The Primal Urge

[NoJo]

In 1961, The British author Brian Aldiss wrote a story anticipating the Swinging Sixties called "The Primal Urge".

Here's part of the liner notes:

If reticence is a feature reserved for the British, what would possess well bred, reserved, thoroughly 'British', James Solent, to dash off for a night of reckless passion with a complete stranger? The answer is a gadget - an Emotional Register that prevents anyone from hiding any sexual attraction they feel for anyone else. Find out what happens to Britain and the rest of the world when this mechanical marvel sinks its teeth into the restrained status quo.

Now, this book has particular relevence for me, as I'm part of a medical research team developing a biofeedback gadget pretty much identical to the Emotional Register. It's a small, discreet Bluetooth transmiter device that reads and correlates a number of physiological signals.

Of course, we emotionally repressed Brits are perfect subects for this device.

I'm hoping that this device would find a niche market in the prostitution and pornography fields, where it might become an invaluable pinpoint marketing tool.

I'd be interested to know how people here would feel if we all had to wear a gadget which revealed our emotions and state of sexual arousal to others. Would you care? Would you take it off when your daughter's boyfriend called for her?

 

[impressive]

I wouldn't mind wearing one myself. Liberating, in a way.

But far more interesting would be seeing others' reactions TO me. I'm always rather surprised when I learn that someone finds me attractive.

 

[Guest]

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I think that the chances of getting anyone to wear these things would be about the same as the chances of convincing men to walk around with their dicks hanging outside their pants. We already have the option of just telling someone when they appeal to us sexually, but few of us use it, at least when we're sober. It's just not a very effective way of starting a relationship. The social grace known as courtesy is mainly concerned with hiding one's feelings and presenting them in a more palatable form, not broadcasting them.

I'm a lot more concerned about some new research that allows technicians to tell when someone's lying by taking MRIs of their brain. It's much more accurate than the polygraph, is apparently undefeatable, and they're already talking about using it in law enforcement. It worries me.

---dr.M.

 

[cantdog]

You know where they'll test it first, too, don't you, Zoot? Our prison system.

If nobody could lie, we won't need detectives or trials. Trial by MRI.

We better make sure that people we can stand are in power when that one comes down, because whoever it is would never be overthrown if they didn't want to.

 

[Guest]

I'd wear it if most everyone else did. In all my primes (including current one) I'd often be out and about, full of life, in varying degrees of heat, and wonder at all the so-called men, "Hey, are you blind? Can't you see 'Take me' exuding from every pore you scaredy-cat cock owners?!"

Sign me up, Jose.

Perdita

 

[lewdandlicentious]

I'd be in deep shit. Too many attractive young women and raving bitches in my line of work.

Amen brother!!!!!

 

[Guest]

Amen brother!!!!!

Hahaha!!! You'd get so many face slaps from women you encountered, you'd have to wear protective clothing.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

I'd be soundly beaten, daily!!!

 

[Guest]

I'd be soundly beaten, daily!!!

Quite!

I imagine I'd be in much the same boat! (Beaten by the women of the men I just happen to pass in the street and such. LOL!)

 

[thebullet]

I read The Primal Urge in junior high - early '60s. It was one of the first books I read with one hand, if you catch my drift.

Actually there was something that came out in the '70s that approximated the device that the Brits were wearing on their foreheads in that book. It was called the mood stone. At her bridal shower, my wife got mood panties, with a mood stone embedded at a particularly appropriate spot.

 

[shereads]

I'd be interested to know how people here would feel if we all had to wear a gadget which revealed our emotions and state of sexual arousal to others. Would you care? Would you take it off when your daughter's boyfriend called for her?

It's a start, but it doesn't go far enough. What's needed isn't a device to monitor our emotions and sexual arousal, but a device to control them.

Holiday reunion with the family? Place a lock-out on Shame and Anger, and set Happiness at a steady 75% for the day.

Can't bring yourself to accept a proposal from a kindly billionaire with hairy teeth who likes to model lingerie for his dad? Call Customer Service and request special programming assistance.

Life would be so simple if we could be happy or aroused when there's a direct benefit. There would be some suicides if the batteries went dead at the wrong moment, but problems like that would be corrected in Version 1.5.

 

[rgraham666]

And good little techno nerd that I am, I'll reprogram the thing to show exactly what I want it to show.

 

[SeaCat]

Hmmmm, it would be interesting to see it in use, and how people reacted to it. Would I wear it? Sure, as long as I got some protective clothing to go with it, and they had a way people could input what they found arousing about the different people they saw/met.

(The clothing would be as protection from the S.O.'s, not from the women themselves. If I can't deal with the reaction from the women then I shouldn't be dealing with the women.)

Cat

 

[impressive]

Re: Re: The Primal Urge

There would be some suicides if the batteries went dead at the wrong moment, but problems like that would be corrected in Version 1.5.

Or natural selection a la Microsoft would take care of the rest.