[Draft] Emotion-Killing Pill Causes Outrage

[Pergamon]

NAME: Emotion-Killing Pill Causes Outrage

DESCRIPTION: Scientists hailing from a special neurobiology facility have successfully developed "Prodium I", a pill designed to curb all emotions in the human brain temporarily.

VALIDITY: Non-primitive nations.

OPTIONS:
[option]"Our scientists have been meticulously researching this pill for several years as of now, and it is our belief that distributing it among the populace of @@NATION@@ will greatly benefit us and lead us on the path to enlightenment," dully recites @@RANDOMNAME@@ , Head of the Prodium I Research Team. "If you would just sign this," he requests with a blank expression, handing you a paper several pages long, "we could mandate it's use by everyone within @@NATION@@. Would you like a free sample?"

[effect] Emotion is a foreign concept to citizens of @@NATION@@.
[stats] civil rights decrease, public apathy raises strongly, crime decreases, compassion decreases, taxes raise a little, size of administration increases, kindness decreases, culture decreases strongly, scientific advancement increases slightly

[option] "Bah! Don't listen to that fool!" exclaims @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Defense. With a red pen, he makes a few strokes on the paper and hands it back to you. "There! The man's got the right idea, but why should we be subject to the same lack of emotion as the citizens? If you ask me, we can use this technology to rule over @@NATION@@ without any of those pesky dissenters while still retaining our emotions- we're the only people keeping them safe after all, we deserve a little special treatment. Oh, and we should execute the citizens who don't take their pills. Wouldn't want to risk rebellion."

[effect] Citizens who are caught feeling emotion are summarily executed by government squads.
[stats] civil rights decrease strongly, politcal freedoms decrease strongly, public apathy raises strongly, compassion decreases strongly, crime decreases, taxes raise a little, size of the government increases, corruption increases strongly, culture decreases strongly, authoritarianism increases, scientific advancement increases slightly

[option] "I cannot believe I am hearing this!" prominent musician @@RANDOMNAME@@ rages, her cheeks turning red. "I am not going to have my thoughts and emotions dictated by some old men in white coats! These facilities must be shut down and their line of research banned, for the good of the people of @@NATION@@!

[effects] Scientists nationwide are outraged as neuroscience labs are being shut down.
[stats] civil rights increase a little bit, scientific advancement decreases

[option] "I think a middle ground needs be struck here," smiles the CEO of one of @@NATION@@'s top pharmaceutical companies, holding a briefcase in one hand. "Now, you obviously don't want to give the drug to everyone in the nation- that's outrageous, plain and simple. But on the other hand- why let all that work by our good men in the labcoats go to waste? What I propose is you allow us to market the pill commercially. That way, those who want the effects can have them all they want, while others aren't affected. Of course, the poor won't be able to afford it, but that's the price you pay, is it not?"

[effects] A controversial new pill that erases emotions has hit pharmacy shelves nationwide.
[stats] Wealth gaps increase, scientific advancement increases slightly, Pro-Market increases

[option] "Why distribute it to everyone when we can just distribute it to those who need it?" questions @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Internal Affairs. "Our prisons are full of rowdy, uncontrollable convicts. With this drug, we could 'reeducate' the murderers, gangsters, and their ilk into becoming law-abiding citizens again."

[effects] Prison violence rates are at an all time low following the introduction of an emotion suppressing drug.
[stats] Crime decreases, taxes increase slightly, law and order increases, authoritarianism increases, scientific advancement increases slightly, civil rights decrease

Authors: Pergamon, Bodobol

Edits:
01.24.14: - Option with criminals added ; - Relabeled the issue ; - Rescaled the effects on scientific advancement

[Ikania]

I would also suggest adding an option for forcing convicted criminals to take it, like in the original.

[Pergamon]

I would also suggest adding an option for forcing convicted criminals to take it, like in the original.

Heh, you did see the movie references here? I'll definetly will add this. Thank you.

[The Grim Reaper]

Can I suggest that the ",Ironically" in the title is 'explaining the joke'? Might be better omitted.

Otherwise, I personally can't really find too much else to criticize about this one.

[Alterrum]

I'm a bit skeptical about the scientific advancement increases when distributing the drug... successful science is like successful sport, it is done with passion and love. I don't see how, when turning off these natural generators that make people productive, is this going to increase scientific advancement.

The drug seems like a more useful thing as a medication for people with emotional disorders though, maybe you should rethink those stats.

[Pergamon]

I'm a bit skeptical about the scientific advancement increases when distributing the drug... successful science is like successful sport, it is done with passion and love. I don't see how, when turning off these natural generators that make people productive, is this going to increase scientific advancement.

