Ustwo

Today is an odd day for me.

I have a four hour lunch break, with one hour to go.

I have a bag with not one, not two, but three jumbo chili dogs with cheese and we are talking Chicago hot dogs here, on my desk.

I have nothing I need to do at this very moment.

So while I was out to get my jumbo chili cheese dogs, I had a thought while passing the jewelry store I got my wifes wedding ring at. How would the world change if everyone thought/felt the way I do.

I'm not talking political, governmental, wars and education, I'm talking music, food, tv, sports, that sort of thing. The fluff (yes I called music fluff) that makes up the majority of what we do in life, and yes food is important but only as a nutrient paste, chili dogs vrs say Chinese cooking is not 'important'.

So for me....

1. Jewelry stores would cease to exist. The price of all gem stones would plummet.

2. Soccer would no longer exist.

3. Hollywood would be a less than 100 million a year industry.

4. Music would tend to be local bands only.

5. The carrot would no longer be cultivated.

6. Science documentary production would increase drastically. The 'fall line up' would all be such.

7. Fine dining would still exist but the number of sushi places would quadruple.

8. Unused home exercise equipment sales would remain the same.

9. All wristwatch companies, would go out of business.

10. Robert Heinlein would be required reading in schools.

These are just off the top of my head, obviously not a complete list. What would change if everyone was like you?

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

QuasiMondo

If everyone was like me, there would be world peace because we would be too lazy to fight.

__________________
Cameron originally envisioned the Terminator as a small, unremarkable man, giving it the ability to blend in more easily. As a result, his first choice for the part was Lance Henriksen. O. J. Simpson was on the shortlist but Cameron did not think that such a nice guy could be a ruthless killer.

-From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator

Glory's Sun

If everyone was like me..

people would know how to drive.

loving the red sox would be a way of life

everyone would be blunt

soccer would be called football in America

LazyBoy

Simply put, it would be much more boring.

-Will

__________________
Life is nothing, everything.....and something in between...

Willravel

1) TFP would have billions of members on thousands of servers across the world and everyone would have high speed connections.
2) The population of the planet would go from 6 billion to about 100 million.
3) Desalinization via solar power in areas relatively devoid of aquatic life would be the source of all fresh water for human or domesticated animal consumption and use. No streams or reservoirs or even wells will be used. And there will be more than enough plants to ensure that everyone has more than enough.
4) Nothing would pollute. Everything would be required to be biodegradable and/or recyclable.
5) Governmental systems will be made up of community states that report to city states etc. all the way up to a world parliament. Each representative will be a member of his or her community that he or she is representing.
6) If you want meat, go into the woods and get it, but make sure that you do not over-hunt. If you want to eat vegetables, you've got a nice back yard and so do your neighbors. Trade, and enjoy being a part of local markets.
7) Houses would be simply trees grown to have rooms in them. It's not difficult, really. Power would be from solar and wind, and we'd be hard at work on alternative and more powerful energy like fusion.
8) There would be no prisons because of preemptive measures taken in schools to head off destructive behavior. No one would be zombies, of course, but people with mental illnesses would be diagnosed and helped early and people wouldn't really want for food or shelter.
9) The civil defense (police) force would be the entire community. Everyone would be properly trained, and no one in the world would have guns at all. Because everyone would be like me, no one would invent guns.
10) There would be no corporations and a pretty small federal government. Most government would be done locally and all members of society would be heavily involved in policy because they aren't distracted by crap.
11) Every person would wear a bracelet (that cannot be removed) that records all actions. This information would be stored publicly and would assist in anything from remembering a conversation to law enforcement. No one, be they government or otherwise, would be allowed to classify or erase anything from the record.
12) Anyone found to be committing a serious crime (rape, murder, grand larceny, etc.) would be castrated and everyone having a direct blood tie to them (brother, sister, mother, father, son, daughter) would also not be able to reproduce.
13) Civil rights would be outlined in a world BOR, and communities could decide on further rights in their own constitution.

