The Dangers of the Vulcan Mind Meld

Star Trek's Vulcans are tactile telepaths and can use their control over their own bioelectric field to manipulate others through touch which allows for a variety of techniques. The Mind Meld is one such tool, but it has its dangers too despite being around since Surak's teachings.

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This Video is for critical purposes with commentary.

[korvatusklok]

Vulcan - "Why is there screaming?"
Me - "I don't know there's just always screaming."
Vulcan - starts crying.

[maxiemaxwell]

I am positively embarrassed that I never realized Picard's use of the neck pinch stemmed from his earlier mind meld with Sarek, but now it's obvious.

[johnassal]

Mind Melds. Side effects may include:

Dry eye.
Madness.
Cotton mouth.
Loose stool.
Murder.
Hotdog fingers.
Death.
Oily constipation.
Dramatic swings in theme music.

[nobodyyouknow]

For some reason I’ve always remembered The Doctor telling Tuvok “I know more about mind melds than you do.”
Maybe it just seemed like a very The Doctor line or something.

[Henchman]

I think mind melds do have lasting consequences. All of Picard's experiences with them should lead a person to that conclusion. His meld with Spock's father, Sarek, comes to mind.

[brianoconnell]

Also, when plot armor is needed, Vulcans can use their telepathy to control other sentient beings through walls, etc.

[TacComControl]

Kirk: "And then we-"
Spock: "Bored now. Reading your mind."
Kirk: "You can read minds?! HOW!?"
Spock: "Muffin button."

[UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

So there’s a possibility that the seldom used Star Wars trick of “masking your thoughts with inane tasks, or thinking of one strong emotion while thinking about a memory that inspire the opposite feeling” could work against vulcans too, interesting

[marclewis]

"Emotional Transference is an effect of the mind-meld." - Spock, (Star Trek 2009)

[theduke]

You could easily describe a mind meld as the most intimate thing a person can experience. And even if you can control your own thoughts to the point that only your most conscious thoughts were shared, it's still deeply connecting and a far more intimate form of communication than any human being can do naturally.

[UGNAvalon]

“It probably would take a greater degree of control for a mind to *Allow* a Mind Meld to occur than to *Resist* it.”

Ok, now I want to see a group of monk-like ppl dedicating months/years of their lives to prepare themselves for a proper melding of minds. It’d be a fascinating exploration of primitive “hive minds”, and the efforts that one would go thru in order to facilitate such an exchange of thoughts/memories/emotions.

[lovipoekimo]

I never really understood how Picard can manage to do a nerve pinch. My head cannon says that the meld with Sarek left residual energies in Picard that allowed him to do this.

[Cavemanner]

Ever since I watched through Voyager I love seeing "Starship Mine" and watching Picard take down Tim Russ as a "not Tuvok" Vulcan lmao. Never gets old! I love how they have a tendency to use bit actors from previous series as main or secondary cast on following shows!

[mokwella]

I sort of view mind melds as having originally been one of Spock's convenient super powers that would show up when needed to advance the plot. Among those I include the long-range-telepathic sensitivity to the destruction of the USS Intrepid, the forgotten Vulcan third eyelid, the ability to control guards from a distance, the ability to direct Sirah the Yang, his ability to simulate the Vulcan Death Grip, and even his super strength, his occasional near invulnerability (The Apple), super hearing and genius intellect, and of course his ability to have his body function for a long time without his physical brain being present. Originally, of course, he was just the smiley alien with pointy ears that liked the singing plants on Talos IV.

[Mirandorl]

Sarek: I know your fetish
Picard: And I, yours

[randybentley]

As shown in TOS episode A Taste for Armageddon, Spock, a half Vulcan mind you, is able to implant a suggestion at a distance but through a wall of unknown construction and density. If Spock can do this imagine what a full Green blooded Vulcan can accomplish or better yet, imagine what a Vulcan/Betazoid mix might be capable of...!

[KingoftheJuice]

The one dislike is definitely from an undercover Romulan agent.

[kamenriderblade]

Imagine what a ½ Betazoid & ½ Vulcan child could do with their enhanced Psychic abilities.

Vulcans are touch Telepaths, while Betazoids can be "Empaths and/or Regular Telepaths".

So imagine the long range mind meld being possible without having to physically touch somebody.

[johnwang]

Remember the TV series "Highlander" with the dark quickening where they absorb one two many evil souls and needed to share the burden with another. They should've had a dark Vulcan meld episode where they had to struggle to regain control of their personality.

[hotscottrulz]

One of my favourite things to come out of Discovery Season 1 was the “Artificial Mind Meld” device that Stamets used on Burnham to connect with Surak when he was injured. The idea that the bioelectrical impulses that begin a mind meld can be recreated - albeit imperfectly - with technology was interesting to me, and something that I hope we see used in more ways.