The drug seems like a more useful thing as a medication for people with emotional disorders though, maybe you should rethink those stats.

It is not only about this drug. I think about more widespread consequences with every decision you make. If you are going to distributing this drug, the neurobiological facilities are being pushed due founding/earnings and thus the sciences increases.

But back again to your concerns: This could turn into a philosophical discussion easily, so I just explain my thoughts on this fast:
Maybe, science is a sport with passion and love - but it can also be completely rational, cold and determined.
Just two different ways leading to the same outcome.

[Pyetr Griffinovsky]

How do you know Emotion-Killing Pill won't cause indifference and passivity?
If the pill caused outrage, that means before the pill there was lack of outrage, thus passivity and indifference.
Therefore your pill is useless since people were already in a state of general vegetable brainlessness.
Am I right or wrong?

[Bodobol]

The name of the issue was a crappy one I came up with on a whim. The 'outrage' was the controversy surrounding it, pre-distribution. I agree, it's not a great name.

I'd support TGR's recommendation of just taking the ",Ironically" out of the title.

[Alterrum]

Maybe, science is a sport with passion and love - but it can also be completely rational, cold and determined.
Just two different ways leading to the same outcome.

It's both! The process itself is rational thought, but what makes us do it is emotional curiosity! If you think about emotions in general, evolution wouldn't have built them into us if they weren't useful. Something Einstein has said: "I have no special talents. I am passionately curious."

In fact what is much more damaging psychologically to scientific advancement is how we take everything for granted. Much of the deep physical concepts are nothing but pure definitions, i.e. we come up with an arbitrary way to describe something, but such things aren't really out there. As a physics student myself, a barrier to overcome has been one of essentially trying to wipe my memory of all I've learned in life so far (basically common sense) and look at everything anew.

Design a drug like that (I dare you ), and you could have these stats.

I agree about the investments in scientific establishments advancing the nation, but if you have a vegetative population not driven to do anything, that effect gets nulled.

[Pergamon]

It's both! The process itself is rational thought, but what makes us do it is emotional curiosity! If you think about emotions in general, evolution wouldn't have built them into us if they weren't useful. Something Einstein has said: "I have no special talents. I am passionately curious."

In fact what is much more damaging psychologically to scientific advancement is how we take everything for granted. Much of the deep physical concepts are nothing but pure definitions, i.e. we come up with an arbitrary way to describe something, but such things aren't really out there. As a physics student myself, a barrier to overcome has been one of essentially trying to wipe my memory of all I've learned in life so far (basically common sense) and look at everything anew.

Design a drug like that (I dare you ), and you could have these stats.

I agree about the investments in scientific establishments advancing the nation, but if you have a vegetative population not driven to do anything, that effect gets nulled.

Oh well this got to be philosophical now -.-'
I got your point - maybe the best inventions and discoveries are made with help of emotions, but also the worst things. Progress can not only made by random discoveries and curiousity, it can also be determined. The philosophical aspect about this issue should show a way (dystopia) of an absolutely temperated society - where people lack the most basic things that make us human. So you consider the affected people more like robots, rather than human. This is why the decisions got such a huge impact overall.
And please take "being a robot" very seriously in this case, because without any emotions, the people only have their daily tasks to do, without any interruptions (of being simply human). Overall, I have to agree with you, determined goals (scientific ex.) can't be as good as passionate discoveries. I'll decrease the scientific improvement caused by the decisions.

Ps: I am not going to design a drug like that!
Pss: The whole issue is a movie reference though. "Equilibrium: Killer of Emotions" ~

[Bodobol]

It's both! The process itself is rational thought, but what makes us do it is emotional curiosity! If you think about emotions in general, evolution wouldn't have built them into us if they weren't useful. Something Einstein has said: "I have no special talents. I am passionately curious."

In fact what is much more damaging psychologically to scientific advancement is how we take everything for granted. Much of the deep physical concepts are nothing but pure definitions, i.e. we come up with an arbitrary way to describe something, but such things aren't really out there. As a physics student myself, a barrier to overcome has been one of essentially trying to wipe my memory of all I've learned in life so far (basically common sense) and look at everything anew.

Design a drug like that (I dare you ), and you could have these stats.

I agree about the investments in scientific establishments advancing the nation, but if you have a vegetative population not driven to do anything, that effect gets nulled.

I would assume if there were a drug like this it would result in a 1984-esque situation, where research is done without the motivation. Things beneficial to survival of a specific society would be researched, just without any emotional drive behind it, basically.

[Pergamon]

I have to admit, this one hasn't made it until now. But I feel we should give it one more try. Is there any suggestion for further improvement from you guys? Maybe then it will be good enough for further consideration.

#input

Now! Go!