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Post by invisiblescientist on Jan 7, 2012 13:41:14 GMT -5
Excellent work. We need more details about how Prozium works, and its effects on the nervous system. Apparently the early versions of Prozium turned out to be too strong, destroying the nervous system. Probably they later designed less powerful versions, but then more people gained back their emotions... But we need more explanation about the need to take Prozium very frequently. Why did they fail to make sure that the effect lasts at least a few days? Maybe they had to reduce the dosage (or invent a weaker version of the drug) to make sure that the nervous system does not get damaged severely, but then this low dosage (or weaker drug) required taking the medication much more frequently. I was thinking in that direction as well and this will be discussed between them in the next chapter. But I don't think that'll go too much into the details... or should it? You should definitely discuss all the details about Prozium in the next episodes. It is important to know more about Prozium, and why Tetragrammaton was ultimately forced to use a version that requires more frequent doses. Otherwise, it would have been far more logical to administer a long term dose that would be taken once a week or even once a month.
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Post by Aedh on Jan 17, 2012 8:30:39 GMT -5
Finished reading (and rereading.) Nicely done! ;D ;D It inspires me to drive on with "Queen City," which starts with where we are now and takes us down to the War (or, Catastrophe, if you will) which gets us to where this story starts. I shall write some more today!
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Post by Aedh on Feb 15, 2012 8:40:58 GMT -5
I knew that there was a movie like this story out there somewhere. It is Le bunker de la derniére rafale (1981), a silent movie by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, later to become the director of Delicatessen, Amelie, and Alien Resurrection. The atmosphere of "Le Bunker" is just how I picture TX-13, especially had there been no Arthur McGee there. www.imdb.com/title/tt0129805/
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Post by clericjay on Mar 2, 2012 12:38:19 GMT -5
I knew that there was a movie like this story out there somewhere. It is Le bunker de la derniére rafale (1981), a silent movie by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, later to become the director of Delicatessen, Amelie, and Alien Resurrection. The atmosphere of "Le Bunker" is just how I picture TX-13, especially had there been no Arthur McGee there. www.imdb.com/title/tt0129805/Oh, very interesting, thanks for sharing... As it's difficult to find time to watch it I'll surely do so later... and state my mind to this then. During my week off I wrote a new chapter, going further into the Prozium principle, as has been wished by the audience/readership...
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Post by clericjay on Mar 2, 2012 12:41:38 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-nine: The Prozium-principle
He forced himself out of his thoughts and looked into the curious but patiently waiting eyes of Dr. DuPont. It was not necessary for Arthur to express his hesitation, it was obvious, and so the other man tried to give him a little push into his intended direction and took a deep breath. “Mr. McGee, are you aware of the principle of Prozium?”
“Though I read the description in the book I must admit that I couldn’t get behind it totally.”
“So it might help making up your mind, if I’d explain a few things, without going to much into details.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Maybe I should start with emotions in general, which certainly have got a necessary and useful factor connected to them. They are anchored deeply into our brain structures and kind of formed a large part of it. Every emotion has got a certain function, structure and provokes a set of reactions combined to it, triggering quick responses to our environment may it be to it’s dangers or to behavior of other members of a social community and therefore guarantee our survival and the ability to integrate into a social order and an exchange with other individuals. Fear for example triggers a mechanism of retreat from a danger or thread and therefore is clearly of protective nature. It did not make any sense to fight a much larger predator if you had no chance to win a fight with it, so retreating due to fear helped to avoid fights, when odds were against us. Anger on the other side responds to dangers and threads as well or what is subjectively experienced as such, but in the opposite direction. Anger or hatred triggers actions of a violent and destructive nature. In certain situation it might have been dominated by miscalculation leading to mistaken judgment, which might have cost its life, but often by this reaction our ancestors must have found the courage or insanity, however you look at it, to attack and maybe overcome and victor over a thread or an enemy, maybe a rival sometimes. So anger had its part in the survival of the fittest strategy for certain. We may see anger and fear as negative emotions today due to our socialization and the lack of need for it in a civilized and peaceful society or at least we thought it was. Nevertheless without these emotions mankind wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“No, we would certainly not have run to the abyss and danced along the rim of extinction of our kind and life on this planet, if we would not have carried this ‘miscalculation’ as you put it with us through the ages.”
