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Mercutio · 24th August 2005, 08:34 AM

For one of my classes, I begin the year by asking them something along the lines of "if you could somehow make a change in people's behavior to try to make the world a better place...what would you change?" For the purposes of the question on the first day, it is assumed that they have the power (magic, ruler-of-the-world, whatever) to make this change; later, I ask things like "what stands in the way" or "who would be opposed" or "do you think this is even possible", but not right off the bat. The one constraint I give them is that the change must be a change in behavior--for instance, they could not magically create more oil, but they could change what people do with it.

I am just curious what the people of this forum would choose to change. I would prefer not to get into debates about individual choices (that's what new threads are for), but would love to see how your responses compare to those of my students.

What would you change, to make the world a better place?

Darat · 24th August 2005, 08:54 AM

Instill a "count to 10" habit into us all. So we'd all at least momentarily pause before we put our foot in it, leap to conclusions and go where fools fear to tread.

Luke T. · 24th August 2005, 08:54 AM

I would make slower drivers stay the hell out of the left lane. This would make traffic move more smoothly, which would save a lot of gas, which would make us less dependent on foreign oil, which would lead to peace in the Middle East.

TragicMonkey · 24th August 2005, 09:22 AM

I'd boost everyone's empathy by several notches. That would help reduce much of life's nastiness.

toddjh · 24th August 2005, 09:48 AM

Similar to TragicMonkey, I would reduce the tendency for individuals to value people they know more than people they don 't -- which, ironically, I have heard described as the "monkeysphere."

Jeremy

AmateurScientist · 24th August 2005, 10:10 AM

I would increase my killing power.

BracesForImpact · 24th August 2005, 10:16 AM

Along the same lines, I would expand everyone's moral circle. People would behave with strangers the way they do to their immediate family with regards to their empathy.

Number Six · 24th August 2005, 10:19 AM

I would make it such that everyone that got a job would have the realistic option of either living near where they work or being able to take public transportation. IMO, over time as more and more people came to realize this was a realistic option more people would do it and tremedous amounts of time and money would be freed up, not to mention less gas used.

But then again if I could change _behavior_...I'd just have everyone start being shiny, happy, skeptical people.

Mycroft · 24th August 2005, 10:26 AM

I'd put anti-depressants in the water supply.

Ladewig · 24th August 2005, 10:29 AM

Over the course of say ten years, all people would believe that women and people of other races and ethnicities have equal rights.

Jocko · 24th August 2005, 10:33 AM

I would make people able to see themselves as others see them. Call it hyperempathy.

Of particular interest would be KOA's reaction to this fresh insight.

Jocko · 24th August 2005, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AmateurScientist
I would increase my killing power.

Er, I assumed that unquestioned power over who lives and who dies was a given.

That, and I would also grind up the poor into free meatloaf for the rich.

Ladewig · 24th August 2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jocko
I would make people able to see themselves as others see them. Call it hyperempathy.

You are one mean SOB.

CFLarsen · 24th August 2005, 10:40 AM

A more skeptical approach, of course.

Daylight · 24th August 2005, 11:24 PM

I would teach all wanabe Terrorist to be able to say â€œyou firstâ€ in every language on the planet.

Head Terrorist: All you strap on a bomb and go blow up the evil (insert name here) in the name of (insert name here)
Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€
Head Terrorist: (insert name here) is calling you to do this!
Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€
Head Terrorist: (insert name here) will not allow you into (insert location here)
Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€
Head Terrorist: In the name of (insert name here) you are being called to do this
Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€
Head Terrorist: â€œI show you, you follow me. In the name of (insert name here)â€ Boom
Trainee â€œNow that that Jerk is gone, anyone want to go out for pizza?â€

World peace

AWPrime · 25th August 2005, 12:10 AM

Trade all stupidity with common sense.

SezMe · 25th August 2005, 12:36 AM

I only came in here to learn how Merc changes the world's diaper.

Seriously, my resonse is similar to others. I'd make humans able to see humans as their group...might also dampen the fight or flight emotion. But those two might be duplicative to a large extent.

