From: E. Shaun Russell (e_shaun@uniserve.com)
Date: Fri Aug 30 1996 - 17:01:17 MDT
>>I agree that it would be beneficial to have brain power aligned with
>>activity (it tends to naturally do so). I`ve always admired the
>>social structure of ants and termites: no real central authority, and
>>each member of the work force physically/mentally tailored to it`s
>>function. There is no reason why drones won`t be happy doing doing
>>there work. I`m quite happy studying computer science, and don`t
>>feel bad or any less happy that I`m not studying quantum physics.
>In fact we can make them all happy and euphoric while they complete their
>tasks by flooding their brains with endorphins while they work.
This sounds remarkably like Aldous Huxley's groundbreaking book
"Brave New World". It was in this book that the idea of having a
non-reproducing society came into light. The book featured a society born
in bottles. There were different classes of these 'bottle-babies' ranging
from extremely smart (Alpha-plus) to drones (Gammas). Though the book was
fictional, the ideas Huxley expressed are still plausible today. I have
given the subject of drones a lot of thought since I read this book, and
even more since the subject came up on this ML.
I personally think that this is a form of control. Even though the
'drones' are created with a low intelligence quotient, they are still
*alive*. How about this scenario: If a race with an average IQ of 250 came
to be, and they decided to use people with an average IQ of 100 as their
drones, the people with the IQ of 100 would not care for it too much.
Even if the ones with IQ of 250 were far superior in intelligence, us IQ
100's would be unhappy. If they were to flood our brains with endorphins,
that takes away all that is sacred or real to us.
Whether it is a 'stupid' form of life, or a superior form of life,
it still has sentience. Who are we to put a control on someone's life?
Undrugged, the drones would have some sort of conciousness -even if it is on
a much smaller scale to ours. I love my life, I think they should have the
chance to love theirs.
-E. Shaun Russell
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"And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick"
-Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
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