Does there exist a (finite dimensional) smooth manifold $M$, such that every Riemannian metric on $M$ has no isometries except the identity? Of course, such a manifold must not admit a diffeomorphism of finite order. Since a surface $S$ admits a diffeomorphism of order $n$ iff its mapping class group (MCP) has an element of order $n$ (see [here][1]), it follows that if $S$ has the above property, then its MCP has only elements of infinite order. [1]:http://mathoverflow.net/a/30445/46290