What do you think of this social project?

24 Comments

Ever imagine what it would be like to live in a peaceful world, full of positive energy, and free of all negativity?
Well I have, and I was wondering what it would be like, and if it might change people for the 'better.'

So what would you think of a social experiment, where you move people into a secluded community where all forms of negativity are illegal. So you can't be mean to anyone, you can't whine/complain about anything, you can't talk behind people's backs, or anything like that. If people want to talk, then they have to find the good in things. I'd really like to see if it is 1) possible, 2) If it would be a better world, and 3)If for negative people, after experiencing a life of positivity, if they change their ways to be more of an optimist after the experiment is over.

I think it would be interesting to see, maybe I'm just high, but it would definitely be a refreshing change of pace to the bullshit scripted negative drama they have on TV these days.

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  • bananaface
    10 years ago | pl

    Awful idea. How repressive. Illegal to have human emotions? I know it's good to tone down on being whiny, and bitchiness isn't great, but everyone needs to have a whinge every now and again. Humans have negative feelings sometimes, and forcing someone to repress them doesn't sound like a good idea.

    Plus you mainly focus on people's reactions. In your little hypothetical world, how about focusing on reducing people's reasons to whine and moan on? Either way, I don't think it's possible to live in a world with no negativity.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago | pl

      Firstly, I never said anything about repressing emotions. I'm saying that a lot of what comes out of people's mouths, especially on reality TV, is a bunch of unnecessary negativity. Like my momma always says, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. And I have to 100% agree with her, and not a single negative word comes out of my mouth, also, it really bothers me and makes me uncomfortable when I'm around other people who are saying negative things. So I know that refraining from negative speech isn't for everyone, but there are still at least some things that should never be said/talked about.

      Secondly, I'm just saying have a social experiment, like a 4+ week reality show (paid obviously), just to give negative people a taste of what it would be like to be positive in some areas of their life.

      And on this show we could have people to talk to them on maybe how to think in a more positive light, and reduce the things and thoughts that bring the negativity. It's always nicer to view the glass half full, than half empty.
      And to help reduce negative thoughts from even happening, the show can take place in a very nice setting, with plenty of things to do and be happy about. Like Colorado or Washington, if you know what I'm sayin.

      You raise a valid point though. Maybe after a week the people can compete in team building challenges or something, and the winners can either vote to get a really nice reward to enjoy, or they can get time cards allowing them to be negative for a certain period of time.

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      • bananaface
        10 years ago | pl

        Personally, I don't always agree with the "if you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say it". I agree with it if it's taken in a way to mean "don't be a complete bitch and be mean to people when they didn't want to know your opinion". However, I don't agree with the side of it that means you shouldn't say anything negative at all. Constructive criticism can be negative, but it's motive is to help people improve, which I think leads to a positive result. Also, some things are negative and I think we should be able to talk about these negative things in a negative way. We shouldn't just avoid every negative thing; that wouldn't make me more optimistic or positive. If anything, I'd feel worse for not having an outlet to talk about negative things openly.

        "they can get time cards allowing them to be negative for a certain period of time."

        I'm not sure how that'd work, though. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself here, but my emotions aren't like a switch. It's not like I can switch from "positive mode" to "negative mode". I can't manipulate my feelings like that. I'll be negative when I feel like it, not when I'm "allowed" a set time to be.

        To be honest, I really just don't like the idea. If you'd wanted to focus on helping people deal with their negative feelings in a way that's effective for them; helping them find ways to de-stress, to control their anger (if that's a problem they have), help them deal with situations properly so that they don't have to bitch behind people's back and never solve issues they have with people because of it, *then* I'd be more on board. I've took what you've said as repression. Telling people it's illegal to act in a way that they normally would. That doesn't seem effective to me, unless you want to scare people into submission and make them change themselves. Although, I probably took that too far, especially as you haven't even said what the punishment would be. Plus, this is hypothetical.:P And you have got this aspect across more in your reply to me, in the third paragraph.

        I've been called pessimistic before. I've been called cynical too. There are cases where someone else is responsible for those negative feelings. For example, politicians are an obvious example. A lot of people don't trust or like politicians. Should we be expected to remove all our negative feelings about politicians rather than dealing with the cause (politicians:P)?

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago | pl

          My theory, is that everyone is born good and positive, but because of their environment, they form into what they are today. And the longer you think a certain way, the longer and harder it is going to stick.

          So if people truly wanted to be more of a positive person (which may even be the only type of people we want for the show), then it's going to take time and practice. And if they need help adjusting, then we have people on hand for that.

          I read a story about a woman addicted to cigarettes. She wanted to stop, but tried everything and couldn't. Her last resort was to punch the first cop she saw in the face, so she could get about 60 days in jail, and be forced to quit cold turkey. A little unorthodox, but it works.