003998 · 25th August 2005, 01:57 AM

IÂ´d like to see the confirmation bias and its many variants gone.

If people (myself included) werenÂ´t so damn determined to find their own opinions confirmed, so many discussions wouldnÂ´t consist of reiterating oneÂ´s own arguments and not listening to the other oneÂ´s. I believe this is reinforced by group processes, that serve well in making all members feel warm and fuzzy about how absolutely right they are.
ThatÂ´s the stuff that racism, wars and quackery are made of.

The Central Scrutinizer · 25th August 2005, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mercutio

What would you change, to make the world a better place?

My underwear.

Lizard.

Kiless · 25th August 2005, 06:20 AM

Selfishness.

Cylinder · 25th August 2005, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mercutio
What would you change, to make the world a better place?

I would instill the same sort of resolve for personal freedoms and willingness to sacrifice for those freedoms that you can find in the major western democracies, like the US, UK, Australia, etc...

Mercutio · 28th August 2005, 07:57 AM

254 views, 20 replies. For all the arguing that goes on in this forum, I am surprised. I guess it's like they say--"everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it."

MLynn · 28th August 2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BracesForImpact
Along the same lines, I would expand everyone's moral circle. People would behave with strangers the way they do to their immediate family with regards to their empathy.

Yes, "the golden rule," or to "I/thou." Difficult, though, because we can really only control ourselves and not other people. We can, however, be kinder to the people around us. I've been concentrating on more "conscious" kindness to those around me and it really makes a difference.

Boo · 28th August 2005, 09:35 AM

Behavior, eh? I would change the way humans listen. While in a face to face conversation our focus would be on seeing the person and hearing what they are saying. Once we begin to actually see and hear people in conversation the empathy level will rise.

Boo

Freakshow · 28th August 2005, 10:03 AM

I would make people more self-reliant and responsible for themselves. Meaning they would make sure that they are doing whatever they can to take care of themselves, so that they don't ask others (such as the government, which taken to its conclusion means me and you, since we have to pay for it) to do it for them. People would put more discipline and effort into making sure they have their own healthcare, plan for their own retirement, pay for sufficient insurance, save money for emergencies, etc. They would spend less time and money on frivolous things, and work/learn/save/invest more to make sure that they are taken care of.

I would expect/hope that a side-benefit of this would be people staying out of others lives more than they do now. So many decisions are made in our society because of how much it costs others financially (usually, through spending in government social programs, like healthcare). It is the justification for intruding on a lot of our freedoms. But if we were more independent from one another, we could be more free to make our own way in life, and live as we see fit.

Freakshow · 28th August 2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boo
Behavior, eh? I would change the way humans listen. While in a face to face conversation our focus would be on seeing the person and hearing what they are saying. Once we begin to actually see and hear people in conversation the empathy level will rise.

Boo

Huh? Oh...I'm sorry...were you saying something?

Orwell · 28th August 2005, 12:02 PM

â€œI wish to propose for the readerâ€™s favourable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.â€
Bertrand Russel
(From â€œIntroduction: On the Value of Scepticismâ€, Sceptical Essays [London: Allen & Unwin, 1928])

SezMe · 28th August 2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mercutio
254 views, 20 replies. For all the arguing that goes on in this forum, I am surprised. I guess it's like they say--"everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it."

Could be that viewers see other solutions and don't post because their view has already been expressed. That was my case - I only posted the second time I came in and then only because I had a wise-@ss comment to make.

An additional ploy might generate more traffic (and be interesting in your class): Challenge everyone to use the Law of Unintended Consequences to find something wrong with the proposed change.

Seismosaurus · 28th August 2005, 01:18 PM

I wouldn't change anything. I love Humanity just the way it is, mindless lunacy and all.

If I had to pick something, I'd make women much more libidinous and far less choosy.

Freakshow · 28th August 2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seismosaurus
I wouldn't change anything. I love Humanity just the way it is, mindless lunacy and all.

