from all) would use them on loved ones, probably rationalizing how they're actually doing a good thing by doing so if they thought they could get away with it.

Heck, I don't doubt that spells that could permanently remove (or add false) memories would be a big seller that people would use on themselves. Some would probably willingly drink love potions as well that made them fall in love with someone else for a variety of reasons. I'm sure that if such magicks could be mass produced (like in the wizarding world of Harry Potter) they'd become illicit street drugs in their own right, whether used on one's self or on others. (Heck, I know a real life Wiccan who was frustrated that she couldn't make her anger and bitterness over past events go away despite various magical techniques she tried, and believed that the mind making itself forget some things was necessary for sanity and wished her own mind would repress more.) But that doesn't mean we'd all do so, and even plenty who would be willing to use them on strangers would not use them on loved ones or tolerate others targeting their loved ones with such magicks.


Back to myself, there is one event that comes to mind that I hate remembering as it makes me feel so ashamed (I won't share it) and part of me would love to erase it from my mind. But I wouldn't let myself forget it because that terrible memory has made it so that I'll never do anything like that again.

 

[DeepBlueJoy]

Would I use magic on someone else for my benefit like Willow did? No, it's soul rape.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

I would not. And saying this matter of factly rather than with snark, plenty (though far from all) do recognize a need to treat others the way they want to be treated themselves, and this is especially true in those we love and connect to. It's much like how we wouldn't cheat not necessarily because there is no attraction to others, but because we would not want to be cheated on and therefore recognize how wrong it would be for us to do it ourselves.


The following is thinking more deeply on it without speaking of myself specifically...

I do recognize that spells of this time would be used a lot if they were available. Manipulation and deceit to control us is rampant in society, and if spells could be used that simplify the process (for criminal, political, religious, and many other reasons) while increasing the results (or on a mass scale, saved millions to billions in marketing to sell products and politicians) then of course they'd be used for even trivial reasons (unless there was a way to detect their use with swift punishments following, though the wealthy and powerful often see themselves as above the law, and more often than not rightly so). Same for love spells (and not just for self gratification). And many (but far from all) would use them on loved ones, probably rationalizing how they're actually doing a good thing by doing so if they thought they could get away with it.

Heck, I don't doubt that spells that could permanently remove (or add false) memories would be a big seller that people would use on themselves. Some would probably willingly drink love potions as well that made them fall in love with someone else for a variety of reasons. I'm sure that if such magicks could be mass produced (like in the wizarding world of Harry Potter) they'd become illicit street drugs in their own right, whether used on one's self or on others. (Heck, I know a real life Wiccan who was frustrated that she couldn't make her anger and bitterness over past events go away despite various magical techniques she tried, and believed that the mind making itself forget some things was necessary for sanity and wished her own mind would repress more.) But that doesn't mean we'd all do so, and even plenty who would be willing to use them on strangers would not use them on loved ones or tolerate others targeting their loved ones with such magicks.


Back to myself, there is one event that comes to mind that I hate remembering as it makes me feel so ashamed (I won't share it) and part of me would love to erase it from my mind. But I wouldn't let myself forget it because that terrible memory has made it so that I'll never do anything like that again.

In all seriousness, I actually have cast spells on people...in the past. Mostly love spells, and surprisingly, a couple of times they seemed to work. The last time I did this was in 2012. It was a fascinating experiment, frankly. Quite educational.

Magic is empowering...if done correctly. Especially love spells! 😀 But I draw the line at black magic and stay the hell away from it.

 

[thetopher]

No I wouldn't use 'actual magic' (if it existed) on somebody I love to 'influence' them. That's creepy.
But then it gets a bit blurry, would you influence somebody you love to save somebody else you love? To actually save a life or protect another person you love? That's a bit trickier- I think Angel is a better example of this than Willow is.

...But I know myself well enough to maybe would use magic on somebody I really hated, like Willow sometimes is tempted to do; righteous vengeance always has a special appeal to me.
Its why I have more sympathy when a character gives into their own anger rather than creepily hurting somebody they profess to love but in reality it being straight-up abuse.

 

[Taake]

In theory: "No way!" because I wouldn't want it done to me.
But also, "Depends on the situation" because I'm not sure I'm a good enough person to resist if the opportunity arises. Could come in handy.

 

[Athena]

No. I'd prefer to have them react to things the way they would. Otherwise those friendships/relationships aren't real. It's a severe violation of trust and respect. I'd rather have the argument, or know the truth. Because really, the only person you're fooling by using that magic is yourself.

Jessica Jones & Kilgrave spring to mind. A person with the power to control how people think, speak, react, behave..... is literally one of the most dangerous powers to have. Sure, you could use it for good, but then you're altering fate (and if you've seen Final Destination, you know fate doesn't like to be influenced!)

 

[November]

Yes. I'd delete lots of my life from minds. Then maybe I'd stop getting blamed for causing all their heart problems 😀 Actually I would totally erase my existance from my families minds. Maybe more like a Hermonie spell than an ongoing manipulation though.

There are plenty of people I'd erase from my own mind. And some people I'd hex to smell and baaa like sheep.

 

[Nix]

No because then the relationship is built on lies. If it can move forward then at least it is a truthful relationship.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

To quote in universe morality, "He considers magic filthy, filthy magics for filthy people, like Gypsies!" But, if you lived in a world that allows for Supernatural acts being performed without the aid of Satan, then I suppose you should avoid the practice unless it's to help other people in extreme circumstances. I mean, that seems to be Giles postition, and magic is ultimately a tool of the Old Ones. But to be fair, a lot of Buffy verse metaphysics are uncharted, so all we have is the example of one Willow Rosenberg, who went from floating pencils to terracide in 3 years.

 

[Steven123]

Yes and no...

No in the sense that if it were an argument, I would prefer to just have the argument, resolve it, and get it out the way. If I used magic to get through that, to me it would still be an open argument that would still be there, and it would bother me.

Yes in the sense that if I wanted to go somewhere on holiday and she wanted to go somewhere else or if I wanted to REALLY go see a movie and she didn't, then I would do it in a heartbeat haha.