Comments on: Hearts and Minds

Hearts and Minds

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:53:03 -0800

The US military has been putting more attention into brain science research, covering such potential applications as mind reading, mind control, cognitive enhancement and brain-machine interfaces. This is detailed in the report "Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies" (also available in an abridged PDF version), authored by a National Research Council committee convened by the Department of Defense.

By: solipsophistocracy

solipsophistocracy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:57:20 -0800

Considering the fact that cognitive psychology's roots are deeply entrenched in the need for soldiers/pilots to efficiently interface with WWII technology, this shouldn't come as a surprise, but it's still damn scary.

By: JHarris

JHarris — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:18:12 -0800

Tasers were going to be great for law enforcement because hey, they're non-lethal, right? Of course they'd never be abused, and if it might possibly save a life (since who really knows what a suspect has in his pockets) isn't that more important than delivering a bout of excruciating pain to a fellow human being? From that, it's only going to get worse.

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:19:21 -0800

I am staring at a goat RIGHT NOW.

By: jwells

jwells — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:26:14 -0800

Context is important here. The number of troops coming back from Iraq with mild traumatic brain injury has lead to it being considered one of the "signature injuries" of the conflict due to the IEDs, so much so that they're trying to train every soldier in the Army about it. On the flip side, medical research is finally understanding it, at least in my opinion. With all the work that is being done it's only natural some parts of the military get interested in how it can be used beyond therapeutically. The sad thing is it's taking a war to disseminate the information. Most of the doctors I saw just didn't have a clue. It pissed me off so much the first draft of my opinion piece above ended up as a massive venting session.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:31:56 -0800

I am staring at a goat RIGHT NOW. Are you sure that's not a sheep with the brain of a goat? [audio opens with that link, BTW]

By: yhbc

yhbc — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:50:51 -0800

I think I'm getting a military industrial complex.

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:56:07 -0800

That's what they want you to think.

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:09:12 -0800

Resistance is futile; you will be assimilated.

By: Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America

Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:17:44 -0800

I hope the US military uses mind-control beams to keep people from stopping suddenly on the sidewalk right in front of me, for no perceptible reason. Particularly wide people. Might as well speed everyone up, too. Move along, citizen! The sidewalk is lovely, I'm sure, but let's get where we're going.

By: Hicksu

Hicksu — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:22:17 -0800

Baby I'm more than a little concerned you see about the New World Order conspiracies And the covert spreading of deadly disease They've got earthquake machines and UFO's and black helicopters wherever we go But I forget them all when you are with me They can telepathically read my mind I'm not scared of what they'll find - Let them do what they're gonna do Cuz if the government can read my mind they know I'm thinking of you. They've got secretly funded internment camps and biological warfare labs But when you look at me they all don't seem so bad They've got Martian traded technology, and mind control psychology I'll let them do what they wanna do Cuz if the government can read my mind they know I'm thinking of you. I could stockpile food and join a militia but I'd rather stay at home and kiss ya Let them do what they're gonna do Cuz if the government can read my mind they know I'm thinking of you. If the government can read my mind baby, you know it doesn't matter what they find, cuz if the government can read my mind they know I'm thinking of you.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:33:07 -0800

The beams from the satelites can't git in yer brains if'n yer wearin' yer tin foil hat.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:34:05 -0800

When mind-control technology creates an absolute dictator of the human race, will we all die on the day (s)he does, or will it happen earlier?

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:36:04 -0800

Hey that's a cute song, hicksu. That your own?

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:41:51 -0800

When mind-control technology creates an absolute dictator of the human race, will we all die on the day (s)he does, or will it happen earlier? No no no, the robots will enslave us first.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:59:42 -0800

Please go stand by the stairs so that the pusher robot can protect you from the terrible secret of space.

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:16:32 -0800

I can kill you with my brain. I just thought you should be aware of that.

By: gjc

gjc — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:19:39 -0800

The increase in traumatic brain injuries is because they are not getting dying of their wounds like they would have in previous combat.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:19:49 -0800

"You're not right in the head, you know that?" "It's the popular theory."

By: Hicksu

Hicksu — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:10:04 -0800

Not mine, flapjax at midnite Artist: Vandals Title: If The Government Could Read My Mind

By: homunculus

homunculus — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:42:48 -0800

I'm staring at goatse RIGHT NOW. And, I know it sounds crazy, but I think he's staring back into me.

By: solipsophistocracy

solipsophistocracy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:49:42 -0800

What I'm really concerned about is weaponized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Though I doubt it would be possible to attain a high degree of specificity with the current technology, I bet that the military could readily deliver a strong magnetic pulse into someone's brain.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:07:01 -0800

The voices in my head tell me to eat more banana pudding.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:40:22 -0800

The leprechaun tells me to burn things.

By: vurnt22

vurnt22 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:51:01 -0800

Dumb Stuff. So you grab a suspect in Kabul, A Big Cheese. you slap on your fancy brain helmet on him and you see/hear the dudes thoughts...in pashtun . You still need interpreters and analysts to put the data in context. Most folks thoughts are a multitasking jumble bound to give off more haze than clarity... Jet Pack 1st Brain Helmet later...

By: benzenedream

benzenedream — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:23:18 -0800

We need to convince the fundies to invest in faith-based neuroscience, or declare this to be high-tech witchcraft. One video of a guy in a brain helmet pretending to be possessed should be all it takes.

By: nicolin

nicolin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:10:17 -0800

Ain't this what psychology is really all about ?

By: you're a kitty!

you're a kitty! — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:30:36 -0800

By: Sangermaine

Sangermaine — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:23:45 -0800

I'm staring at goatse RIGHT NOW. And, I know it sounds crazy, but I think he's staring back into me. homunculus "He who looks at internet shock images should look to it that he himself does not produce internet shock images. And when you gaze long into goatse, the goatse gazes also into you." -Friedrich Nietzsche Aphorism 146 Beyond Dancing Babies and LOLCats