“It would have spared us much pain and suffering, if the most important part of mankind would have responded with fear instead of anger and hatred to what they saw inevitable dangers, which we had to face and destroy. But how every individual responds to the same situation depends on its previous experiences with those situation or comparable. All our experiences do not only form our informational memory but our emotional as well. But I haven’t finished my point on the functions of emotions. Of course there’s also the range of what we would categorize as positive emotions like joy, which leads to reproduction on the longer scale or sorrow and regret, which enable a reintegration in a social structure by adjusting a new behavior after committing mistakes. Trust is most important for forming social structures at all and these structures, tribes, groups, communities, countries, states and nations made us as successful as we’ve been from an evolutional point of view, because it provided the security every society and individual needs to evolve and improve itself and its methods. There would be no higher technology if we would still have to worry about our daily survival, but when we trust in the support of a community some of us had ‘a free hand to spare’ to say it plainly to think about the advancement of their technology and achieving superiority over other communities, which brings us back to the survival of the fittest aspect, social Darwinism, you’ve surely heard of it. Nevertheless people have always been able to unite also to evolve and enjoy the fruits of cooperation together and equally.”
“But in most cases in pursue of war and oppression of others.”
“Yes, maybe…”
“Alright, I get your point, so please let’s come back to Prozium.”
“Of course! What I want you to understand is; that as I pointed previously every person, every human being is an individual. If you’re looking into your brain, which is the source of every physical response to emotions, you could say, we’re all running the same hardware, but the software can vary strongly in its details. Every emotion and the according response program is written into several different areas and parts of our brain, which add up to our emotional memory and identity. The way to respond to different emotions is almost equal for every person, we learned these patterns and strategies from our environment and some parts are written deep down into our DNA. What is different to everybody else is which subject is connected to which emotion, which sets the response program for our body and psyche. Someone who experienced a car accident will respond to cars differently then someone who hasn’t, simply because due to experienced pain and agony, which the other doesn’t combine with the image of a car. There used to be thousands of different therapies to change these combinations and condition people to another response program, more or less successful. But this conditioning means to choose and change the response program, not the set response combined to an emotion itself.”
“So you don’t think that the mind decides how we react? Is there no free will and no decision to be made in all these things from your point of view?”
“Certainly we do have a large part we can decide on and our mind’s got large influence on our reactions, so we can call these decisions of free will. Nevertheless you will always feel a certain emotion combined to everything that occurs consciously or not. Your brain, your memory and your body will tell you to react according to program, which has been a successful strategy during all these ages of our evolution. You can go the easy way and follow the call of your brain, your archaic program, which might be the easy way, or you will try to fight your nature and make a reasonably decision, which might then be based on logic, if you wish so. You as a master of Gun Kata are certainly able and trained in fighting your own nature, suppressing its natural call in order to act in total consciousness of what you’re doing. I assume you will have emotions still, but you learned to step over them and act without following their advice by many years of training and practicing. Unfortunately most of our people lack this rare and useful ability.”
“So how can Prozium support them in suppressing their emotions in order to make them truly conscious? There’s nothing more important then that as you must know, because it will hardly be possible to train and educate them all the way it was done to me.”
