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Re: The Unity Machine

danielrm26 — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:24:27 -0000

Let me be one of the first to tell you that this is not a new thought. People have been thinking of things like this for years, but they did not use technology.

That's why it's a new thought. ;)

>Your goals are lofty and noble, but I think you are missing something. These people would know there time was going to end and that would make a huge difference to everyone.

Hmm, that's a good point, but people are massively effected by short term experiences all the time. Think of reporters in New Orleans who know they can leave at any time. They are still changed people after experiencing what they have.

> One other thing you have to consider is that you are promoting mass torture. Lets say that you make 2million people a day experience a brutal rape, you have just raped 2 million people.

A good point. Obviously the severity of the expriences would have to be worked out so as not to actually inflict the very experience that we're hoping to prevent.

Re: The Unity Machine

Ken — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 15:45:34 -0000

Let me be one of the first to tell you that this is not a new thought. People have been thinking of things like this for years, but they did not use technology. Your goals are lofty and noble, but I think you are missing something. These people would know there time was going to end and that would make a huge difference to everyone.

One other thing you have to consider is that you are promoting mass torture. Lets say that you make 2million people a day experience a brutal rape, you have just raped 2 million people. While this was not physical it would certainly be very real to the person.

All in all I think a society that is all caring is a utopia that I would love to visit or live. It is a very noble idea that I am sure you will put more thought into.

Re: The Unity Machine

Carl M — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 12:04:52 -0000

That is a truly horrific idea. I understand your goal, and I agree that lack of empathy is a VERY serious problem, but I'm not convinced that your Unity machine is a good idea. I'd certainly go see the SCI-FI movie that was based on this idea, but I _KNOW_ that the ending is not a good one.

I'm in the middle of grading exams, but I'll get back later with reasons that I don't think this would work the way you think it would.