Phi for All

Do you think telepathy would be beneficial to human survival? Most people I've asked this of say absolutely, it would be a phenomenal benefit. So why don't we see more of it over time, the way evolution works? Why can't we find a single individual who consistently tests significantly higher than average for these abilities? Something that provides such a benefit is bound to make a person more successful and so those traits would be selected for with each generation. We don't see it, so the reasoned conclusion is that what we think of as telepathy isn't possible.

! Moderator Note Are you saying you've figured this out and no longer need any help, or should I leave this open?

! Moderator Note You need to support this conjecture better. Since our everyday actions have zero impact on evolution (which is defined as changes in allele frequency within a population over time), you need to do more than wave your hands on this. This is a mainstream section, and you need evidence that fits within mainstream explanations. If you prefer to ask questions about this subject, I can leave it where it is, but if you're looking to defend a speculation, I need to move it to the appropriate section.

I prefer not to refer to it as "reality", simply because it implies there's only one. When we're talking about people, there are billions of them, so I prefer to "observe the natural world around me" and adapt to all the differences. "Reality" isn't a perspective, it's a subjective conclusion. I think we have to take a long, hard look at why we defend certain actions that invariably offend and alienate others in ways we didn't intend. "Suffer fools" is another phrase that's misused, imo. It implies there's some sort of super common sense that makes the person who has it immune to foolishness, or able to spot a fool a mile away. What it really means is that those people have rigid guidelines for what they'll put up with, and another definition of that is "intolerant". They aren't great arbiters of common sense necessarily, since the definition of foolishness can change with each of them. Saying that you "won't suffer fools" is a stainless way to pass judgement on others while lifting yourself above them. It's like claiming to be a skeptic when you're really just sitting on the fence, unable to make a decision. But it makes us sound smart to question EVERYTHING, or so we think.

! Moderator Note This is the Physics section. Refrain from supernatural explanations when you're posting here. This is a section for mainstream science only.

Dennis Francis Blewett III has been banned for an insurmountable noise to signal ratio. We're a science discussion forum with a volunteer staff, and they need something more.

After reading your latest paranoid accusations in reported posts, it's pretty clear you've got some problems with social media in general. It's not our job to help you figure out how to participate meaningfully in a group without alienating others involved with your behavior. If you've found another forum you prefer, you should go there. If you stay here, you should NEVER post drivel like this again. We have standards you'll need to meet that you haven't met yet, not once in 15 posts.

They really need you, thanks, I didn't know how to ask you, but right on, this will help. Good job, excellent choice, say hi for us and next time you're in town... say hi for us!

You have to create the space below the quote for it to go into, using the Enter key repeatedly. Then it allows you to move it down further.

I think driving, especially on the freeway, is a great example of using all of our greatest abilities at the same time in a spectacularly productive way. If we could learn to appreciate how amazing it is to work together peacefully and harmoniously on the road, I think it would be a great map for the rest of our lives. Think of how amazing it really is to glance at an oncoming car ONCE as you approach the freeway from the onramp and then merge that monster seamlessly because you were able to calculate your acceleration based on their speed. And now think about what an ignorant, spiteful move it is when they speed up to ruin your merge and honk at you. This makes some people feel superior and I just don't get it.

I did it in the Sandbox, and now recreate it here:

Well, if this is what the OP was talking about, then grabbing the tab on the quote works.

And we're learning more every day about how some social media platforms allow these extremists to have multiple accounts, so they seem like an army rather than a few disaffected individuals. I read an article recently about people in the US who plan on quitting their jobs because their employers are making vaccination mandatory. Eventually, the article mentions how, though some industries and sectors are individually different, the number of people who feel this way across ALL jobs is less than 1%. Why are we even hearing about this? It's being repeated across the internet, linked and re-tweeted and spun and it's a tiny fraction of workers. Informing Americans used to be a duty, but now it's just shoveling extremist shit so people stay glued and buy more stuff.

Or take a minute to think about your layout and do it in the right order. You put the drywall up and then remembered the plumbing and electricity! I believe you can also use Edit to click/hold on the quote box and physically move it down a bit, then insert your text.