“What’s been tried in the past is to suppress the physical responses, which we might call symptoms, specific for every emotion. If we take my favorite example the emotion fear, the body reacts with rising blood pressure, heart beat frequency and enlarged pupils, some might even get into shortage of breath or sweat heavily. All of this is supposed to enable a quick flight and long run away from danger. Several different substances block or hinder these symptoms, which might make the person feel more comfortable and soothes its fear, but we’re far away from the source. Prozium takes a different approach; it strikes at its source. The way our brain works when it comes to emotions is simply put the following: When we see a thread, let’s say a gun, our senses, in this scenario our eyes, register the image and send the information to our Thalamus, which is evaluating it. From there the information goes two ways at the same time. In order to enable a very quick reaction within milliseconds there is a path directly between Thalamus and Amygdala, which is responsible for evaluating and triggering the physical response to the thread. On this path the image of the gun will be scanned by the Thalamus schematically and send as a suggested thread, if the brain already knows about a gun to be dangerous. This might have been learned by experience, education or simply television, which is by the way a good point about the war that we lost all the dull stations of the past. So when the Thalamus believes in its first judgment that we’re facing a gun, which might be a danger to us, it sends message to our Amygdala, which is kind of the emotional nerve center. The Amygdala will start the suggested program of fear. Meanwhile the information is forwarded on the longer and slower path to cortex areas responsible for a deeper evaluation of the image. There our brain checks on images we have saved from previous occasions concerning guns and identifies the gun as either a thread or something to embrace and feel happy about, depending on our previous experiences with them. This second and more precise evaluation moves to our Amygdala and might abort the running process and change to another response in time before we ran away or will continue and approve it. To prevent any emotional response you could basically cut the lines to the Amygdala, which would mean that there would be no physical response and now emotion to the image we see. In this case the gun might be evaluated as a thread, but the respective person will absolutely passively endure it facing him. Not a good option, if you wish for conscious workers and especially quick-responding fighters, because the image would pass several centers of consciousness and evaluation, before we would trigger a response. We might be dead until we decided consciously that this gun might be a thread to us, but we would most likely feel nothing about it. Another way might be to block certain chemicals our Amygdala uses to e.g. raise our blood pressure. The result would be an emotion without physical or limited physical response, which might make the person feel something about the gun, but unable to react accordingly. Again he would most likely be shot without any possibility to react somehow.”
“So what’s your solution?”
“What the chemist of your friend Aedh suggested was the most difficult, but most promising method. The principle is simple: Leaving Thalamus and Amygdala intact due to their importance and cut the several emotional centers within brain cortex from the process of decision. This is kind of surgeons job, because it is very difficult to block only the emotional centers without affecting other important parts. When successful the person could make full conscious evaluations and judgments based on rational and neutral knowledge with the full ability to act accordingly. He would just don’t add an emotion and its associated program to it. Prozium I included a lot of chemicals supporting this effect and the book provides a very good basic research and knowledge about the chemicals needed as well as their effects and which parts of each brain would need to be isolated. This is indeed very good and profound work I can base on to progress this drug. Whoever did this had a very good understanding of chemical processes within brain and nervous system, maybe I even knew this man in my past without noticing he was working on such thing. However it makes me wonder, why he misjudged some of the side effects so dramatically. From my understanding he set the dose much too high, so every feeling might be numbed, but side effects would certainly damage other parts of brain and further nervous system with time and in worst case would leave a person without emotions, but also without physical senses and crippled. My idea would be to lower the dosage and adjust it to different ages, sexes and hormonal states. Basically you could have different versions of Prozium for different professions and duties, if the dosage is low, but injected daily. A stronger dose for a clerk compared to a policemen or Gun Kata fighter would be reasonable, because it would slow the reaction period of the clerk by running any information through his consciousness, but he doesn’t need a very quick physical reaction.”
“So a Gun Kata fighter would have weaker dose? Wouldn’t he be able to feel then?”
“Most likely he would be in much higher danger to let emotions enter his judgment, especially under pressure, but he could react much quicker to every situation, if his brain can take the shortcut over the emotional route. We could give him the same strong dose, so he really doesn’t feel anything at all ever, but even a fighter without emotions is inferior in battle, if he simply reacts too slowly. However, I’m sure that your Gun Kata teachings will be indeed very useful for your army, because you will teach them emotional control on themselves on the path of discipline and self-control, while adding very useful reflexes to them besides.”
“I’d rather have everybody equal and equally free of emotion. There shouldn’t be any betters then others in the future society.”