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          • dom180
            10 years ago | pl

            I'm not sure about that hypothesis. People have negative emotions no matter what environment they live in and were brought up in. Demonising negative emotions isn't going to make people learn to be happier - it's going to make them feel guilty for not being happy which will in turn make them feel worse. It's a vicious circle. You can train behaviours, but I don't think you can train people to feel emotions since emotions are so much more complex and they're not conscious; I can't just snap my fingers and decide to be happy or sad or angry regardless of whether I want to.

            At the most basic level emotions are chemical reactions to stimuli, and you can't control the your body's chemical reactions to stimuli. Not allowing people to feel perfectly natural emotions without guilt is repressive not matter which way you look at it and it causes huge amounts of stress.

            How about instead of repressing people's negative emotions, you teach them about the benefits of positive thinking? Allow people the freedom to feel negative, and instead of demonising negative feeling you can be more positive yourself and show the benefits of positive thinking.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              10 years ago | pl

              Geez, I've always wondered why there is so much hate in this world. Apparently it's because people don't even want to be good, not that they can't be.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago | pl

          No, you don't have to remove feelings for politicians, and if you want to express them to someone, then write your congressmen or tell people online (which my mom has PLENTY to say about all the wrong/bad things the government is doing, and she tells her state representatives and newspapers about it). But bitching, moaning, and arguing about it isn't going to do a thing, and is the type of unnecessary negativity that makes me uncomfortable.

          Things like constructive criticism which are intended in a positive way, wouldn't be considered negative.

          The whole idea of the show is to help people practice seeing the good in things, and after practicing nothing but positivity for a period of time, then their minds may be more apt to think of things more positively in the future. So in order to do this, people need to stay positive through out, in order to train their brain. Retrain your brain? Yes! RE TRAAAIN YOUR BRAIAIAIINN (sorry that commercial came to mind)

          Personally, emotions are a thing I can simply turn on and off whenever I feel like it. But how the time cards would work, is that you have a card to hold onto, so you don't have to "turn your feelings on." And as you live your life, if you have something negative that you absolutely have to say, then you use the time card. Maybe it can be a punch card instead.
          But like I said, when faced with a positive reward, or a card allowing you to be negative, which one will people choose?

          I can see that this isn't the world for you, which is fine. I just know that if a genie granted me one wish, it would be to live in a world full of nothing but positive energy. So I think maybe if the experiment worked out, and it made the people want to be more positive, then maybe other people will see this and maybe give it a chance. There is nothing in this world like the power of positive thinking.

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  • thr
    10 years ago | pl

    I think it will not fit with human behaviour / human nature.

    Disallowing all forms of negativity seems like a very bad idea, especially when it is to the degree of making it forbidden to whine or complain about things. That will effectuate that problems are not taken care of, since you may not complain about them.

    And you will have minor problems, no matter what. Unless the community is in a land of plenty, resources (food/water/money) or lack thereof may give rise to negative feelings.
    Romantic jealousy may also give problems, and there may be problems with some people having personality differences that makes it difficult for them to work together.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago | pl

      Maybe I didn't clarify, but this is a reality show. People are getting paid to think positively, and if that's too much to ask, then I might as well kill myself right now if people won't even accept money to be nice.

      The whole idea of this show is to get negative people to at least try to see the good in things. And then after everything is said and done, have a reunion show and ask everyone what they thought of their experience. Did they learn anything, are they going to try to be more positive in the future, are they glad they had this experience, or are they perfectly content with being a negative Nancy.

      And aside from my research mindset behind wanting this show, it would also be a nice refreshing chance of pace from all of the scripted bullshit negative drama that is in "reality" shows these days.

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  • hoppy
    10 years ago | pl

    Rather than criminalizing negativity, what about a slight tweak to your experiment where negativity would be made less likely to be practiced (but without the negativity of it being illegal). Not sure how that would work exactly, but it's an interesting idea.

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  • Anime7
    10 years ago | pl

    I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think it would work. People need a release of some kind, and just out of habit people will whine. The main reason though that I think that utopia would fail though is because you have to take the good with the bad. If you eliminate negativity, there would be no need for positivity. I don't think it'd be possible for people to appreciate being happy without experiencing a little misery first. Even if though you do "take" people who have had miseries installed in their lives, they'd still find something to complain people. People always find something to complain about and if you bottle that release up, you're just prolonging the chaos.

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  • andiforoncedonthatehumans
    10 years ago | pl

    well i dont think living in a perfect community would bebetter,humans need a bit of chaos no matter how strange that seems.We need problems we need evil we need good and etc.If those didnt exist we wouldnt have experiences,which in turn form us.