If I had to pick something, I'd make women much more libidinous and far less choosy.

What's the matter, they don't have alcohol where you live?

AmateurScientist · 28th August 2005, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mercutio
254 views, 20 replies. For all the arguing that goes on in this forum, I am surprised. I guess it's like they say--"everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it."

Ummmm.....I'd like to buy the world a Coke?

AS

Rob Lister · 28th August 2005, 01:47 PM

I'm not sure if this is allowed but I'll give it a shot.

I'll forego trying to change people.

Instead, I'd make a way to beat the speed of light. Warp drive, you might say. Here to there in no time flat. I'd put/leave some challenges in it so that it can be advanced but only slowly. You gotta get up to x-thousand mph before you can kick in to warp, for example. Only warp two or three to start with. etc. You get the idea.

Mercutio · 28th August 2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SezMe
Could be that viewers see other solutions and don't post because their view has already been expressed. That was my case - I only posted the second time I came in and then only because I had a wise-@ss comment to make.

Could be...of course, they could simply say "SezMe already said my first choice, so my second would be..."

Quote:

An additional ploy might generate more traffic (and be interesting in your class): Challenge everyone to use the Law of Unintended Consequences to find something wrong with the proposed change.

Oh, we do quite a bit with these puppies...but I did not want to go that far yet. I was simply curious as to what the responses here would be.

Kiless · 28th August 2005, 05:24 PM

It's also a very tough question, Merc. I had half a dozen in mind... then had to narrow it down to one. For all we know, there's about 150 people still out there formulating an answer... and a bunch of 50 going 'I thought he'd post a question in funny limerick form, boy do I feel ripped off....'

Lord Muck oGentry · 28th August 2005, 05:44 PM

I'd like to see disputants play the ball, not the man .
Mind you, I'd like it to rain only at night...

Regards

gnome · 28th August 2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BracesForImpact
Along the same lines, I would expand everyone's moral circle. People would behave with strangers the way they do to their immediate family with regards to their empathy.

Have you seen the way some people treat their immediate family? I've half a mind to make people treat their families the way they would strangers!

gnome · 28th August 2005, 07:04 PM

But instead, I would change the instincts of humans to regard agreement as a sign of friendliness and loyalty--looked at another way, the tendency to regard disagreement as hostility. Instead, being corrected factually or logically will feel good when you understand the truth of it, and yes-men will be of no benefit to you. Lack of understanding will lead to a driving curiosity, rather than fear.

moonbeam · 28th August 2005, 07:22 PM

I would increase tolerence for differences, especially when those differences do nothing to harm anyone. For instance, why are some so woried about who loves who, especially if those people are same sex.

Solitaire · 28th August 2005, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mercutio
What would you change to make the world a better place?

I'd decree doubt of my ability to rule the world and wave a wand to make
people skeptical of my magical abilities. Maybe then I'd finally get a vacation.
Or maybe a spell checker.

Skeptic · 28th August 2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jocko
I would make people able to see themselves as others see them. Call it hyperempathy.

So, essentially, you're for mass suicide of the human race?

24th August 2005, 08:34 AM	#1
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	Changing the world: a question. For one of my classes, I begin the year by asking them something along the lines of "if you could somehow make a change in people's behavior to try to make the world a better place...what would you change?" For the purposes of the question on the first day, it is assumed that they have the power (magic, ruler-of-the-world, whatever) to make this change; later, I ask things like "what stands in the way" or "who would be opposed" or "do you think this is even possible", but not right off the bat. The one constraint I give them is that the change must be a change in behavior--for instance, they could not magically create more oil, but they could change what people do with it. I am just curious what the people of this forum would choose to change. I would prefer not to get into debates about individual choices (that's what new threads are for), but would love to see how your responses compare to those of my students. What would you change, to make the world a better place?
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

24th August 2005, 08:54 AM	#2
Darat Lackey Administrator / JREF Forum Liaison Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 64,974	Instill a "count to 10" habit into us all. So we'd all at least momentarily pause before we put our foot in it, leap to conclusions and go where fools fear to tread.
	__________________ If it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918-2008