“Have you read too much about communist philosophy? Amusing to think of, looking at such a tough and dutiful soldier. I tell you, diversification is the key! In every society of the past diversification was the best way, because you need experts in every sector in order to get best results in every sector. Look at me; do you think I could be a plumber as good as I am with chemicals? Certainly not, I’m terrible at plumbing, I’ve got no idea. If I’d try to be able to do everything equally well, I couldn’t do anything especially well. Everyone is different and everyone is predestinated for different duties. We should take this into account, when we’d try to build an effective society and adjust Prozium to this requirement, so this future can grow and prosper.”
“You got me wrong, I’m aware of that. What I fear, if we go ‘easy’ on the soldiers, they might not overcome their emotions, come to power and either turn wheels back or use the archaic ability to suppress the progressed part of mankind. There’s a danger for the whole, if we go easy on any part, especially on those, who guarantee order.”
“That’s rather a matter of education, which would be your political resort. Nevertheless I could add some support from my side as well. With today’s living generation we can only work with what’s there already and try to suppress their already finalized structures by a daily injection into the neck, so the drug would not become too thin in the blood, when it reaches their brain, where it’s supposed to do its work. If anyone of them would seize their dose several days, he would automatically become what he’s been before ever taking a drop of Prozium. But think a step forward; think of the generation still unborn. If you would start to give them weak dosages from early childhood, of course we cannot start too early, because babies die early without any emotional connection to others and we cannot change that fact. But at the time the infants are ready, we would dose them and their learned ability to feel would not further be evolved and degenerate with time. These children would grow up without ever establishing emotion cortex centers. These parts would exist without function and their brain would structure itself in order to run decision processes without consulting these parts. They could act, react and decide truly based on their knowledge and logic only, without much loss in their reaction. I can clearly imagine that there will be better Gun Kata fighters then ever lived to this day. When we add the factor of early selection to the children’s later profession, we could not only educate them accordingly, but also dose them in the right way from the start and all their life. This would be a perfect new type of human, for whom emotions have become something abstract, they know from books only. I guess after two to three generations the process might enter the genetic code and become almost irreversible.”
“What would happen if any of these kids would seize their dose as adults? Maybe they would need no Prozium, when they’re older, because their brain structures are set by then?”
“I don’t think so; you’d be surprised how flexible our brain can be. If an adult of this generation would stop taking the drug, he would start to learn to feel like a child does. He would start without it, but after a few days his brain would start to reactivate the vestigial emotional parts of his brain, which will still be there, but would have no function until then. This person would learn to feel again step by step unless he starts taking Prozium regularly again. I think you could abandon the drug for all about 100 to 200 years after introduction, but it’s hard to say. It’s better to ritualize the doses at set times every day to guarantee success.”
Arthur thought about this deeply and he was glad to hear from the expert’s mouth that it was not only possible, but most likely successful, if the frame was set well. And what a tight frame this must be. He did not like the idea not to be any better in his appearing politics then all the other man of history forcing their people with an iron grip to do their will, but his goal was a high and most valuable one. His dictatorship would be a necessity Arthur already did not like, before it started, but without it there would be no hope for mankind, which never choose its own best before unforced, so why would they start now? When he rose from his chair, he knew for certain that he would have to and would establish Libria’s society and hold it together until these new generations were ready to live in peace forever and then introduce a true and conscious democracy.
“So what’s you answer, Mr. McGee?”
“Start your work immediately; we’ve got very little time!”
He turned and wanted to head for the back exit, when Dr. Frederic DuPont stepped swiftly closer to him, grabbed his arm tight and looked earnest into Arthur’s face, when he turned it to the scientist. “I wanted to know about my son. Does he have the future I wish for in your future?”
Arthur still hesitated and looked into these earnest and almost angry eyes. It was hard to him to deal, but nothing would stop him, now he saw the path clearly and got a clearer image by DuPont on what his society had to look like, so his work and life would not be wasted. Nevertheless every single word stuck in his throat, before he spoke it. “I promise that your son will live protected and in a decisive position of the upcoming Libria, shall we be successful. And Gabriel DuPont shall live without being forced to take a single dose of Prozium in his life as long as he may be faithful to me and Libria. But he shall be the only exception and if he’d try to sabotage my work and its society, I will have him killed. If he’s faithful and supportive, he shall be one of my firsts as long as he lives.”