I had a really pleasant experience on Saturday, driving a stretch of interstate highway that passes a local speedway. Normally, this whole stretch seems full of drivers all jockeying for the best positions and going 80 mph in a 65 zone, and it's a zoo even though the road is often four lanes wide on a side. But on Saturday, everyone decided to copy me and set their cruise control at about 68 mph, grab a lane, and stay there. It was weird, it was bizarre, and oh boy was it wonderful! No brake lights, no tailgaiting, no weaving and swerving, just people cooperating in their big balls of mile-a-minute metal in a way that helped everybody get where they were going safely. For almost ten minutes nobody passed us and we didn't pass anybody else unless they were exiting. Nobody was trying to get ahead, nobody was racing, we were all just on the highway together in peace, helping each other survive and doing so with as little stress as possible. Cooperative behavior is one of our best tools.

And I'm saying that the concept of "stay true to myself" is perhaps being misapplied when it comes to interacting with others, especially with those who stray far from our expectations. For me, staying true to myself means treating someone with preferences for certain pronouns the same way I treat someone with a preference for a lack of foul language, or a preference for a less deafening voice, or a preference to avoid certain topics in conversation. I can talk without cursing, I know my voice carries, and there are so many things to talk about that it doesn't have to be politics or COVID or high prices. So I have to wonder why my "true self" wouldn't care if I disrespected someone? A close family member of mine uses the phrase, "I like to give them a hard time", and he uses it the way you use "stay true to myself", as if nobody else is really involved. He makes jokes at people's expense that aren't very funny, and can even be hurtful or just mean, and of course when it's pointed out, he falls back on that phrase, "I like to give them a hard time, I don't mean anything by it, just joking around, don't be so sensitive!" For some reason, he thinks that's what normal people do all the time, but the weird part is that this guy would go out of his way to help if you were in trouble, and would do anything in his power to make sure you DIDN'T have "a hard time". He's a very nice guy who is misapplying a common sentiment, but he just doesn't see what's wrong with his behavior.

I agree with the last two sentences, mostly because of the first two. Maybe she IS correct. Being proud of letting your offensive feelings be known needs a rethink, guys.

People are capable of, in varying degrees, focusing their minds on the various sensory systems of the body, which apparently manifests as this feeling you mention. I can't say there is no advantage to it, but I can say nobody has ever shown a measurable difference between having this feeling and not having it. That's some good evidence that this isn't something one can exploit. If it gives you any kind of power, I would say it's a personal and subjective one. Perhaps you can learn to be more in touch with your body, or appreciate your good health on a deeper level, or use it to help you meditate and calm any anxiety you're feeling. And maybe, by being a person who's more in touch with yourself, you can actually affect others with this ability. I always appreciate it when my fellow humans are calm and confident and comfortable. But we aren't going to start another thread on how magic this feeling is. It seems to be a lot like religion, interpreted by each adherent in personal ways, thus making it a difficult discussion topic. I think there was talk of starting a chat on Discord, so if you're still thinking you're somehow tapping into dark energy, you might want to start looking there.

I took your advice and now I steam my hard-boiled eggs and let them cool on the counter. I can't believe how ignorant our ancestors were, and they claimed it was "common sense"! Maybe steam is the way to go for water bottles too. Repurpose that old espresso maker and... OK, I got nothing. Just trying to tie my comment to the OP so it's not off-topic.

And putting hard-boiled eggs in ice water. I'm still mad at our parents for that one.

It's 42.

Or, OR, we could discuss science and drop the other drama. That would be fantastic! Objectively, I think most here can forgive a newbie for sitting down at a the table for a discussion and instead telling us how badly we do things here. I hope you can forgive some testiness in a time when internet trolls are attacking anything intellectual. And I'm sorry, but I don't buy your "experiment" explanation for a second, but I'm willing to see how productive a conversation about science will be now that you're done with it.

It's not. I can pull up many posts from trolls and extremists that have posted over the years, and show you where they've used almost your exact same words. Many took longer than a month to use them.

Coincidentally(?), this is the troll mantra, and what most every bully, stalker, and other extremists say when their behavior is questioned. I wonder how your experiment would have turned out if you'd actually discussed science on a science discussion forum, instead of posting what you have.

You may like this image, but we're a science discussion forum. We're more interested in talking about science, so the social aspect is centered around mainstream explanations and learning more science. Most of your posts are NOT focused on science, so they're annoying and extraneous. We invite you to sit around the table and talk about science, but you choose to jump on top of it and shout like this about anything but science. It's unproductive and meaningless, so your posts seem like they're contrary to our purpose. Maybe you should try a site with more of a social emphasis, but I would warn you not to jump up on their tables either. Can you try to behave, or are you a person who revels in their rebel fantasies and won't give them up even when it makes sense?