What would life be like if there was no pain?

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  • Hate it when you can’t talk back? Well, you can here. Have your say and share your thoughts with students in Hong Kong and around the world
  • This week, teen readers tell us about physical and mental pain – why it’s important, or why it’s holding us back
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Without pain, would we be bored? Sillier? Happier? Photo: Shutterstock

If children could not feel pain when they are physically hurt, they might continue being careless, get injured, or even die. What’s more, some people may even attempt dangerous activities such as stunts and extreme sports without minding their safety. They might actually try to make a living from dangerous stunts, which would be very scary.

Fion Wong Pui-chi, 16

No pain may sound great, but it’s not good. People won’t be able to learn from their mistakes. They may hurt their friends or parents when they get angry because they wouldn’t understand the pain that others feel when they are hurt.

Wong Cheuk-ying, 12

Life will be beautiful, if there is no pain. For example, all Form Six students will be satisfied with their university admissions. Nobody will suffer from depression or any other mental health condition. The world will be free of pain which leads to so many problems around the world.

Tina Fang, 15

Which of your flaws are you most proud of?

Life would be meaningless without pain. We learn from pain – if we receive poor grades, for example, we try to pay more attention in class. Also, if there is no pain, you wouldn’t be happy. For instance, after you work very hard revising for exams, you may feel some pain, but you’ll be very happy if you get a good result.

Marcia Chin, 14

Life might become a complete mess if it was all pleasure without pain. Sometimes pain gives us the power to do something. It can teach us to be tough and spend our time wisely. Pain can help us grow strong.

Chen Weixuan, 13

Pain is a feeling that everyone wants to avoid. But a painless life is actually very boring. Painful experiences make us cherish what we have and appreciate life. Unless we suffer from failures that may cause pain, we are less likely to learn how to persevere in order to win a Nobel Prize or Olympic medal. Life is a journey filled with pain and fun. That is why it is so colourful and interesting.

Chen Ziyuan, 17

What is the worst thing about teenagers today?

When we are injured, we feel pain. When someone insults us, we feel pain. But through this process, we learn what is meaningful to us. If there is no pain when we are hurt, we may just think, “Oh, I am injured. But I feel nothing, so I do not need to deal with it.”

Gloria Wong, 14

Without pain, we would be stagnant in our growth, and we would probably be very apathetic towards others. But we could also become more vulnerable, silly, and fearless.

Chloe Low Ting-yan,14

Pain protects us from danger and makes us kinder. If you burn your finger, you’ll feel pain immediately, and you withdraw your hand from the flame to prevent further damage. When someone else falls, we help them up and feel sympathy because we’ve fallen before and know what their pain feels like.

Mandy Hui Kei-tung ,16,

What questions do you wish people would stop asking you?

If there was no pain, life would be peaceful and full of love. There are many people suffering under the shadow of pain. If there was no pain, the needy will not experience the pain of hunger, the sick will not experience the pain of disease, and the refugee will not experience the pain of disaster.

Sammi Ip,16

Without the feeling of pain, people would not be aware of dangerous situations. There is a rare condition called congenital insensitivity to pain. People with this condition may not notice when they are bleeding because they don’t have any pain. As a result, they may lose too much blood, putting them in danger. It is common for people with this condition to die in childhood due to injuries or illnesses that go unnoticed.

Abbie Lam,12

Next week’s question: Would Keung To inspire you to get a vaccine?

Send your answers to [email protected] before midnight on Monday. Include “Talking Points” in the subject line, as well as your full name, age, and school.

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