24th August 2005, 08:54 AM	#3
Luke T. Guest Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14,759	I would make slower drivers stay the hell out of the left lane. This would make traffic move more smoothly, which would save a lot of gas, which would make us less dependent on foreign oil, which would lead to peace in the Middle East.
Luke T. Guest Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 14,759

24th August 2005, 09:22 AM	#4
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 30,281	I'd boost everyone's empathy by several notches. That would help reduce much of life's nastiness.
	__________________ One cannot expect wisdom to flow from a pumpkin.

24th August 2005, 10:16 AM	#7
BracesForImpact Scholar Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In a non-descript, black helicopter. Posts: 71	Along the same lines, I would expand everyone's moral circle. People would behave with strangers the way they do to their immediate family with regards to their empathy.
	__________________ "I feel like a koala crapped a rainbow in my brain!"

24th August 2005, 09:48 AM	#5
toddjh Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,252	Similar to TragicMonkey, I would reduce the tendency for individuals to value people they know more than people they don 't -- which, ironically, I have heard described as the "monkeysphere." Jeremy

24th August 2005, 10:10 AM	#6
AmateurScientist JREF Kid Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 5,325	I would increase my killing power.

24th August 2005, 10:19 AM	#8
Number Six JREF Kid Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,017	I would make it such that everyone that got a job would have the realistic option of either living near where they work or being able to take public transportation. IMO, over time as more and more people came to realize this was a realistic option more people would do it and tremedous amounts of time and money would be freed up, not to mention less gas used. But then again if I could change _behavior_...I'd just have everyone start being shiny, happy, skeptical people.
Number Six JREF Kid Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,017

24th August 2005, 10:26 AM	#9
Mycroft High Priest of Ed Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 16,149	I'd put anti-depressants in the water supply.
	__________________ Surely Israel is the party to blame? -a_unique_person I do have Mycroft on ignore, he is pretty much the Matt Giwer of your side. -a_unique_person Palestinian Refugees

24th August 2005, 10:29 AM	#10
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,931	Over the course of say ten years, all people would believe that women and people of other races and ethnicities have equal rights.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

24th August 2005, 10:33 AM	#11
Jocko Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, Chicago... it's a toddling town. Posts: 5,463	I would make people able to see themselves as others see them. Call it hyperempathy. Of particular interest would be KOA's reaction to this fresh insight.
	__________________ You claimed that a turd is a turd. I clearly demonstrated that some turds are gold. You're wrong, Jocko. KOA proving me "wrong."

24th August 2005, 10:34 AM	#12
Jocko Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, Chicago... it's a toddling town. Posts: 5,463	Quote: Originally posted by AmateurScientist I would increase my killing power. Er, I assumed that unquestioned power over who lives and who dies was a given. That, and I would also grind up the poor into free meatloaf for the rich.
	__________________ You claimed that a turd is a turd. I clearly demonstrated that some turds are gold. You're wrong, Jocko. KOA proving me "wrong."

24th August 2005, 10:35 AM	#13
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,931	Quote: Originally posted by Jocko I would make people able to see themselves as others see them. Call it hyperempathy. You are one mean SOB.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

24th August 2005, 10:40 AM	#14
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	A more skeptical approach, of course.
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

24th August 2005, 11:24 PM	#15
Daylight Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 499	I would teach all wanabe Terrorist to be able to say â€œyou firstâ€ in every language on the planet. Head Terrorist: All you strap on a bomb and go blow up the evil (insert name here) in the name of (insert name here) Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€ Head Terrorist: (insert name here) is calling you to do this! Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€ Head Terrorist: (insert name here) will not allow you into (insert location here) Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€ Head Terrorist: In the name of (insert name here) you are being called to do this Trainee â€œYou Firstâ€ Head Terrorist: â€œI show you, you follow me. In the name of (insert name here)â€ Boom Trainee â€œNow that that Jerk is gone, anyone want to go out for pizza?â€ World peace
Daylight Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 499