It'd be a golden age. Ustwo might feel a bit out of place there, though. So you can have Australia.

ngdawg

1. Every state would be required to have a NASCAR track and kids would go as a required field trip in the 6th grade.
2. Marriage licenses would expire after 5 years. The first application for one would cost $5,000; every 5 years, renewal is required.
3. Would-be parents would have to take a full semester of "Parenting101" or be implanted with birth control-this after applying for a parent's license.
4. Chocolate would be on the food pyramid.
5. Infidelity would be encouraged. Declaring 'loyalty' to someone would be cause for a severe teasing and ostracizing. sorta like being a smoker is now.
5. Celebrityism would be illegal. Anyone caught printing blurbs about the likes of Britney or Paris would face stiff fines and jail time.
6. Weed would be legal and available in convenience stores and bars.
7. Neckties would be illegal.
Teachers unions would be a thing of the past because they'd be earning more than sports dudes. The NEA would be an 'illegal' cult.
8. The Russians would be forced to open their diamond vaults, making the gems about the same price as turquoise and there'd be no more slave labor financed by the likes of DeBeers due to the new worthlessness of them.
9. ALL cars and trucks would be equipped with breathalyzer(sp) starters.

Shauk

1. Porn would be allowed on TV
2. Every man and woman would be hot like me (lol)
3. Electronic music would be treated like a real genre, not like some awkwardly developing baby.
4. Sports would be outlawed, since I have this odd belief that it causes segregation. (you're either for one team or the other, which leads to competition, which leads to a "my x is better than your y" attitude, which is why the U.S. Citizens are so full of themselves with this "best nation in the world" nonsense.
5. there would be a regulation in place to make sure no resturaunt could serve a meal that includes more than 30% of your RDA of any measured content. (fuck you mcdonalds) and overall, food and portions would get back under control
6. communities would work more like communes.
7. schools would educate people properly for real life, things like your rights, the law, how to manage your money and the options you have with your money, and sex ed would be mandatory.
8. cars and trucks would be required to stay within a certain size to stay road legal, I think the nissan titan and the hummer are too god damned big.
10. filesharing would be legal.

Willravel

I second this motion!

snowy

1. Marijuana would be legalized, and available at your local 7-11.
2. Beer would be available at every restaurant, as well as good coffee.
3. The drinking age would be lowered to 18.
4. More places would serve salads made from local greens, and local food movements would be encouraged.
5. Farmers markets would be held on a daily basis, instead of a biweekly basis.
6. Radio would consist of NPR and classic rock stations.
7. Television would be made up of educational documentaries and programs, in addition to science fiction programs, travel/food programs, and quality cartoons.
8. Yoga would be mandatory in public schools, to start the day.
9. Everyone would ride bicycles.
10. Birth control would be widely available and cheap. Sex ed would no longer be limited to abstinence-only, and parents would be encouraged to be part of the system of sexual education instead of made to feel uncomfortable about it.
11. Spirituality would be seen as an integral part of life, yet no specific kind of spirituality would be espoused by public institutions. Rather, people would choose to pursue spiritual education on their own time, and Eastern philosophy would be given equal weight alongside Christianity. People would encourage their children to explore their spirituality, and to embrace paths that suit them. The Golden Rule would rule the day.
12) Japanese food would also be more widely available.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Frosstbyte

Would you care to explain the logic behind this one, particularly the second half of it?
The rest of your points I can see the logic behind, even if I don't agree with them, but that seems to be way beyond any rational chain of cause and effect and imputes blame where there is none.

mixedmedia

We would all dress like movie stars from the '30's & '40s.

Women would wear stockings (not pantyhose).

Everyone would be art snobs and the average quality of film, television and music would be greatly elevated.

Knowing a lot of stuff would be extremely cool.

Sex wouldn't carry so much stigma and therefore such powers of influence and persuasion.

Advertising would have been outlawed in the interest of consumer protection in the 1950's.

There would be more roller coasters and theme parks would be affordable.

Cell phones wouldn't have been invented.

