Will our communication & feelings be shut down by our brains

[eMTe]

I need an artificial evolution boost to my bra!

We're talking about future of humankind and you make funny remarks. This is...not nice.

But there was indeed something wrong with the title. Edited.

[Scythe]

Since I doubt I can keep the discussion civil for much longer anyway, what remains are funny or aggravating remarks.

My stance remains that humankind doesn't actually have a future, so the thought experiment is funny, but pointless.

[eMTe]

Nonverbal communication may be the future for humanity. Lies, deception, trickery, those are what blocks our best efforts at creating a peaceful planet. I would go so far as to say that without lies and deception, the fundamental system of Communism may even work. The idea that the sum of society is made up equally by each member will never work so long as the concept of being able to lie and trick others exists.

I imagine it may be very painful for humanity if suddenly introduced. A lot of "dirty laundry" or "skeletons in the closet" would suddenly come out. However, humans are amazingly adaptable; In 1900, scientists pondered what the invention of electricity and the light bulb would do to us. Perpetual daylight, it was thought, would destroy us.

But, whatever does not destroy humanity, can make it stronger.

Perhaps some parts of a nonverbal society are already coming forward, too. Maria and I share a very deep psychological bond, and many times we lay in bed, or sit on the sofa, and almost carry a conversation just looking into each others' eyes, and with slight hand and body movements. Perhaps a sort of first step towards a non-verbal communication system.

Very interesting post! One dreams about reading only such posts.

As for the nonverbal communication it's hard to say whether it is far future or is it beginning already. Certainly people who are close to each other understand themselves not only by their words, but also by looking into eyes and detecting body movements. So it may be a hint: people, thanks to internet and increasing fragility of feelings amongst other things, will be closer and closer to each other, so verbal communication may become obsolete at some point. It's a wild thought though.

As much as it is wild it is not something new and not applied only to people who are "in love". Famous minds (I remember one quote from Stanislaw Lem) report such feelings, however they don't touch the issue directly. In some interview he said about meeting old friend after several decades and, like he said, when his friend entered his apartment he felt like they separated just yesterday. Certainly, there was some deeper bond between them, something what is usually hidden in proverbs, but may be perfectly explainable in future. Great (more complex) minds (brains) probably create deeper chemophysical bonds between themselves.

As for nonverbal communication and communism it's idea that is even wilder than mine, so I'll need some time to think about my answer. Anyway, thanks for the post again. This is what forums should be!

I don't want to know what would happen if everybody always has to say the truth.

Probably you want it as much as everybody on this planet. It's sort of scientific voyeurism. However, and here I would agree, it would be hard to cope with, and this is why I become more and more conservative. Naked facts are interesting from the scientific perspective, but to live the life peacefully it's better to know nothing and be simple. But evolution doesn't want us to be simple and stupid - it shoves more and more deconstructionist, reductionist and behaviourist knowledge into our brains.

[Railwaymodeler]

What strikes me as a bit amazing, regarding Maria and I, is that, at least in theory, with my disability (Asperger's Syndrome), supposedly, nonverbal, non literal communication should be hard to grasp. It is very true that she and I are of kindred minds, and souls too. She is very intelligent, and quickly grasps many concepts that would also quickly grasp. Before becoming pregnant with Skoda, she was often helping under our model railroad with wiring. Of course, she does not have the electrical experience I do, but generally only needs an explanation of how it works to figure out how to implement it.

I do believe that over time, a society of linked minds would be an overall benefit to mankind. If we were suddenly thrown in head-first, the pain and hurt from knowing everyone's secrets, particularly of those close to us, would be horrible. But, humans are adaptable, and in time, would learn to behave in such a way that secrets would not exist in the first place. A society where nothing can be kept from anyone, would mean that more than likely we would seriously adjust our behavior as a whole.

I doubt I will live to see it, but perhaps the seeds of it will begin to sprout in Skoda's lifetime. As it is, I often find myself wondering what world she will end up with when she is older and has kids of her own, and what world they too will inherit further down.

[eMTe]

I do believe that over time, a society of linked minds would be an overall benefit to mankind.

Well, the whole point is whether it will happen at all; possible benefits or harms are something that you have no influence on. It will either happen or not and what will born from it will be probably also the matter of ongoing debate, similarly to our current debates. Anyway, the sad/happy fact is that things are getting more and more complex and scientifically unexplainable force pushes this process forward.

If we were suddenly thrown in head-first, the pain and hurt from knowing everyone's secrets, particularly of those close to us, would be horrible. But, humans are adaptable, and in time, would learn to behave in such a way that secrets would not exist in the first place. A society where nothing can be kept from anyone, would mean that more than likely we would seriously adjust our behavior as a whole.

Brilliant thought.

I doubt I will live to see it, but perhaps the seeds of it will begin to sprout in Skoda's lifetime. As it is, I often find myself wondering what world she will end up with when she is older and has kids of her own, and what world they too will inherit further down.

If my English was good enough I would probably say the same. Except the part with kid, because I don't have one yet, but I plan to. However, I often think, observing what happens to modern kids who become more and more stupid, aggressive and prone to addictions, is it really worth to have offspring which will probably suffer in a world which it's father doesn't fully accept.