“And his children after him! And all of them will be taught in the ways of Gun Kata.”
“Certainly!”
“That’s enough for me. Thank you!”
DuPont turned away and went back to his table and started his work, while Arthur watched him for a while, until Timothy laid a hand on his shoulder and guided him back to his prison cell.
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Post by Aedh on Mar 11, 2012 6:28:42 GMT -5
Very good! I'm glad I suggested it to my chemist friend! ;D
More seriously, you are correct in principle. Real-life psychological studies of people who have experienced a lot of horror or violence show that the emotional pathways in their brain can become physically damaged due to overloaded traffic, and they become desensitised and less emotional. (Perhaps this is why Librian children like Robbie spend time watching educational videos of Stalin, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein?) Your version of Prozium seems to be moving in the direction of artificially replicating such deterioration.
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Post by clericjay on Jan 10, 2014 10:11:00 GMT -5
In case some of you are still waiting for me to continue this story I want to say that I'm very sorry that I haven't worked on MoF for almost 2 years now. Main reason, besides my work, was my work on a movie script... Currently I'm writing on my 3rd feature film script and finally it's going forward to produce this as feature film (with help of some business partners not routed in movie industry though). I'll also be director of the project. Once more I'm very sorry, but pursuing my dream I may have the opportunity one day not only to finish MoF, but possibly to get it also into production, who knows... I tend to dream big
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Post by Aedh on Jan 12, 2014 17:37:10 GMT -5
Go for it!
So let me ask you a question. Why is it so hard to find German movies and TV shows in the English-speaking world?? I understand about newer ones like "Transporter Der Serie," but you can't even find "Derrick" or "Tatort" or "Das Traumschiff." No DVDs, no YouTube uploads, nothing! Nobody even seems to have heard of them! It's little better with movies. In the last forty years, I can think of ... 'Das Boot,' 'Untergang,' 'Run Lola Run,' 'The Lives Of Others' ... and that's it. There have probably been others, but none that got any notice that I'm aware of. It's not like Germany has no media industry! Given the number of shows from places like Mexico, Italy, Spain, and France that are easily available, what is up with this, do you think?
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Post by Mirabilis on Jan 13, 2014 12:26:36 GMT -5
Follow your dreams Jay!
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Post by clericjay on Jan 15, 2014 13:19:01 GMT -5
Go for it! So let me ask you a question. Why is it so hard to find German movies and TV shows in the English-speaking world?? I understand about newer ones like "Transporter Der Serie," but you can't even find "Derrick" or "Tatort" or "Das Traumschiff." No DVDs, no YouTube uploads, nothing! Nobody even seems to have heard of them! It's little better with movies. In the last forty years, I can think of ... 'Das Boot,' 'Untergang,' 'Run Lola Run,' 'The Lives Of Others' ... and that's it. There have probably been others, but none that got any notice that I'm aware of. It's not like Germany has no media industry! Given the number of shows from places like Mexico, Italy, Spain, and France that are easily available, what is up with this, do you think? Interesting point. The contradictory thing about Germany (and especially the cultural industry) is that on one side, a lot of German companies are real global players and are open-minded, but there's also a strong small-minded provincial mentality widely spread here... Most German films and shows are produced only for the German speaking markets (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux) and that's enough for most producers... some may think that global marketing is not necessary or the movies probably wouldn't be accepted by foreign audiences anyway... There's basically just one large production company, which markets many films globally and on a competative level (Constantin Films from Munich), a TV station probably never seriously considered the option. What you mentioned, "Derrick" and "Traumschiff" were produced by public channels (government owned) and their officers don't have the slightest clue about international marketing and probably have no interest to think outside the box. They simply do their job, get paid and are happy with a secure employment... growing the business is not in their interest. A global marketing for those shows and films would probably only happen, if a foreign company would approach them and make a good price, while taking care of everything (dubbing, marketing etc.)... There can't be any own initiative in this direction to be expected of German production companies, most of them simply don't think big... If there's a market for these shows it probably would make sense to found an own marketing company for them, if you want to have them available everywhere.
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