The Science Delusion?

swampgas

Just out of curiosity, what do you think ESP or telepathy would actually gain us anyway?

Do we really take for granted the incredible communication skills that almost every human on the planet is capable of?

Surely one of the most incredible developments by human beings is language itself? We already have a very sophisticated system for representing thoughts and feelings, translating them into words, and communicating them either through the air as sound waves or through visual means such as writing, and technology has augmented that extensively. The telephone, the radio, the internet ... all extensions of an incredible natural ability.

Humans on Earth have had conversations with humans walking on the moon, that to me is pretty amazing "telepathy" all by itself.

pauldla

swampgas wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what do you think ESP or telepathy would actually gain us anyway?

Do we really take for granted the incredible communication skills that almost every human on the planet is capable of?

Surely one of the most incredible developments by human beings is language itself? We already have a very sophisticated system for representing thoughts and feelings, translating them into words, and communicating them either through the air as sound waves or through visual means such as writing, and technology has augmented that extensively. The telephone, the radio, the internet ... all extensions of an incredible natural ability.

Humans on Earth have had conversations with humans walking on the moon, that to me is pretty amazing "telepathy" all by itself.

Hear, hear. Well said, that man.

Wouldn't telepathy and the like be a pain, though? Constantly privy to the innermost thoughts of every fool within effective radius. Zeus, it's bad enough overhearing conversations in the pub.

Dades

Well it would eliminate having to pay outdated network data charges, or waiting for Ireland to implement 4G.

swampgas

Dades wrote: »

Well it would eliminate having to pay outdated network data charges, or waiting for Ireland to implement 4G.

Well, if telepathy was just people's thoughts, I reckon the Signal to Noise Ratio would be pretty shocking, even by internet standards

swampgas

pauldla wrote: »

Wouldn't telepathy and the like be a pain, though? Constantly privy to the innermost thoughts of every fool within effective radius. Zeus, it's bad enough overhearing conversations in the pub.

Well if there was no way to filter which thoughts were transmitted, I reckon we'd have to invent some kind of tin-foil hat. The idea of family get-togethers where my relatives can read my thoughts is unnerving, to say the least.

Dades

"Oh, Charles..."

pauldla

I bet Charles isn't even in that wheelchair. He's got Anna Paquin, Halle Berry and Famke Janssen with range, and he can control minds? The durty fecker...

nagirrac

swampgas wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what do you think ESP or telepathy would actually gain us anyway?

I suspect it would put a serious dent in the level of infidelity

Bannasidhe

nagirrac wrote: »

I suspect it would put a serious dent in the level of infidelity

and put an end to estate agents forever.