25th August 2005, 12:10 AM	#16
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,929	Trade all stupidity with common sense.
AWPrime Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,929	__________________ Sir Arthur C. Clarke - "Any sufficiently advanced technology, to the uninformed observer, is indistinguishable from magic." c4ts - "Jesus loves the little children, Nice and fat and honey roasted..." Lancastic = Demonstrative of outstanding personal effort in the exposing of frauds. Rob Lister - "The enemy of my enemy probably tastes yummy. "

25th August 2005, 12:36 AM	#17
SezMe post-pre-born Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 16,639	I only came in here to learn how Merc changes the world's diaper. Seriously, my resonse is similar to others. I'd make humans able to see humans as their group...might also dampen the fight or flight emotion. But those two might be duplicative to a large extent.

25th August 2005, 01:57 AM	#18
003998 Scholar Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 67	IÂ´d like to see the confirmation bias and its many variants gone. If people (myself included) werenÂ´t so damn determined to find their own opinions confirmed, so many discussions wouldnÂ´t consist of reiterating oneÂ´s own arguments and not listening to the other oneÂ´s. I believe this is reinforced by group processes, that serve well in making all members feel warm and fuzzy about how absolutely right they are. ThatÂ´s the stuff that racism, wars and quackery are made of.
003998 Scholar Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 67

25th August 2005, 06:12 AM	#19
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,571	Re: Changing the world: a question. Quote: Originally posted by Mercutio What would you change, to make the world a better place? My underwear. Lizard.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

25th August 2005, 06:20 AM	#20
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103	Selfishness.
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103

25th August 2005, 07:08 AM	#21
Cylinder Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,930	Re: Changing the world: a question. Quote: Originally posted by Mercutio What would you change, to make the world a better place? I would instill the same sort of resolve for personal freedoms and willingness to sacrifice for those freedoms that you can find in the major western democracies, like the US, UK, Australia, etc...

28th August 2005, 07:57 AM	#22
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	254 views, 20 replies. For all the arguing that goes on in this forum, I am surprised. I guess it's like they say--"everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it."
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

28th August 2005, 08:38 AM	#23
MLynn Whippet of Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,627	Quote: Originally posted by BracesForImpact Along the same lines, I would expand everyone's moral circle. People would behave with strangers the way they do to their immediate family with regards to their empathy. Yes, "the golden rule," or to "I/thou." Difficult, though, because we can really only control ourselves and not other people. We can, however, be kinder to the people around us. I've been concentrating on more "conscious" kindness to those around me and it really makes a difference.
	__________________ Mik - Obey the Zombie Whippet or she will eat your brain Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction. - Blaise Pascal MLynn, I've said it before: You're so nice, you couldn't get a rapper to call you a ho. - maddog

28th August 2005, 09:35 AM	#24
Boo ts Join Date: May 2003 Location: state of chaos Posts: 3,743	Behavior, eh? I would change the way humans listen. While in a face to face conversation our focus would be on seeing the person and hearing what they are saying. Once we begin to actually see and hear people in conversation the empathy level will rise. Boo
	__________________ Wounds heal. Morally Obtuse. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

28th August 2005, 10:03 AM	#25
Freakshow 526a0118ae8c43594f3cfdcabb3274ed Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,319	I would make people more self-reliant and responsible for themselves. Meaning they would make sure that they are doing whatever they can to take care of themselves, so that they don't ask others (such as the government, which taken to its conclusion means me and you, since we have to pay for it) to do it for them. People would put more discipline and effort into making sure they have their own healthcare, plan for their own retirement, pay for sufficient insurance, save money for emergencies, etc. They would spend less time and money on frivolous things, and work/learn/save/invest more to make sure that they are taken care of. I would expect/hope that a side-benefit of this would be people staying out of others lives more than they do now. So many decisions are made in our society because of how much it costs others financially (usually, through spending in government social programs, like healthcare). It is the justification for intruding on a lot of our freedoms. But if we were more independent from one another, we could be more free to make our own way in life, and live as we see fit.

