NationStates Jolt Archive

Situation: The Government has discovered a new Parasite. This parasite, when introduced into the human body enacts several changes.

1) your senses are increased to 50% over Human Norm. Bad Eyesight, Deafness, Blindness of all sorts are cured.

2) Enhanced healing. You heal from all wounds at a rate that is doubled.

3) higher resistance to poisons/desease/viruses... to the point of being immune.

4) your abilites are heightened. swimmers find they can hold their breaths longer, divers can withstand more pressure without equiptment, Firefighters have a greater tolerance to heat and even adverse weather conditions no longer affect you (go out and play in the snow wearing nothing but beachwear)... etc...

5) Lost Limbs, teeth and such are regrown...

6) Desease and other fatal conditions are cured. Cancer, AIDS, even the common cold no longer affects those infected.

7) it's theorized that the lifespan is increased by 75%.

The only down side is that there is a marked change in personality. the person infected, while still will answer to their name and have all memories intact, will have a different personality... almost as if it was a different person entirely. All forms of questioning and testing doesn't SHOW or REVEAL any hidden agenda, but neither is it conclusive that there isn't any. any real changes are only known by the person infected.... if at all. it was reported that one person did remark once, that it felt like there was another person living in his body, but when questioned again, he denies making that statement and insists that everything is "ok."

Also, there isn't any way to remove the parasite once infection starts. no chemical, medicine or procedure will kill the parasite. once you're infected, you stay infected. The only way to infect others is by blood transfusion, not sex, nor any other bodily fluids.

For those who follow the Stargate series, the Parasite isn't some large like a snake, but small like a virus. infection is as simple as drinking a glass of water or getting an injection. The virus is easily detected with a chemical strip (think Litmus paper.) so only those who want to be infected are the only ones infected.

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?
No. It wouldn't be me. My personality defines who I am, so, without that, I wouldn't be myself. Despite my new abilities being damn cool (except for the increased lifespan), that just wouldn't be enough to make me want to be infected.

I'd go for it. It always feels like I'm battling about five different aspects of myself at any given moment anyway; what's one more going to do?

However, I'd only do so under the condition of being analysed for a considerable period of time. If my sense of self does go under, I will make sure they know about it and some sort of certainty of the thing is made public.

No. I wouldn't do it. Hardly seems worth it to be all healthy and longlived when you aren't even you anymore.

Hmm, a difficult one. Probably not, I like who I am now. However, if I could turn back time and have my parents infect me at a very young age, say, before my 1st bday, then I'd want to have it done then. It's unlikely that a virus has the ability of transferring intelligent thought to any human, so I'm unlikely to be under the control of something/someone else

The only down side is that there is a marked change in personality. the person infected, while still will answer to their name and have all memories intact, will have a different personality... almost as if it was a different person entirely... The virus is easily detected with a chemical strip (think Litmus paper.) so only those who want to be infected are the only ones infected.

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?
If I lose my "sense of self", as suggested in the title, then there is no more "me". Accepting that is the equivalent of suicide.

However, that's not what you describe. Does the sense of self remain, even though there might be personality changes?

Would you know that your personality had changed? If you thought you were the same person afterwards, then in reality, you've lost nothing in your opinion. Like someone on drugs doesn't believe that their personality was different before their addiction, but it is really

Why not. Staying awake for too long or a bad head injury can change your personality, so meh, might as well go for it.

How the hell do you people know when you are "you" and when something else? If you undergo some traumatic or extremely positive event (your kid dies/you survive cancer) your personality can be said to be different, =you are not the same person you were before.

You're not the old you anymore.

I don't see any major differense with this thingy here, except that it gives you some very useful abilities.

I'd take it immeadiately.

Maybe. More studies need to be done. I would want to know exactly how it affects the brain. Does it modify personality? That would be OK. Alcohol, sleepiness, even food modify your personality temporarily. Does it replace your personality with someone else's? If so I wouldn't use it.

If I lose my "sense of self", as suggested in the title, then there is no more "me". Accepting that is the equivalent of suicide.

However, that's not what you describe. Does the sense of self remain, even though there might be personality changes?I got this idea while watching "The Cave" and there are other stories where viruses/parasites do "take over" the person. (Parasite Eve, Puppet masters, any and most space horror)

Weather or not those infected are still 'Human' or are now under control of another species is not known... physically they are human, but mentally is the question. thus there is that unkown factor to weigh in. not everything is known after all.

basically the question is, do you place a high value on who you are now, with all the physical defects that go with it, over who you might become if you do get infected?

and I didn't put a Poll up so people can change their minds.

And another question... if you had a loved one dying and unable to chooose for themselves (think Terry Schvago (sp?)) would you (as executor of their estate and well being) have that person infected knowing it will cure that person?

