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So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 1:47:35 PM

Crush

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Suppose that a "personal shield" could be invented that would protect someone something like Superman's skin. No bullets, blades, clubs, etc., could harm you. You could just complain that a nuclear blast was as irritating as a mild sunburn. Yet you could take in nutrition (food/water/beer) (your "shield" would let you take in things...and detoxify it as well.

When no one has any physical vulnerabilities, then what happens to government? To society?

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 2:14:13 PM

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This is a fun thought but could never be because if it were created someone would want to know how to control it.

The second it was created all goverments would be looking for ways to defeat it. This is what the Nuke was all about. I can Kill you more than you can kill me..... Nu-uhu I got nukes too I kill you just as dead as you kill me. Now Lay down cause you're all dead.

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 2:14:35 PM

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The hypothetical posed is too far out there for the exercise to hold any appeal...to me...good luck with it.

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 3:36:40 PM

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Have you read Nietzsche?

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 3:38:42 PM

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I see the important things can be received through the shield....BEER!....can you bring others into your shield?.....

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 4:10:46 PM

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You have to acknowledge priorities.

Speaking of which, I'm off for a few myself.

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 4:19:10 PM

Crush

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SilverMark

I see the important things can be received through the shield....BEER!....can you bring others into your shield?.....

Definitely beer...you can damage yourself all you want. Just others can't damage you. (Not that beer is damaging. After all, Guinness is not just a beverage, it is a show and a meal in a glass!)

Other people...that's part of the thought experiment.

Nietzsche...yeah, read that. I did come from a liberal arts education....

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 5:53:14 PM

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So food and drink can come into the sheild... can shit get out? (Otherwise I forsee a scene similar to Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" before too long...)

No offense, but why is this "If the Enterprise fought a Star Destroyer..." type question doing here in Politics and Religion? Shouldn't it be in Humor?

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 8:52:30 PM

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~Fast Reply~

Always nice to see all the people who are not interested in a thread rush in to say so.

But stepping back from the concrete example of a superman suit, I think the underlying question is: What would happen, or perhaps more to the point what would change, if people couldn't harm each other?

Am I close, Crush?

K.

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 11:07:56 PM

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an influx of Darwin award winners breeding?

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 11:13:24 PM

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What about super sperm,that never dies and keeps looking for eggs to fertilize,forever!

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/23/2009 11:44:06 PM

BKSir

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I think we would see widespread chaos to a degree which we've never known for a while, then everyone would calm down and look at the mess and go "Aw shit... Now what do we do?"

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 12:10:23 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

an influx of Darwin award winners breeding?

...good point. Just how desirable is an end to evolutionary pressure?

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 3:57:00 AM

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Crush, I'm wrestling with this, but I haven't even gotten to your question yet!

Let me try restating it: If the most basic level of Maslow's hierarchy was met (food and basic subsistence) for all citizens, what needs/desires would people then have?

Later, I'll try to think of the role government would have in that case.

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 5:10:25 AM

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I think the outcome would be similar to Jack Williamson's classic science fiction novel: "With Folded Hands."

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 7:08:05 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Owner59

What about super sperm,that never dies and keeps looking for eggs to fertilize,forever!

It depends on whether one is going cum right here or...way over there.....

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 8:52:35 AM

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Doen`t matter w/ suppersperm....It could be "released" on another planet even, and wonder endlessly through space........ looking

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 9:13:05 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Crush

Suppose that a "personal shield" could be invented that would protect someone something like Superman's skin. No bullets, blades, clubs, etc., could harm you. You could just complain that a nuclear blast was as irritating as a mild sunburn. Yet you could take in nutrition (food/water/beer) (your "shield" would let you take in things...and detoxify it as well.

When no one has any physical vulnerabilities, then what happens to government? To society?

"Shield" by Poul Anderson. Written in 1963. Still a good read.

Amazon link.

SF Reviews link.

Extract:

quote:

The world is ruled by the neoconservative USA. USA Military Security defends America's perceived right to self defense. Military Security patrols the world searching for opposition to the USA. ruthlessly uprooting and destroying weaponry and conspiracies that may be a potential risk to the USA. Only China remains largely free from the USA's hegemony.

...

Now the Mars mission has returned bringing technology developed in conjunction with the indigenous Martians. Young, principled astronaut Peter Koskinen carries a marvellous defensive weapon, a force field screen that protects the wearer against almost all attacks.

I think I have it in ebook format. I know I have it in paperback, from the original publication issue.

Firm

Yup, just checked. I have it in rtf. Send me a cmail with an email address if you want a copy.

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 9:24:17 AM

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mail, Firm :)

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RE: So, a hypothetical - 4/24/2009 1:40:51 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

mail, Firm :)

hee!

Done, with extras.

Firm

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