Catalog of the Weird Parallels

[PTTG]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Paradoxically this makes this world far more dangerous. Reduced fear is reduced caution and less attention to safety. Reduced Anger means the elites run roughshod over the people because the people, lacking anger, don't have the will to challenge the elites. So there are no serious programs to deal with even serious injustices or obvious dangers. The synergy between these trends means the elites are outrageously violent and cruel because there are no negative consequences to even their most sadistic actions.

Especially so because the elites were often able to secure themselves away from the masses and thus avoid infection.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by PTTG

Especially so because the elites were often able to secure themselves away from the masses and thus avoid infection.

Which would rev things up even more. Historically elites that never had to worry about any kind of consequences can become very brutal.

[Flyndaran]

People can also be horribly brutal when protecting what they care about sometimes despite their fear or anger.

[Astromancer]

Gotha like diseases that warp emotional responses could create many different dangerous worlds. A world without sadness might be seriously lacking in empathy or compassion. Worlds without jealousy or envy might be dominated by totalitarian states. Worlds lacking in joy might be violent and deeply frustrated because of hungers no one would understand.

[Flyndaran]

It would be interesting if we had pairs of such worlds, one where things go badly and one better than we would expect.

(I must say that I don't understand how jealousy/envy restricts totalitarianism. The most I could imagine is less racism and more poly relationships.)

[PTTG]

Or a fungal brood parasite, where pools of fungal matter are perceived by humans to be as adorable as children are.

[Flyndaran]

Chibi-world. Every animal is just as dangerous but looks impossibly cute to humans. So much that even defending oneself from them is very difficult.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

It would be interesting if we had pairs of such worlds, one where things go badly and one better than we would expect.

(I must say that I don't understand how jealousy/envy restricts totalitarianism. The most I could imagine is less racism and more poly relationships.)

Jealousy and envy both weakened the USSR. In the more conventional way by party worker drones being Jealous and Envious of genuine intellectuals and sabotaging so many of their most talented people. It also shows up in the simple rejection of the whole model of society. People jealous of others envious of them too, feel less and less willing to put out any effort for the common good.

Non-Totalitarian socialism could create ways around these traps. But Totalitarianism can't address its problems without risking collapse. A world without jealousy or envy would make totalitarian states much stronger.

Note: I am highly favorable to socialism, but only if it is democratic and egalitarian.

[Astromancer]

As I've said before weirdness is for outsiders. Relatively small things could be very hard to copy and fit in with. Picture a world that is highly similar in most ways but the people simply seem far more sensual. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't, but they seem amazingly sensual.

Pcs don't know if someone is making a pass or simply making small talk. Chaos should ensue,

[Flyndaran]

Um, isn't that this world? More than a few posters here have my levels of obliviousness, so this is not entirely a joking response.

That would work as an almost puzzle world to face characters. Charisma or Carousing skill almost become a liability due to cultural misunderstandings.
Forgettable nerdy characters would fly under the radar.