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sinequanon · Mar 1, 2008, 01:21 pm

Would you prefer to live in a world where everyone could read everyone else's thoughts, rather than a world in which thought can be secret?

I would. I think it would be a much healthier world.

**Jack** · Mar 1, 2008, 02:06 pm

You'd go insane in a crowded elevator.

Tycoon · Mar 1, 2008, 02:45 pm

Quote:

I would. I think it would be a much healthier world.

Healthier maybe, but in my opinion much less worth living in.

Kite · Mar 1, 2008, 02:56 pm

Discrimination against people with weird fetishes would run rampant. Thumbs down.

Tycoon · Mar 1, 2008, 03:07 pm

Quote:

Discrimination against people with weird fetishes would run rampant. Thumbs down.

Yeah, what he said.

sinequanon · Mar 1, 2008, 03:47 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Isherwood

You'd go insane in a crowded elevator.

You still have choice. You can read thoughts whenever you want.

Quote:

Quote by: Kite

Discrimination against people with weird fetishes would run rampant. Thumbs down.

I think the opposite would happen. Harmless fetishes would no longer be scary fetishes. Discrimination is usually down to ignorance and fear.

Domino · Mar 1, 2008, 03:53 pm

Weird fetishes would be far more easily understood, and the fetishists would be able to see how weird they are.

another day · Mar 1, 2008, 06:14 pm

Healthier? I don't think so. I think it would have the opposite effect, alienating people instead of bringing them together.

Socrates · Mar 1, 2008, 09:43 pm

To have every thought ex-posable would not be a utopia. All walls of privacy would fall. all humiliations brought to light. Blackmailing would be so easy. No though or idea would ever be private. Life would soon be chaotic and awful. this is the problem, looks good on the drawing board but would inevitably wreck destruction on the human race.

Domino · Mar 1, 2008, 09:56 pm

Blackmailing would be impossible: the secret has no power if everyone knows.

I figure there'd be upheaval, and we'd be left with a smaller population made up of people who could handle it.

gela · Mar 2, 2008, 07:18 pm

I can see its potential. The only reason we are all against it is because we think we will be judged.

However, when everyone can read everyone elses minds, then we will find out that we're all quite similar. Judge me because im jealous of that girls legs? 50 other people had the exact same feeling - it becomes normal to have faults and insecurities. Because it is normal. No one will be able to pretend they are perfect anymore, and no one else will expect perfection.

Well.. this is only a theory. Who knows what would really happen.

Tycoon · Mar 2, 2008, 07:26 pm

I think that without secrets and private thoughts the world would be a much more boring place.

Chaossaber314 · Mar 2, 2008, 10:55 pm

Nothing would get accomplished because it would be like getting in a fight with your best friend who knows all your secrets except that you're not friends with the rest of the world. Try and get someone to do something they don't want to do when they have evidence that you're a hypocrite as we all are from time to time.

barelypolitical · Mar 3, 2008, 02:00 am

Healthier world?! Are you serious! I would be DEAD if people knew what I was thinking, my thoughts can be brutal towards other people sometimes.

No doubt my boyfriend would break up with me.

Sometimes white lies are necessary to maintain peace, you can't always be honest! Think of all the catfights girls would have, all the insecurity issues everyone would have.

Not to mention board games would cease to exist! And surprises... everyone loves those.

I would hate to not know if my thoughts were only to myself, they would begin to be censored and lead to mundane, "safe", wholly pure and rational thoughts. Who would want that? Plus CSI is just such a good mystery...

The good thing would be is that justice would be achievable, and people would be entertaining, and we would know what Britney was REALLY thinking - letting her babies drive like that...

grandpa · Mar 3, 2008, 11:42 am

Quote:

Quote by: barelypolitical

Healthier world?!
Are you serious!

I understand your point, though I think there is too much dishonesty around.
I try to be an exception. For example, I can look to government and, with little embarassment, say "They f'd up the world." I usually don't get pelted with rocks for syaing such things in public. The safety issue with free speech really depends on where you are. Of course, reading a person's thoughts is arguably different than free speech seeing as to how people often think of terrible things they would rather not do. But yes, it certainly could get one into deep trouble. And some people get offended very, very easily (not that we should cater to such types).

Grandpa h.

The Bacon Guy · Mar 3, 2008, 02:21 pm

No way. I have too many secrets which could be used against me.

It's the same argument against government surveilance: they can't be trusted with it. If we could trust the government to use the surveilance only to protect our rights, then it's a good idea. However, we know that this isn't the case and that governments all too often use their power to deny us our freedom. Secrecy is one of the only weapons the oppressed have against the oppressors, and I wouldn't be willing to surrender it.

grandpa · Mar 3, 2008, 02:47 pm

Quote:

Quote by: The Bacon Guy

No way.
I have too many secrets which could be used against
me.

As do we all. I wouldn't want my own invasions of privacy as a kid coming back to haunt me, for example.

Grandpa h.

jumph1gh · Mar 4, 2008, 01:47 am

Quote:

Quote by: sinequanon

Would you prefer to live in a world where everyone could read everyone else's thoughts, rather than a world in which thought can be secret?

I would. I think it would be a much healthier world.

