1. Scientists look to disrupt the brain chemistry of violence

Comment #35879 by the_central_scrutinizer on April 29, 2007 at 7:21 am

john phillips
"Why is it whenever a possibility arises due to new knowledge some only see the negative."

I'm sure that someone said that to those who opposed the development of nuclear technology also.

And that's my point. It isn't that it's negative, it's just that society, or more correctly, some in the far right/corporate/theocratic demograph, would me more that willing to use advances such as this to "move the project forward" in terms of societal control. Or perhaps merely for profit and reelection.

Many of the best ideas have become weapons - nuclear energy, microwaves, expanding foam...the list goes on...

The idea that seeing the potential for abuse of such a technology is being "negative" is a crock. Not seeing the potential downside of an idea is, at best, lacking in any Big Picture thinking. At worst it will sail our ship over the precipice.

The other side of the coin is what to do about people how are, for lack of a better term, broken.

Do we chemo-lobotomise them out of normal existence and, what, warehouse them? That only helps those who profit from such industries. Maybe we should do some corrective genetics as a result of invitro testing? What if the problem is unfixable? Gov't mandated abortions for the "provably" troublesome? Why stop at psycho's? How about the medically uninsurable, like those with late-developing chronic illnesses?

Now, obviously, I'm being a bit facetious here, devil's advocate and all that, but the idea is not without merit and is being discussed routinely in the insurance industry, an industry that drives many of the bad ideas we are use to.

Sorry, but as I see it, we humans have not evolved as fast as our technologies and what starts as a well intended idea will ultimately become a road sign on the way to hell.

2. Scientists look to disrupt the brain chemistry of violence

Comment #35660 by the_central_scrutinizer on April 28, 2007 at 6:29 am

violence is evolutionary; can't be the alpha dog with out it.

the idea that society needs a drug or treatment that turns people into vacuous, obedient citizens is abhorant to me, and given man's propensity for subjugation and cuelty I'd say it seems like a distincly possible direction for our rulers to consider.

eliminate crime by "eliminating" criminals? who's next the poor? the sick?

3. When They Came for the Homosexuals...

Comment #25808 by the_central_scrutinizer on March 15, 2007 at 8:32 am

being outspoken, myself, on the topic of humanism and rights I, too, get much harrasment, mostly because this is a 'canadian bible belt' town.

But here's the thing; not all Xtianist are nuts like these guys. Most that I speak with disagree with the Far Right on most things. These are the really moderate "god=yes, church=no" crowd.

So, maybe what is needed is a campaign to get the Xtianist moderate chuches to use their clout to thwart the evils of the Hardcore Right. Remember that the Right thinks that all the other churches are evil too, and although "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is far from completely true, it none-the-less has some efficacy.

We can deal with the moderates afterwards.