And another question... if you had a loved one dying and unable to chooose for themselves (think Terry Schvago (sp?)) would you (as executor of their estate and well being) have that person infected knowing it will cure that person?

Hell yeah.

Why not. Staying awake for too long or a bad head injury can change your personality, so meh, might as well go for it.
But for the majority of the situations, the change is temporary... this isn't

basically the question is, do you place a high value on who you are now, with all the physical defects that go with it, over who you might become if you do get infected?

And another question... if you had a loved one dying and unable to chooose for themselves (think Terry Schvago (sp?)) would you (as executor of their estate and well being) have that person infected knowing it will cure that person?
I think Krakozha has the right of it; as long as there is still the sense of self, whatever changes to personality the virus is responsible for would be "me". So there is no real disadvantage, that I can see.

Same if it was a loved one, especially one who had no hope of further consciousness like Terry Schivo.

I got this idea while watching "The Cave" and there are other stories where viruses/parasites do "take over" the person. (Parasite Eve, Puppet masters, any and most space horror)

Weather or not those infected are still 'Human' or are now under control of another species is not known... physically they are human, but mentally is the question. thus there is that unkown factor to weigh in. not everything is known after all.
I don't think anyone who'd be up for it would care about their Humanity as a result of this infection. Being Human is not necessarily a large factor in our sense of self.

What I do care for is a sense of empathy. Do I know that what I become will consider those around him? Will my ability to consider the impact of my actions on those around me remain untouched? Will I act in a way that uses the new abilities to aid those around me?

If what I will become will help those around me more than I would otherwise, then my self isn't a priority.

Situation: The Government has discovered a new Parasite. This parasite, when introduced into the human body enacts several changes.

1) your senses are increased to 50% over Human Norm. Bad Eyesight, Deafness, Blindness of all sorts are cured.

2) Enhanced healing. You heal from all wounds at a rate that is doubled.

3) higher resistance to poisons/desease/viruses... to the point of being immune.

4) your abilites are heightened. swimmers find they can hold their breaths longer, divers can withstand more pressure without equiptment, Firefighters have a greater tolerance to heat and even adverse weather conditions no longer affect you (go out and play in the snow wearing nothing but beachwear)... etc...

5) Lost Limbs, teeth and such are regrown...

6) Desease and other fatal conditions are cured. Cancer, AIDS, even the common cold no longer affects those infected.

7) it's theorized that the lifespan is increased by 75%.

The only down side is that there is a marked change in personality. the person infected, while still will answer to their name and have all memories intact, will have a different personality... almost as if it was a different person entirely. All forms of questioning and testing doesn't SHOW or REVEAL any hidden agenda, but neither is it conclusive that there isn't any. any real changes are only known by the person infected.... if at all. it was reported that one person did remark once, that it felt like there was another person living in his body, but when questioned again, he denies making that statement and insists that everything is "ok."

Also, there isn't any way to remove the parasite once infection starts. no chemical, medicine or procedure will kill the parasite. once you're infected, you stay infected. The only way to infect others is by blood transfusion, not sex, nor any other bodily fluids.

For those who follow the Stargate series, the Parasite isn't some large like a snake, but small like a virus. infection is as simple as drinking a glass of water or getting an injection. The virus is easily detected with a chemical strip (think Litmus paper.) so only those who want to be infected are the only ones infected.

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?

It would depend on the changes to personality. Taking an anti-depressant can have profound effects on the personality of someone depressed and most people would consider those desirable. I think it would very much depended on what kinds of changes were expected and what kinds of changes were unknown.

I would take a pill right now if it would make so I never get impatient. Literally, never. It would allow me to better assess situations and make them occur at an appropriate pace rather than some modified pace that I tend to use in order to avoid it taking too long. That would be a major change from my current personality.

That's just an example of a change that would fit under your description but most people wouldn't mind.

I don't think anyone who'd be up for it would care about their Humanity as a result of this infection. Being Human is not necessarily a large factor in our sense of self.

What I do care for is a sense of empathy. Do I know that what I become will consider those around him? Will my ability to consider the impact of my actions on those around me remain untouched? Will I act in a way that uses the new abilities to aid those around me?

If what I will become will help those around me more than I would otherwise, then my self isn't a priority.
From where does this 'sense of empathy' originate? Is it a result of emotions, memories, or is it perhaps inherent in being a "self in relation to others, and the world"?

Questions I have no answer for, so don't feel obliged to answer.

I don't think anyone who'd be up for it would care about their Humanity as a result of this infection. Being Human is not necessarily a large factor in our sense of self.

What I do care for is a sense of empathy. Do I know that what I become will consider those around him? Will my ability to consider the impact of my actions on those around me remain untouched? Will I act in a way that uses the new abilities to aid those around me?

