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author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:59:38 -0400
parents 79d17299ada0
children 09d093d9b61f
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87:79d17299ada0 88:e0f8793b7aaf
34 - suicide parasite :: sometimes, people kill themselves for no good 34 - suicide parasite :: sometimes, people kill themselves for no good
35 reason. We often explain this with things like "hidden 35 reason. We often explain this with things like "hidden
36 depression" or we say that they had something like chronic jaw or 36 depression" or we say that they had something like chronic jaw or
37 back pain. I think that smells of rationalization. I don't buy 37 back pain. I think that smells of rationalization. I don't buy
38 it. I propose that in many suicide cases there is a disease that 38 it. I propose that in many suicide cases there is a disease that
39 causes the suicidal behaviour. We already know that certain 39 causes the suicidal behavior. We already know that certain
40 parasites have mind-bending properties in other animals, even 40 parasites have mind-bending properties in other animals, even
41 mammals like mice. It's not much of a stretch to imagine a 41 mammals like mice. It's not much of a stretch to imagine a
42 parasite that causes suicuides in humans. Some problems: 42 parasite that causes suicides in humans. Some problems:
43 - What does the suicide parasite get out of it? :: This might be 43 - What does the suicide parasite get out of it? :: This might be
44 answered by the whole thing being a glitch caused by 44 answered by the whole thing being a glitch caused by
45 cross-species contamination. Toxoplasma works this way. 45 cross-species contamination. Toxoplasma works this way.
46 - What predictions does a disease model make :: suicuide should 46 - What predictions does a disease model make :: suicide should
47 be more common amone people who share a contaion 47 be more common among people who share a contagion
48 vector. There should be suicuides that don't make any 48 vector. There should be suicides that don't make any
49 sense : people who weren't really depressed, who had no 49 sense : people who weren't really depressed, who had no
50 reason to kill themselves. People who have killed themselves 50 reason to kill themselves. People who have killed themselves
51 should have a higher incidence of some unknown parasite in 51 should have a higher incidence of some unknown parasite in
52 their brains. 52 their brains.
53 53
56 56
57 - birth-clones :: What if each person was intentionally split at birth 57 - birth-clones :: What if each person was intentionally split at birth
58 into a normal embryo and a few "backup" cells which 58 into a normal embryo and a few "backup" cells which
59 is then frozen. The backup cells are created just 59 is then frozen. The backup cells are created just
60 the same way as natural identical twins. The backups 60 the same way as natural identical twins. The backups
61 can be used to regenerate organs. ect. Also, it 61 can be used to regenerate organs. etc. Also, it
62 would be a good sci fi concept, because you could 62 would be a good sci fi concept, because you could
63 have a culture where people reward people who were 63 have a culture where people reward people who were
64 especially awesome are "reborn" from their 64 especially awesome are "reborn" from their
65 backups. Imagine having a young bach every 65 backups. Imagine having a young Bach every
66 generation, etc. 66 generation, etc.
67 67
68 - cortex-search :: use the repertoire of actions learned to limit the 68 - cortex-search :: use the repertoire of actions learned to limit the
69 search space of possible actions. 69 search space of possible actions.
70 70