Monday, May 21, 2007

The Barbie Drug

I found this via Hard News a few weeks back. Even on its own it's a bit of an unsettling concept to imagine people hacking their physiology in these ways, but I'm sure it's only a hint of what will be possible in the not too distant future. I've always been a bit dismissive of the whole singularity concept, but things like this make me start to wonder. Maybe our own grandchildren really will be virtually a different species to us.

Of course, the U.S. government pulled the plug on the drugs development. Presumably because making people more physically attractive and increasing their sex drive is the devil's work. Naturally it was bought by an Australian company, because of all the countries in the world Australia is the one that most needs people to be fitter, more tanned and hornier...

2 comments:

Joel said...

There are all sorts of weird and wonderful drugs out there. Unfortunately governments tend to step in and decide that the general public is smart enough to use these things wisely.

Personally I want some more modafinil, some vassopressin, and variety of other intelligence/awareness enhancing drugs.

So long as people will pay for these treatments, they'll be people developing them, even if it's outlawed and done underground.

Jon said...

I agree. Unfortunately for the end user if these things are outlawed they become more expensive and more dangerous.

Not to mention the injustice of having the government decide what you can do to your own body...