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  • ScooterNyne
    10 years ago | pl

    It is interesting to think about but in the end the outcome would be predictable. A repressed society like that would foster negativity and eventually chaos would ensue. Humans naturally can never think like everyone else and there will always be conflict among them. By nature we are selfish and a perfect "peaceful" world isn't plausible even theoretically.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago | pl

      It isn't human nature to be selfish, people are raised to be selfish. And if people's mothers raised them like mine did for me, then more people would be completely selfless individuals who always see the good and understand people.

      Also that outcome has nothing to do with my reason for the experiment. I don't want to force people to be good because I think the world would be a better place that way. I just want to see if negative people were paid to think more positively for an amount of time, if it would have a more long term change on how they view things in different aspects of their lives.

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      • ScooterNyne
        10 years ago | pl

        I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree. People ARE selfish by nature. Just like animals and every living thing on this planet. It's all about survival and in the end, as animals, we look out for number one. That is ourselves. It's just not a possibility for people to always agree no matter how they are raised.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago | pl

          Then we'll just have to agree to disagree.
          Everyone is also good hearted in nature, it just comes down to where each individual draws the line. And that line is developed by their interaction with peers, mentors, parents/family,media, and everything else in the environment that they surround themselves in.
          And animals aren't selfish, animals are the good hearted creatures of the planet. They will be your friend, they will be eachothers friends, and help each other out. And if their loved ones are in trouble, and there's a possibility to save them, even if they may die, then they'll do it, and there are plenty of cases where animals risk their lives to save humans. When it comes down to it, they will do what ever is necessary to survive, even if that means eating their family. And they will do what's necessary to defend their territory and family. Animals are free of sin, it's man that has sin. And the choice of who they want to be is completely up to them, but how they spend the first 20 or so years of their life is going to have the most effect on them, and will be harder, but not impossible, to change.

          I can't believe I'm getting so much flak for thinking that everyone has the ability to be good, nice people. That's exactly what's wrong with the world today. My sister just graduated teaching school. I asked her if they talked about how you can handle bullies. She said they aren't allowed to do anything but just let the child be "themselves," even if that means the kid is hurting everyone around them. I don't think people should tolerate that type of behavior, and they need to teach their kids better morals. But the kids live what they learn [from their parents and those around them].

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          • thegypsysailor
            10 years ago | pl

            I'm sorry history just doesn't support your position. Just a few names, got google?
            Attila The Hun
            Adolph Hitler
            Jeffery Dahmer
            Charles Manson
            Saddam Hussein
            Idi Amin Dada
            Pol Pot
            Josef Stalin
            Kent State
            US uses atomic bomb on (not one, but two) cities in Japan
            Really, I wish it was not so very apparent that human beings are just a blight on this world and should be eradicated like any other infestation. What a wonderful, green and abundant world it would be if we were not here to rape, pillage and plunder the earth.
            Sorry.

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  • thegypsysailor
    10 years ago | pl

    Just where are you going to find these "perfect" people? You cannot legislate those sorts of things (and you shouldn't need cops anyway), so everybody would have to be pretty nearly perfect to begin with.
    Humanity will never evolve to the point where your dream will become a reality because mother nature or man will eradicate this pestilence (us) pretty soon.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      10 years ago | pl

      I never said anything about perfect people. The whole idea of this project is to change people's views on life for what I think would be the better. It would defeat the purpose if we got people who are already positive, it's supposed to be a learning experience.

      I can't express enough how great the power of positive thinking is and what it can do, and I wish other people could see things the way I see them.

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      • thegypsysailor
        10 years ago | pl

        It's not about hate, it's about human nature. We are indeed very selfish as a species, and most of us are incredibly disrespectful of our planet and each other.
        My point was that if you don't start with perfect people, your plan will fail.
        Few of the hippie communes of the 60's were successful in the long run, and some like the Manson group, were spectacularly unsuccessful.
        There were a million or so of us in the middle 60's who tried to change this nation, in a similar direction to your idea, but the powers that were wouldn't even entertain the thought and the killings at Kent State were their answer to "love and peace".
        You are young and it would be fantastic if you could keep your positive attitude, but unfortunately, I doubt that humanity will accommodate you. Sorry.

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          10 years ago | pl

          I have a dream that one day we will all be united, which also won't happen until after the federal government legalizes cannabis and eliminates the social stigma between the haters and the good hearted hippies who just want some peace, love, and happiness. I may even have to step up and change America myself if someone else doesn't do it.

          Davesumba 2016
          "Vote for peace, love, and happiness."

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  • Anonymous Post Author
    10 years ago | pl

    *Sigh* I always wondered why it is so hard finding nice people in the world, according to every single person who has commented so far, it's because it's wrong to even pay people to think more positively on a TV show.

    I'm going to go look up ways to kill myself now, or maybe I'll just join a hippy commune far away from the haters.

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