What sort of society do you get...

[Joseph Paul]

Humanoid - Racial ability Telesend, Broadcast, Racial, Vague, Always On.

Species is Chummy to Gregarious.

Vague is very strictly emotions. Usually the recipient can learn that someone is experiencing an emotion and the magnitude of it but doesn't feel it themselves unless it is very strong or there is a close tie to the sender.

How does something like this play out on the macro scale?

[Flyndaran]

Mob rule and mindless panic during disasters? That always on is the big killer, IMO.

[evileeyore]

Yeah... I see a "pure' communist mob that reacts in masses to threats, panics, etc. But also mobilizes easily and organizes naturally for relief efforts and group support.


Or more likely than pure communism would be groups of Big Man reciprocity societal/economic groups, "communist" in whole, but localized around central leadership. Possibly even being a republic in governmental form.


Did this idea arise from the latest Sluggy Freelance storyline?

[Black Leviathan]

I feel like there would be a stigma against "Downers". Not that most people would have negative feeling imposed on them but the few times they "caught" a feeling from someone who is oddly effective at projecting or at a time when they were more susceptible to contagious emotion makes everyone wary of people who can't keep up a positive attitude.

[Aldric]

I also see a lot of ways this could go wrong, and only one where you could have this utopian society.

[Joseph Paul]

Originally Posted by Aldric

I also see a lot of ways this could go wrong, and only one where you could have this utopian society.

Don't be shy - list'em if you got'em.

I need to plug holes with societal conventions and work out dark underbellies.

[smurf]

Originally Posted by Joseph Paul

Humanoid - Racial ability Telesend, Broadcast, Racial, Vague, Always On.

Species is Chummy to Gregarious.

Vague is very strictly emotions. Usually the recipient can learn that someone is experiencing an emotion and the magnitude of it but doesn't feel it themselves unless it is very strong or there is a close tie to the sender.

How does something like this play out on the macro scale?

How big is your macro scale.

In such a society any deception may be considered the height of bad manners.

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Mob rule and mindless panic during disasters? That always on is the big killer, IMO.

There is no evidence of this. In most disasters there is panic but also the willingness to help and assist. Unless it is a war like situation where panic may ensue.

Originally Posted by evileeyore

Yeah... I see a "pure' communist mob that reacts in masses to threats, panics, etc. But also mobilizes easily and organizes naturally for relief efforts and group support.

Or more likely than pure communism would be groups of Big Man reciprocity societal/economic groups, "communist" in whole, but localized around central leadership. Possibly even being a republic in governmental form.

Did this idea arise from the latest Sluggy Freelance storyline?

The big man theory is nothing with this scenario. The only way a Big man can have an impact is with state of armed bodies of men.

The problem we have is the scenario is truly speculative. We have no historic examples to look back on to a view. It could be like a bee hive where if attacked they will swarm but with the added benefit of free will and the ability to abstractly think (eg what is the best way to swarm).

[Varyon]

This seems very reminiscent of Mercerism from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, wherein those who are tapped into the Mercer “feed” (basically a VR “sensie” on constant loop) can feel the emotions of others. There is a great sense of community there, and “downers” are welcome, as while their negative emotions can bring others down, the positive emotions of the other users can help uplift them and get them out of their funk, deal with their loss, or whatever. Might be worth a look, at least. Of course, that version is optional.

[Joseph Paul]

Originally Posted by Varyon

This seems very reminiscent of Mercerism from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, wherein those who are tapped into the Mercer “feed” (basically a VR “sensie” on constant loop) can feel the emotions of others. There is a great sense of community there, and “downers” are welcome, as while their negative emotions can bring others down, the positive emotions of the other users can help uplift them and get them out of their funk, deal with their loss, or whatever. Might be worth a look, at least. Of course, that version is optional.

Good thing the library is around the corner. Thanks for the notion.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by smurf

...
There is no evidence of this. In most disasters there is panic but also the willingness to help and assist. Unless it is a war like situation where panic may ensue.
...

I wasn't talking about real world humanity. We don't have to literally feel others' terrors and pain during disasters. Imagine if we did.