Controlling Human Behavior

There have been several recent scientific revelations making news headlines in recent months, but one just grabbed me and I can't seem to let this "news" just fade away.

First pholks I gotta let you know that scientists messing around with human behavior or other issues not resulting in better health or longer or better life is a big concern to me. Unless some researcher can come up with a way to implant common sense into the minds of millions and millions of the population I, for one, am against any kind of artificial mind control.

But my mind just began to wander when I heard about scientists transmitting wireless signals directly into the brains of lab rats which essentially were turned into robots. The story indicated the rats can be guided by remote control from up to a third of a mile away. The researchers say their work could result in "robotic" rats which could be used for rescue missions, video surveillance or for detecting explosives.

Researchers were quoted as saying the work is "pretty amazing' but acknowledged than many people may find such remote brain control disturbing.

Yes, I think that is a true statement.

Of course this research is a humanitarian one aimed at helping develop artificial limbs and other prosthetics which could be controlled by the human nerve, brain and muscle systems.

But pholks what if this research stuff got into the wrong hands.

I can see these implants into children under age of 18. Parenting would be revolutionized and behavior control problems almost a thing of the past–save for a short circuit or computer chip glitch. I know lots of people will think the idea of child control as a terrible thought but I don't care. I'm not having any kids anyway but the trips to the supermarket, the laundromat, movies and restaurants would be so much more pleasant.

And just think about dating and marriage. If you think you have problems with the remote to the tv, just think about the "family central remote" and the fight to control it.

I can see a husband gaining control of it, aiming it at his wife and hitting the mute button then sending the little woman to the fridge for a cold beer, a salami sandwich or an ice cream bar. If he was in a romantic mood, he could just "turn her on" with the flick of a finger. Headaches could disappear with a click.

Of course the wife could enjoy herself when she captured the remote. The garbage would be taken out whenever she wanted, the dishes washed, the house vacuumed, the lawn mowed and that leaky faucet fixed. Heck, the guy might even be made temporarily blind when he encountered a sexy young thing in the supermarket or on the side walk.

School problems certainly would be drastically reduced. Heck, we might not even need schools. Just teachers trained as computer experts.

Of course it would have to be illegal for a real estate agent, a car sales person, a supermarket clerk, or a door to door salesman to possess one of these devices. I'm basically against gun control, but I would fight like the dickens to keep any kind of brain tapping device out of the wrong hands. Strict control, registration, training and drastic background checks would be mandatory.

Every hour of every day we see what cell phones in the wrong hands have done. A behavior remote control in the hands of the wrong person is almost too horrific to think about.

Unless, of course, I had one.

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