If what I will become will help those around me more than I would otherwise, then my self isn't a priority.
exactly... one doesn't know how the "new" you would use them. You could become a "Terrorist" or a "Superman" it's really not known because you don't know what changes would occur... only that they would occur.

exactly... one doesn't know how the "new" you would use them. You could become a "Terrorist" or a "Superman" it's really not known because you don't know what changes would occur... only that they would occur.

That's slightly different than what you originally presented. So you're saying the personality changes are random?

That's slightly different than what you originally presented. So you're saying the personality changes are random?
what I presented is that the personality changes. the infected almost becomes a different person. so yes, it is random in effect and degrees the person might have different likes and dislikes, a new personality that can be slightly different or completly 180 degrees different. so yes, it is random but it does happen.

so the spouse, dying in a coma, can be saved, but that person might not love you anymore.

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?

At this point in my life, no. Can't really say what I would do in the future.

so the spouse, dying in a coma, can be saved, but that person might not love you anymore.
Wouldn't save him for that. Would save him because I love him.

Wouldn't save him for that. Would save him because I love him.
Understood, just saying the changes are random. So just such an outcome is possible.

what I presented is that the personality changes. the infected almost becomes a different person. so yes, it is random in effect and degrees the person might have different likes and dislikes, a new personality that can be slightly different or completly 180 degrees different. so yes, it is random but it does happen.

so the spouse, dying in a coma, can be saved, but that person might not love you anymore.

It depends I suppose on what is going on in my life. If I was married with children, absolutely not (well, maybe if I was in danger of dying). But if I'm a loner with no friends except this goofy JuNii guy from online, well then I'd probably do it. Because who needs friends like that.

It depends I suppose on what is going on in my life. If I was married with children, absolutely not (well, maybe if I was in danger of dying). But if I'm a loner with no friends except this goofy JuNii guy from online, well then I'd probably do it. Because who needs friends like that.
Awww... you make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside... :D


Come to think of it, I would get infected if my only friend was this Junii person also...









... wait a minute...

i'm guessing whether or not my body bacame 'infected' wouldn't be a matter of choice. i can see politics as we 'know' it, despirately mobilizing to stamp it out on general principles.

well, as someone else also said, i AM my awairness, not my body.

when i read the origeonal propasition i was reminded, not of any of the stargate things and only a little of a couple of episodes of farscape, but more of a book i read recently by janet and chris morris called outpassages. where the 'virus' granted immortality (even to death by injury or extreme disfigurement), but could only be contracted by dieing on a world already 'infected' with it.

other then being relieved of stress and anxiety, i think more fun then a personality chainge would be for that of physical appearance to become randomly furry. we all have snuggly fur all over our bodys, grow tails, pointy ears and adorable creaturelike faces.

we would still have the drive to be creative that has surrounded us with artifacts, and some sort of equivelant of our tool using opposable thumb. with perhapse the additional blessing of retractable claws strong enough to climb trees with or at need as natural weapons.

accessabilty issues would then become everyone's concern and environmental well being no longer looked upon as any sort of mere parlour game but our indellible connectedness to our own survival which it is.

as for my feelings; i'm cheering for nature to eventualy come up with something to cure excessive human population unless we get it through our thick heads to find and impliment ways of lowering all human fertility accross the board without bias or exception, and without the suffering of absurdities like expecting there ever to be anything like universal chastity, (which would be unnatural anyway), to do the job.

=^^=
.../\...

I wouldn't do it, my personality is the only thing I have going for me.

other then being relieved of stress and anxiety, i think more fun then a personality chainge would be for that of physical appearance to become randomly furry. we all have snuggly fur all over our bodys, grow tails, pointy ears and adorable creaturelike faces.while a physical change can be fun, it can also cause more problems, think about the reaction most people have about transgendered people. and there is no guarentee that stress and anxiety will be relieved. after all, your personality can change to make anxiety and stress something you normally have... or increase it.

we would still have the drive to be creative...not necessarily. Creativity can also be a personalilty trait that might be removed.

as for my feelings; i'm cheering for nature to eventualy come up with something to cure excessive human population unless we get it through our thick heads to find and impliment ways of lowering all human fertility accross the board without bias or exception, and without the suffering of absurdities like expecting there ever to be anything like universal chastity, (which would be unnatural anyway), to do the job.hmmm... like a desease that spreads sexually... (to keep them from spontainous reproduction activities.) and this desease attacks the Immune system. (makes colds dangerous and severe colds fatal.) nah, there probably won't be anything like that now, right? ;)

Oh and the changes are not physical, but to your personality... then again self-delusion might be one of the results. Where you think you grew tails and
fur...

Read "The Apocolypse Troll" by David Weber (http://www.baen.com/library/0671578456/0671578456.htm)

The main character is infected in just such a way.

I would personally carry around a vial (or two) of "infection" for use if I was about to die from whatever, or my primary faculties were severely co-opted, and take my chances.

