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> Imagine telling someone they have the chance to spend an hour inside the world of a refugee. Who would agree, and who would avoid it? Chances are, people who
by sgeisler 7y ago
> Imagine telling someone they have the chance to spend an hour inside the world of a refugee. Who would agree, and who would avoid it? Chances are, people who don’t want to empathize wouldn’t want to enter an “empathy machine” at all.
Isn't avoiding such unpleasant situations one of the main reasons why people try to make more money, move into nicer neighborhoods, etc.? I'm not sure there is such a big market for "entertainment" that makes you feel bad.
Personally I see such devices as manipulative and a threat to rational thinking (like all dark patterns that prey on our instincts). Thus I'd try to avoid exposure to them.
- sametmax 7y agoPeople watch horror movies, practice violent or dangerous sports and have painful sexual practices for fun. I wouldn't be surprised if such a machine would become popular, not as way to build your empathy, but as entertainment. We are weird creatures.
- bryanrasmussen 7y agoviolent or dangerous sports reward you with adrenaline. I guess horror movies probably do to. I will leave it to the reader's imagination what sexual practices provide as a reward. What reward will this machine give the user?
- sametmax 7y agoNo idea. But I've seen videos of people bursting balloon and others commenting on them, encouraging it, like a crowd cheering in front of gladiators. So I'm pretty confident about the ability of humans to build niches out of anything.
- maxxxxx 7y agoA lot of dangerous, stressful or painful experiences are fun as long as you know you are getting out Ok on the other side. People would probably enjoy it much less if there was a chance that they may get killed in that machine.
- harperlee 7y agoRelatedly, a lot of funny anecdotes only seem funny in hindsight - but were not very pleasant during them.
- js8 7y agoThere are highly appraised games like "Papers, Please" or "That Dragon, Cancer" that give their players similar experiences.
- kurthr 7y agoExactly, another balkanization of discourse soon to be brought to you by social media. In response, the rich and exploitive can even develop special regimens to increase their rapaciousness or reduce shame.