Healthy as in parents having to explain to their child what a penis is or a vagina at a much earlier age then when they start to learn about it? Or healthy as my kids coming up to me asking me all sorts of profanity and racial terms? I see this is more of unhealthy since we would go insane at the thought of no privacy what so ever. For guys, we probably wouldn't even be able to walk in the streets and stare at an attractive girl without getting called a pervert

.

sinequanon · Mar 4, 2008, 07:15 am

So which group would you choose to be in if you had the choice?

Group A: Nobody can read your thoughts, but neither can you read anyone elses.

Group B: Anyone in Group B can read your thoughts and you can read theirs.

If Group A and B were to coexist in the world, which group would you want to belong to?

Mar 1, 2008, 01:21 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
sinequanon Molten Ash Posts: 49	World of no secrets... Would you prefer to live in a world where everyone could read everyone else's thoughts, rather than a world in which thought can be secret? I would. I think it would be a much healthier world.

Mar 1, 2008, 02:06 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,180	You'd go insane in a crowded elevator. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Mar 1, 2008, 02:56 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
Kite Evil Overlord Location: A Geofront, somewhere in Antarctica Posts: 938	Discrimination against people with weird fetishes would run rampant. Thumbs down. I know your type. You think, "I'll just get me a costume, rip off the neighborhood kids." Next thing you know, you've got a jet shaped like a skull with lasers on the front! -The Monarch

Mar 1, 2008, 03:53 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Domino I'm a pushover Posts: 344	Weird fetishes would be far more easily understood, and the fetishists would be able to see how weird they are. kill President attack nuclear bomb smuggle Echelon just recorded this message.

Mar 1, 2008, 06:14 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
another day slipping sand Posts: 1,996	Healthier? I don't think so. I think it would have the opposite effect, alienating people instead of bringing them together. Look out kid, they keep it all hid.

Mar 1, 2008, 09:43 pm	#9 (permalink) (top)
Socrates revolution Posts: 25	To have every thought ex-posable would not be a utopia. All walls of privacy would fall. all humiliations brought to light. Blackmailing would be so easy. No though or idea would ever be private. Life would soon be chaotic and awful. this is the problem, looks good on the drawing board but would inevitably wreck destruction on the human race.

Mar 1, 2008, 09:56 pm	#10 (permalink) (top)
Domino I'm a pushover Posts: 344	Blackmailing would be impossible: the secret has no power if everyone knows. I figure there'd be upheaval, and we'd be left with a smaller population made up of people who could handle it. kill President attack nuclear bomb smuggle Echelon just recorded this message.

Mar 2, 2008, 07:18 pm	#11 (permalink) (top)
gela Vampire Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 1,048	I can see its potential. The only reason we are all against it is because we think we will be judged. However, when everyone can read everyone elses minds, then we will find out that we're all quite similar. Judge me because im jealous of that girls legs? 50 other people had the exact same feeling - it becomes normal to have faults and insecurities. Because it is normal. No one will be able to pretend they are perfect anymore, and no one else will expect perfection. Well.. this is only a theory. Who knows what would really happen. lol! Republicans for Obama. <=We're in ur party, stealin ur votes.

Mar 2, 2008, 07:26 pm	#12 (permalink) (top)
Tycoon Queer Location: California Posts: 2,605	I think that without secrets and private thoughts the world would be a much more boring place.

Mar 2, 2008, 10:55 pm	#13 (permalink) (top)
Chaossaber314 The Cake is a lie... Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,388	Nothing would get accomplished because it would be like getting in a fight with your best friend who knows all your secrets except that you're not friends with the rest of the world. Try and get someone to do something they don't want to do when they have evidence that you're a hypocrite as we all are from time to time. What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?

Mar 3, 2008, 02:00 am	#14 (permalink) (top)
barelypolitical Sedimentary Rock Location: San Diego [.::.] Posts: 15	Healthier world?! Are you serious! I would be DEAD if people knew what I was thinking, my thoughts can be brutal towards other people sometimes. No doubt my boyfriend would break up with me. Sometimes white lies are necessary to maintain peace, you can't always be honest! Think of all the catfights girls would have, all the insecurity issues everyone would have. Not to mention board games would cease to exist! And surprises... everyone loves those. I would hate to not know if my thoughts were only to myself, they would begin to be censored and lead to mundane, "safe", wholly pure and rational thoughts. Who would want that? Plus CSI is just such a good mystery... The good thing would be is that justice would be achievable, and people would be entertaining, and we would know what Britney was REALLY thinking - letting her babies drive like that...

Mar 3, 2008, 02:21 pm	#16 (permalink) (top)
The Bacon Guy Away Location: Scotland, Central Lowlands Posts: 3,317	No way. I have too many secrets which could be used against me. It's the same argument against government surveilance: they can't be trusted with it. If we could trust the government to use the surveilance only to protect our rights, then it's a good idea. However, we know that this isn't the case and that governments all too often use their power to deny us our freedom. Secrecy is one of the only weapons the oppressed have against the oppressors, and I wouldn't be willing to surrender it. Last edited by The Bacon Guy; Mar 3, 2008 at 02:46 pm.

Mar 4, 2008, 07:15 am	#19 (permalink) (top)
sinequanon Molten Ash Posts: 49	So which group would you choose to be in if you had the choice? Group A: Nobody can read your thoughts, but neither can you read anyone elses. Group B: Anyone in Group B can read your thoughts and you can read theirs. If Group A and B were to coexist in the world, which group would you want to belong to?