Situation: The Government has discovered a new Parasite. This parasite, when introduced into the human body enacts several changes.

1) your senses are increased to 50% over Human Norm. Bad Eyesight, Deafness, Blindness of all sorts are cured.

2) Enhanced healing. You heal from all wounds at a rate that is doubled.

3) higher resistance to poisons/desease/viruses... to the point of being immune.

4) your abilites are heightened. swimmers find they can hold their breaths longer, divers can withstand more pressure without equiptment, Firefighters have a greater tolerance to heat and even adverse weather conditions no longer affect you (go out and play in the snow wearing nothing but beachwear)... etc...

5) Lost Limbs, teeth and such are regrown...

6) Desease and other fatal conditions are cured. Cancer, AIDS, even the common cold no longer affects those infected.

7) it's theorized that the lifespan is increased by 75%.

The only down side is that there is a marked change in personality. the person infected, while still will answer to their name and have all memories intact, will have a different personality... almost as if it was a different person entirely. All forms of questioning and testing doesn't SHOW or REVEAL any hidden agenda, but neither is it conclusive that there isn't any. any real changes are only known by the person infected.... if at all. it was reported that one person did remark once, that it felt like there was another person living in his body, but when questioned again, he denies making that statement and insists that everything is "ok."

Also, there isn't any way to remove the parasite once infection starts. no chemical, medicine or procedure will kill the parasite. once you're infected, you stay infected. The only way to infect others is by blood transfusion, not sex, nor any other bodily fluids.

For those who follow the Stargate series, the Parasite isn't some large like a snake, but small like a virus. infection is as simple as drinking a glass of water or getting an injection. The virus is easily detected with a chemical strip (think Litmus paper.) so only those who want to be infected are the only ones infected.

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?

Hmm. Probably not, not now at least. I'd definitely infect my child though - before their 1st or 2nd birthday. Personality change wouldn't really matter, since the personality isn't formed anyway, and it would add all of those benefits. Hmm, maybe if I violated causality and edited my own timeline....

Hmm. Probably not, not now at least. I'd definitely infect my child though - before their 1st or 2nd birthday. Personality change wouldn't really matter, since the personality isn't formed anyway, and it would add all of those benefits. Hmm, maybe if I violated causality and edited my own timeline....
I notice that several people say that infecting their child is ok because they have no personailty yet...

interesting...

I would not get infected. Even if I was dying. I am my mind, not my body. I wouldn't want to risk a random change in my personality, because that "new me" might no longer love my ladyfriend, my friends, and my family. If the "new me" was completely different from the "old me," it wouldn't really be me, would it? I'm defined by my personality. I would not infect a dying loved one with it either, because they wouldn't want it done.

For those benefits... probably not, however if I were to get real power (not just quasi-superhuman-power) I'd definatly do it

Since I do not know myself, yes, I would do it.

Question: Would you be willing to be infected?

No. 75% longer life? Hell no. I definitely wouldn't want that.

No. 75% longer life? Hell no. I definitely wouldn't want that.
remember it is theoretical... so it could be more or less (bwuahahahahah!) and with all those other benifits, it also could mean being comparitively fit and active like a 30 - 50 yr old while in your mid hundreds.

I wouldn't. Not because of the personality change, but the probability that the infection is mind controlling me is to high. If it was conclusively proven that the infection only added those abilities I do it. Personality change isn't necessarily a bad thing. A person at 25 years old is much different than the same person is at 5 or 15 years of age. They're still considered the same person.

remember it is theoretical... so it could be more or less (bwuahahahahah!) and with all those other benifits, it also could mean being comparitively fit and active like a 30 - 50 yr old while in your mid hundreds.

So I wouldn't only have to live that long, I'd not even have old age dementia to see me through?
No big incentive :p

I wouldn't mind, I'm a sucker for power.

Situation: The Government has discovered a new Parasite. This parasite, when introduced into the human body enacts several changes...


is my intelligence intact or am i more intelligent?
does my sense of morality/values change?

if yes on the first and no on the second, then sure, give it to me. i think i could be contributing more to society if i am infected. plus, would that also make me feel less lonely when i sense that i am no longer all alone in my own body? do other living organisms have the tendency to be lazy like humans? if not, and say i would make myself the best person i could be (physically and mentally) then wow, i wouldn't have to battle the limitations i place on myself psychologically anymore.

Trans-human']Personality change isn't necessarily a bad thing. A person at 25 years old is much different than the same person is at 5 or 15 years of age. They're still considered the same person.

exactly. i can even say personally that who i was in 2002 is radically different from who i am now. if i think that this parasite can make me a better person and would lead me to have better contributions to society, sure. it's just about the same to me (as much as an act of faith) as going through the process of changing my personality, perspective about life and people, attitude, habits, etc. only i presume the parasite will just do the process a lot quicker. and i believe my personlity will still continue changing post-parasite.