Freedom of thought - who controls your mind?

Recently I've been doing some reading on Transhumanist thought and the possibilities presented by biotechnology, nanotechnology and computers for augmenting and improving our minds and bodies. Some of the possibilities are very profound. Many of the ideas, of course, are years or decades away; ideas such as physical near-immortality, mind-machine interfaces, modification of genetic and cellular structure with nanomachines.

Others however are now upon us, and are becoming available ever more rapidly. Drugs are in the works that can improve your memory retention and recall, turn off the need for sleep (short-term), and modify your emotional state in various ways.

But who decides when and if to apply these advances? Enthusiastic transhumanists look forward to a new era of personal control over every part of the human condition, a new age of increased freedom and expanded possibilities. Our track record with such advances is not so good.

Consider that we are already engaged in a massive experiment in the mental modification of human beings. Millions of schoolchildren take stimulants and antidepressants every day. This is not done as voluntary performance enhancement but under an unproven disease model that diagnoses these children with mental disorders. Millions of children are given these drugs, and potentially a lifelong dependency on mind-altering chemicals, before they can possibly understand the consequences.

In addition to this, states still have loopholes in the due process of law that allow people to be incarcerated and subjected to mental treatments without trial, without being convicted of any crime, but purely because a doctor or family member decides that their behavior does not fit within the norms for a safe, reasonable person. Once in an institution, a person has very little control or recourse over what is done to their mind.

This was bad enough in an age of ineffective and barbaric practices such as lobotomies, Thorazine, and electroshock. What will it mean as more subtle, sophisticated and powerful technologies are put into doctors' hands? Should we still give them the right to practice such things on us against our will?

The ethical questions and consequences continue to pile up. How much power should parents have to modify the genetic structure and mental functions of their children? How long will it be before unwillingness to take memory enhancers or all-nighter pills earns your employer's disfavor? Could "refusal to enhance" or cooperate with doctors' orders get you a diagnosis of a new version of Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

In short, who controls your mind? You, or someone else?

It's going to be great, you know? Direct, mind-to-mind sex - and the NSA and the National Enquirer listening in.

I used to think I controlled my mind. Lately however, I have been waking up in the middle of the night and the dwarf that lives in my closet has been standing right beside my ear.

I ask him what he's doing and he just shrugs his shoulders and goes back into the closet.

I'm beginning to think he whispers things in my ear at night. I think he's the reason I always want to watch Cinemax and touch myself inappropriately.

I think the dwarf is controlling my mind! I am terrified. Someone, anyone, please help me. It's only 7 hours until late night Cinemax and I'm not sure I can be responsible for my actions.