Saturday, November 1, 2014

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

According to the Independent (UK), during studies of how the country could function after a nuclear war, a government Science Officer suggested they recruit psychopaths to maintain order

What could possibly go wrong with a stellar suggestion like that?  It's from a Scientist! Jane Hogg, a scientific officer in the Home Office said:
”These are the people who could be expected to show no psychological effects in the communities which have suffered the severest losses.“

Ms Hogg suggested psychopaths would be "very good in crises" because "they have no feelings for others, nor moral code, and tend to be very intelligent and logical".
I suppose I could see the advantage in not freaking out when surrounded by death and destruction, because you just don't care, but... YHGTBSM.  When have you ever heard anyone say, "Gosh, things are messed up.  We sure need a psychopath around here!"

Thankfully, her colleagues voted her down.



6 comments:

  1. They would not have to seek a psycho out, most of the high offices are inhabited by them.

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  2. Hah, that's exactly what I was thinking. They're already installed and operating.

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  3. There is no idea so shudderingly stupid that it cannot be conceived by an intellectual.

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  4. When have you ever heard anyone say, "Gosh, things are messed up. We sure need a psychopath around here!"

    Just prior to the entrance of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Lincoln, Napoleon, etc.

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  5. Not all psychopaths are violent. Many simply get their kicks for beating other people at their chosen profession (such as Lawyer or Cop) or have a job that lets them play god (Surgeon or Politician).

    If she had said, "what we really need is a set of people with high functioning Aspergers because they are logical, not emotional, and maintain routines even in events of crisis" she might have got the point across better.

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  6. You must be referring to this type.....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7AjOnDdcWM

    We have thousands of them pinned to badges now and more hired everyday. The system no longer screens to find and weed out sociopathy, it looks for and rewards it with steady employment.

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