All cars would be modest and fuel efficient because no one would see them as anything other than a device to get you from here to there.


...just a few off the top of my head.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Willravel

I don't believe reproduction is a right. I think the notion that it is a right isn't just silly, but it suggests that people are innately capable of taking care of children. That's obviously not the case.

The reasoning is two fold: one, there is often an association between anti-social behavior and genes (I'm not suggesting environmental factors don't contribute more to anti-social behavior, but genes have been shown to have provided a predisposition), and two, it's a really serious punishment.
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/con...act/62/11/1275
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0310053751.htm
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/c...ull/40/21/30-a
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4575551.stm

Behavioral genetics is something I'm interested in.

casual user

for one thing, there'd be no lifetime channel

Frosstbyte

I really dislike the notion of a world where people can be punished for things over which they have no control, but I guess that's why it's your world and not mine.

Willravel

Well look at it this way: what if Marilyn Manson's behavior is due to genetics? Should he be free?

I see it as birth control and crime prevention.

ShaniFaye

1. There would be a CSI: Scotland and all csi's would be hot guys in kilts

2. Men would be deprogrammed from thinking ALL women love and expect diamonds

3. Rap music would be outlawed

4. All radio stations would be commercial free

5. Anyone making fun of Barry Manilow would be prosecuted

6. Any and all papparazzi (sp?) would be shot on sight

7. Any one talking about Britney Spears (and others) would be exiled to an island never to return

8. Alan Rickman would be president of the world

9. All people would be required to work on their family tree

__________________
I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

Frosstbyte

I'm going to assume you meant Charles Manson as opposed to Marilyn Manson, since, as far as I know, other than being a weird dude, the singer hasn't done anything illegal under your criteria that would lead to him being snipped.

Willravel

Oh man, that's a slip! Yes, *Charles* Manson. I have no beef with Marilyn Manson.

Hydra1978

If everyone was like me, I'd have to kill them all.

There can be only one Hydra1978! ;-)

__________________
Don't hate me because i'm beautiful. I have so many other attributes to hate me for!

Crack

In the world I see - you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty car pool lane of some abandoned superhighway.

also, naked tuesdays.

__________________
Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex.

~Halx

Shauk

*cue intro to highlander*

mixedmedia

oh, and American cheese never would have been invented, either...

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

MexicanOnABike

Malkovich! Malkovich malkovich!! that's what this reminds me of!

if everyone was like me, we'd be getting no commercials, no reality tv, no junk food,...
but so much less bitching in the world!

__________________

- Movie Reviews - Ratings-

kutulu

1) Although all types of music would be accepted, nobody would be interested in making or listening to anything but real metal.

2) All women would be hot; plastic surgery would be strongly encouraged

3) Blowjobs would be a common greeting from women.

4) Pot would be strongly encouraged.

Push-Pull

Excellent suggestion! Imagine the discussion groups after reading "The moon is a harsh mistress"......

Ahem....Uh, if everyone was like me there'd be a whole bunch more money in the cattle market and EVERYONE would own a BBQ grill and/or smoker.

Also have to agree with Shani, rap music would be history, and country as well.

Stupidity would not only be criminal, but electrical implants would make it painful.

__________________
"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me-

"Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown-

DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer-

Shauk

I dont have a problem with rap music, just rap culture. They "formula" that makes up rap is benign imo. I just hate the fact that they plug in violence, disrespect to races and genders, and vulgarity as thier ingredient of choice. It really is a lowbrow genre.

Not sayng that all rap is like that, but have you walked into a nightclub recently?

it's dick music because it's pushed by dicks.

maleficent

1. Streets would be immaculate, so that footwear would be optional and not mandatory, wearing socks and only socks would be strongly encouraged, except red sox, and they'd be strongly encouraged to go... away...

2. Reality tv would be gone...

3. (c)rap music would be gone.

4. 99.98 percent of all movies would be gone.