28th August 2005, 10:05 AM	#26
Freakshow 526a0118ae8c43594f3cfdcabb3274ed Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,319	Quote: Originally posted by Boo Behavior, eh? I would change the way humans listen. While in a face to face conversation our focus would be on seeing the person and hearing what they are saying. Once we begin to actually see and hear people in conversation the empathy level will rise. Boo Huh? Oh...I'm sorry...were you saying something?

28th August 2005, 12:02 PM	#27
Orwell Nattering Nabob of Negativism Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,364	â€œI wish to propose for the readerâ€™s favourable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.â€ Bertrand Russel (From â€œIntroduction: On the Value of Scepticismâ€, Sceptical Essays [London: Allen & Unwin, 1928])
	__________________ Charles de Gaulle fut arrêté par des journalistes devant un graffiti disant "mort aux cons". Il commenta: "Vaste programme..."

28th August 2005, 01:04 PM	#28
SezMe post-pre-born Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 16,639	Quote: Originally posted by Mercutio 254 views, 20 replies. For all the arguing that goes on in this forum, I am surprised. I guess it's like they say--"everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Could be that viewers see other solutions and don't post because their view has already been expressed. That was my case - I only posted the second time I came in and then only because I had a wise-@ss comment to make. An additional ploy might generate more traffic (and be interesting in your class): Challenge everyone to use the Law of Unintended Consequences to find something wrong with the proposed change.

28th August 2005, 01:18 PM	#29
Seismosaurus Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Banbury Posts: 3,567	I wouldn't change anything. I love Humanity just the way it is, mindless lunacy and all. If I had to pick something, I'd make women much more libidinous and far less choosy.
	__________________ Promise of diamonds in eyes of coal She carries beauty in her soul

28th August 2005, 01:26 PM	#30
Freakshow 526a0118ae8c43594f3cfdcabb3274ed Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,319	Quote: Originally posted by Seismosaurus I wouldn't change anything. I love Humanity just the way it is, mindless lunacy and all. If I had to pick something, I'd make women much more libidinous and far less choosy. What's the matter, they don't have alcohol where you live?

28th August 2005, 01:32 PM	#31
AmateurScientist JREF Kid Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 5,325	Quote: Originally posted by Mercutio 254 views, 20 replies. For all the arguing that goes on in this forum, I am surprised. I guess it's like they say--"everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Ummmm.....I'd like to buy the world a Coke? AS

28th August 2005, 01:47 PM	#32
Rob Lister Suspended Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 8,523	I'm not sure if this is allowed but I'll give it a shot. I'll forego trying to change people. Instead, I'd make a way to beat the speed of light. Warp drive, you might say. Here to there in no time flat. I'd put/leave some challenges in it so that it can be advanced but only slowly. You gotta get up to x-thousand mph before you can kick in to warp, for example. Only warp two or three to start with. etc. You get the idea.

28th August 2005, 04:54 PM	#33
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	Quote: Originally posted by SezMe Could be that viewers see other solutions and don't post because their view has already been expressed. That was my case - I only posted the second time I came in and then only because I had a wise-@ss comment to make. Could be...of course, they could simply say "SezMe already said my first choice, so my second would be..." Quote: An additional ploy might generate more traffic (and be interesting in your class): Challenge everyone to use the Law of Unintended Consequences to find something wrong with the proposed change. Oh, we do quite a bit with these puppies...but I did not want to go that far yet. I was simply curious as to what the responses here would be.
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

28th August 2005, 05:24 PM	#34
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103	It's also a very tough question, Merc. I had half a dozen in mind... then had to narrow it down to one. For all we know, there's about 150 people still out there formulating an answer... and a bunch of 50 going 'I thought he'd post a question in funny limerick form, boy do I feel ripped off....'
Kiless Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,103

28th August 2005, 05:44 PM	#35
Lord Muck oGentry Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 986	I'd like to see disputants play the ball, not the man . Mind you, I'd like it to rain only at night... Regards
Lord Muck oGentry Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 986