Issues with your account? Bug us in the Discord!

What if...

RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
in Zocalo v2.0
In a year from now some teens began discovering that they had telepathic powers, much in the vien of what happened in B5. What do you think the right course of action would be? An organization such as the Psy Corp? Some alternative?

Just figured Id bring it up to get some discussion started, and I dont recall it ever being discussed.

Comments

  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    well we all know what the Psi Corps ended up becoming, but to be honest i dont think there would be any better alternative. paranoia would make their protection necessary, then it would become 'them against us' and then a downward spiral.
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ShadowDancer [/i]
    [B]... paranoia would make their protection necessary, then it would become 'them against us' and then a downward spiral. [/B][/QUOTE]

    much like the FO forums...

    :p
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I think it would probably, by both human nature and necessity, end up following similar events to the Psi Corp novels. The question is, would we be able to come out better off on the other side?
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Do you think there would be any way to avoid the spiral that the PsyCorp got into? Is there any way to have a "good" PsyCorp? I agree with all of you that it would be inevitable and necissary, but would there be any way to prevent it from either becoming too evil and Big Brotherish or just ineffective... Is there a happy medium?
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Given human history? Probably not. You just need to look at what's going on in western countries right now to see how effective fear is at getting restrictive laws passed.
  • PSI-KILLERPSI-KILLER Needs help
    Psi-Corp could be a reality easily
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    chances are, if it happend we would keep you mundanes from ever even knowing about it. :D
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    :D now theres a scary thought...
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    Here's the real question, would anyone ever believe it? Though history there have been so many charlatans and fakes that we always approach telepathy as a fantasy or a belief of the weak-minded. It would take some pretty irrefutable proof.

    And to SpiritOnes point, maybe the real telepaths have been keeping us in the dark all this time.

    Jake
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Well this is assuming that telepaths were to come into being at one time, in fairly respectable numbers (as happened in the B5 universe). I think that telepaths would be able to provide the irreputable proof fairly easily :)
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I don't think they'd be able to keep it a secret if there were a significant number of them all over the world. There's always a few idiots in any group. :)
  • TyvarTyvar Next best thing to a St. Bernard
    just make em all live in Idaho, anywhere they want in Idaho, but they have to live in that state. That should be enough to keep em out of everybody elses way :D
  • Talon MistsongTalon Mistsong Ranger
    An organization like Psi-Corps would probably end up being formed, but I always thought the books overplayed the anti-telepath hysteria. It was like the world exploded as soon as the discovery was made. I don't think so. It would take time for the reality to sink in, and there'd be skeptics. But sooner or later the hysteria would reach critical mass, and governments would isolate telepaths from the general population. For their own protection of course :rolleyes:
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    never underestimate the stupidity of the general public! i dont think it would be quite so shocking to folks like us because we're fairly acclimatised to the notion of teeps, but to joe the village idiot it would probably be terrifying:rolleyes:
  • E.TE.T Quote-o-matic
    On the other hand goverment might well keep them as full secret and force them as their informers against dissident.

    Also telepath would be huge advantage in any kind of conflict, they could be used to find out what other side is doing behind "public".
    And actually there wouldn't be no need to reveal other side that their plans aren't secret. Letting enemy believe their plans are secret can be always used as advantage.
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by E.T [/i]
    [B]On the other hand goverment might well keep them as full secret and force them as their informers against dissident.[/B][/QUOTE]

    here's a question tho, would a government be able to force a teep to do anything? assuming that they function the same way they do in B5, even a low power teep would be able to influence people....so whats to say that they could be 'made' to do anything?
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    No doubt there would be teeps willing to help out governments who wouldn't need forcing.
  • Capt.MontoyaCapt.Montoya Ranger
    Having recently read John Brunner's "Children of the Thunder" where some kids happen to be empaths (if not telepaths), able to influence people to do whatever they wish them too... and someone starts rounding them up...
    That development was quite different than the Psi Corps, but I won't spoil it for you.

    And there's the classic "what if" novel that named Bester, for a different take on what direction a sizable population of telepaths might take.

    Anyone knows of another?

    My personal opinion: unless it's enough numbers for them to all come together (in a better place;)) they will remain hidden. Once they see the consequences (or their parents realize) hiding the ability and using it as little as possible seems the best option.
    Then if the children inherit the telepathy gene the telepath population will increase, after a few generations you may notice some families (direct and extended) that are very united, somewhat secretive, and for one reason don't seem to need to talk too much to understand each other, and appear to share a closeness that is unusual...
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Capt.Montoya [/i]
    [B]My personal opinion: unless it's enough numbers for them to all come together (in a better place;)) they will remain hidden. Once they see the consequences (or their parents realize) hiding the ability and using it as little as possible seems the best option.
    Then if the children inherit the telepathy gene the telepath population will increase, after a few generations you may notice some families (direct and extended) that are very united, somewhat secretive, and for one reason don't seem to need to talk too much to understand each other, and appear to share a closeness that is unusual... [/B][/QUOTE]

    You assume that they'll all be of the mindset in favor of hiding or not using this ability. I'm sure many would see it as beneficial in many cirucmstances, not the least of which would be for personal gain of some sort. Imagine having the power to bend people to your will...and then imagine the temptation of using it without the suspicion of anyone around you.

    However, I agree on the second set of comments about inheriting the genes and the family structure around it.
Sign In or Register to comment.