5. Fast food restuarants, for the smell alone, would be gone.

6. People who marinate in fragrance would be punished by drowning them in a vat of said fragrance.

7. The person who lives above me who very enthusiastically, but very badly and very loudly, is learning to play the guitar, would be drop kicked into lake michigan, with his electric guitar and watch him fry.

8. Hi, How are you, when you don't really give a rats ass about how that person is would set off a bullshit detector that would cause you to be transported into Lake Michigan (I realize Lake Michigan will get pretty full, pretty quick, but I figure if BP is alllowed to dump there, there's gotta be room)

9. Children shall be not seen and not heard and not discussed unless specifically asked about, and there shall be a time limit on said discussion.

10. Unmarried women of a certain age, shall not be looked down upon.

11. Women who are not hot, and wil lnever be hot, but have a sometimes decent personality, will not be looked down upon.

12. Mothers will not be allowed to ask their unmarried daughters when they plan on settling down.

13. Marriage will be outlawed.

__________________

Willravel

Psst... Mal... most of us look up to you!

snowy

Quoted for truth.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

mixedmedia

In my world, rap would have escalated from the time of PE and all rappers in the underground would now be rich and famous and rappers that are rich and famous now would be tripping over themselves trying to emulate them...badly.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

analog

It'd be boring. Creativity would be squelched because everyone would like the same thing. Also, all conversations would go nowhere.

"Did you see Family Guy last night?"
"You know I did!"
"Remember that one part, when-"
"Yea, of course."
"Good times."
"Good times."

"Did you hear about the thing with the stuff?"
"Yeah, I hate the stuff."
"Me too."
...
...

maleficent

yeah you're right -i'm a pain in the ass i wouldn't want too many of me around - however the world under my rules... that'd be ok

__________________

Ustwo

That was the book I was mostly thinking of, and its perfect on so many levels for highschool.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Elphaba

Also quoted for truth. A world populated by "me" would be boring; I bore myself. But everyone being alike goes way beyond "Stepford."

__________________
"You can't ignore politics, no matter how much you'd like to." Molly Ivins - 1944-2007

squeeeb

if everyone were like me, people would be considerate of each other so there would be little to no conflict, no domestic violence, none of that. there would be no fast food, all the fast food places would go out of business cause no one would eat at them. there would be more bookstores and more chess clubs and more live music and punk clubs. no one would be denied a job because they have tattoos or piercings, as everyone would have them already. the only sports on tv would be fencing, cycling, mma fighting, and chess. there would be no news channels, no one would watch them, but there would be three comdey channels, three sci fi channels, and two cartoon channels, and there would be a silent film channel. the downside is, everything would be broken and no one would know how to fix the stuff.

__________________
onward to mayhem!

Craven Morehead

there would be no women, a terrible thought.

Ustwo

Well I was aiming more for how your tastes in things from furniture to personal hygiene would change things if they were universally shared.

Apparently I wasn't quite clear on that, as we got willravel's horrific socialist dystopia, and others writing as if they ruled the world, slightly different direction there. I was aiming more for a fun post not 'how I would change the world' or 'how I'd get rid of 5 billion people'.

But back to the idea that such a world would be boring, something echoed by many. Would it really be boring to you because really everything you think of as fun would be far more common and what you think of as boring would go away.

If suddenly everyone stopped playing say soccer, something I don't care about, there would be absolutely no change in the excitement quality of the world.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

maleficent

they can still play soccer, but the uniform has to change.. soccer players have awesome legs - they shouldn't be covered up under long loose baggy shorts - they can play in short shorts and shirtless too

__________________

mixedmedia

I agree. My world would be very exciting, what with the abundance of roller coasters and no such thing as processed cheese food.

Oh, and don't forget the stockings. Every female leg encased in glorious suspended nylon.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Ourcrazymodern?

Wow and WOW!

When I started reading this, all I had was "We'd all get along better."

Now all I've got is "There'd be less rules."

(Pertaining to the need for them; the only one of the 10 commandments that's necessary is "Thou shalt not steal".)

((Shop at IKEA!))

__________________
BE JUST AND FEAR NOT