Letters; May / June 2010; Scientific American Mind; by Staff Editor; 2 Page(s)

HATING “LOVE”
After reading Robert Epstein’s article “How Science Can Help You Fall in Love,” I had to go back to the cover and verify that the word “scientific” was indeed part of the title of your magazine. The “Love-Building Exercises” he recommends are more appropriate to a magazine of fantasy and science fiction:

“Two as One”—feeling that the two of you have merged?
“A Mind-Reading Game”—wordlessly trying to communicate thoughts?
“Love Aura”—feeling “eerie kinds of sparks” when your palm is close to another’s?

Thought transfer? Auras? Come on! Shame on you for publishing such metaphysical pseudoscientific psychobabble!
Harriet Hall
via e-mail

ALONE TIME
In “Are Social Networks Messing with Your Head?” David DiSalvo rightly pointed out that social networking may affect the quality of our relationships; however, he missed the possibility that it can also affect the quality of our solitude. The reflection, quietude and introspection so vital to self-knowledge and creativity are too easily sapped away when we can be reached at any time, anywhere, by everyone.