Whilst perusing Pinterest yesterday an advertisement popped up for Neuralink's new 'Smart Drug' which is basically a mind enhancement medication, which is now on the market and being promoted by Elon Musk who is offering free trials. These revolutionary tablets apparently improve a person's mental performance, problem solving abilities, concentration, efficiency and memory by (aka. up to) 97%, which sounds way too good to be true doesn't it?
However, people that have trialled the drug are claiming that all of the above is true and more, in fact the people that took them said that they felt more focused and calm than they could have ever imagined that they would ever be, but to be honest I do wonder how much of a mess they were to begin with. Regular users are quoted as saying outrageously sensationalised statements like "it makes me into a Godlike sponge" whatever the fuck that means, or "I have never felt so engaged and capable before" which does sound positive, but again probably way too good to be true.
There is absolutely no doubt that the idea of optimising yourself is appealing on many levels, but on a more realistic level, I also have a million questions to ask about these wonder tablets. Firstly, and foremostly, what the hell is in these tablets? Who or what have they tested them on? What are the long term effects of taking these kinds of enhancers? Are they addictive? And what happens if you just stop taking them?
I have watched way too many science fiction movies where people in the future quite innocently start to take human enhancing drugs only to wake up with something god awful growing out of them or one day just realising that they have totally lost their minds and the idea of eating their pet cat seems completely plausible. Yes, everyone wants to gets smarter, better, faster, stronger but no sane person wants to be a human guinea pig.
However, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't curious and maybe even a little keen to try them for myself, but then on the other hand I do feel sad that we all feel so compelled to be continually pushing and stretching our personal limits as humans. I mean this is really just another prime example of us not being enough isn't it? Is this hunger to be more and perform better actually driving us further away from our own true natures as human beings? What will the world look like if we are all operating at a genius level anyway? And what happens to the people that choose not to get on board, or cannot afford to get onboard because the tablets will clearly come with a hefty price tag? Will being 'super smart' only be for the rich or elite? And how is that going to be fair?
Nope, there are too many unanswered questions for me at this point and there are way too many variables that I have serious concerns about before I am willing to get on board with this 'smart drug' of the future. I am all for enhancing the quality of life that I live and I am most definitely all about being alert and active, but I am not sure that being 97% more focused is really what I need in my life right now. If I was 97% more alert than I am already, then I think that my head would explode. If anything, I think that I need to get about 50% less focused!
However, regardless of how you feel about the progression that is being made in the field of human enhancements, they are occurring and it is absolutely inevitable that they are going to become a part of all of our futures, whether we choose to engage in it or not, and I do wonder a lot about what that future will look like for us all.
However, people that have trialled the drug are claiming that all of the above is true and more, in fact the people that took them said that they felt more focused and calm than they could have ever imagined that they would ever be, but to be honest I do wonder how much of a mess they were to begin with. Regular users are quoted as saying outrageously sensationalised statements like "it makes me into a Godlike sponge" whatever the fuck that means, or "I have never felt so engaged and capable before" which does sound positive, but again probably way too good to be true.
There is absolutely no doubt that the idea of optimising yourself is appealing on many levels, but on a more realistic level, I also have a million questions to ask about these wonder tablets. Firstly, and foremostly, what the hell is in these tablets? Who or what have they tested them on? What are the long term effects of taking these kinds of enhancers? Are they addictive? And what happens if you just stop taking them?
I have watched way too many science fiction movies where people in the future quite innocently start to take human enhancing drugs only to wake up with something god awful growing out of them or one day just realising that they have totally lost their minds and the idea of eating their pet cat seems completely plausible. Yes, everyone wants to gets smarter, better, faster, stronger but no sane person wants to be a human guinea pig.
However, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't curious and maybe even a little keen to try them for myself, but then on the other hand I do feel sad that we all feel so compelled to be continually pushing and stretching our personal limits as humans. I mean this is really just another prime example of us not being enough isn't it? Is this hunger to be more and perform better actually driving us further away from our own true natures as human beings? What will the world look like if we are all operating at a genius level anyway? And what happens to the people that choose not to get on board, or cannot afford to get onboard because the tablets will clearly come with a hefty price tag? Will being 'super smart' only be for the rich or elite? And how is that going to be fair?
Nope, there are too many unanswered questions for me at this point and there are way too many variables that I have serious concerns about before I am willing to get on board with this 'smart drug' of the future. I am all for enhancing the quality of life that I live and I am most definitely all about being alert and active, but I am not sure that being 97% more focused is really what I need in my life right now. If I was 97% more alert than I am already, then I think that my head would explode. If anything, I think that I need to get about 50% less focused!
However, regardless of how you feel about the progression that is being made in the field of human enhancements, they are occurring and it is absolutely inevitable that they are going to become a part of all of our futures, whether we choose to engage in it or not, and I do wonder a lot about what that future will look like for us all.
ANNIHILATION
Release Date: 2018
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 115 mins
A science fiction/ thriller, written and directed by Alex Garland and based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. Annihilation was released on Netflix, which in some ways was a total tragedy for the potential of the movie because it would have been quite spectacular and probably even more enjoyable on the big screen. However that being said, this is still a solid science fiction thriller that delivers lots of intrigue and a striking visual impact.
A group of military scientists enter into 'The Shimmer' - a mysterious, expanding, bubble-like quarantined area. The sole survivor from the last entry mission has fallen into a coma, so it is up to this new group of willing hopefuls to uncover the secret of 'The Shimmer' before it gets any larger.
This film had me genuinely curious because the script is original and quite unpredictable and the creatures within 'The Shimmer' were so inventive. It was also really pleasing to see a team of exclusively female scientists picking up where the men had previously failed, and tackling some unknown evil shit all by themselves - woohoo, go girl power!
The cast is excellent, with Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac and Jennifer Jason Leigh all bringing quality performances to a complex science fiction/ thriller which is by no means an easy feat. Annihilation is definitely worth a look for lovers of creepy and original science fiction.
FINAL SAY: It's not destroying...It's making something new.
3.5 Chilli peppers
Release Date: 2018
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 115 mins
A science fiction/ thriller, written and directed by Alex Garland and based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. Annihilation was released on Netflix, which in some ways was a total tragedy for the potential of the movie because it would have been quite spectacular and probably even more enjoyable on the big screen. However that being said, this is still a solid science fiction thriller that delivers lots of intrigue and a striking visual impact.
A group of military scientists enter into 'The Shimmer' - a mysterious, expanding, bubble-like quarantined area. The sole survivor from the last entry mission has fallen into a coma, so it is up to this new group of willing hopefuls to uncover the secret of 'The Shimmer' before it gets any larger.
This film had me genuinely curious because the script is original and quite unpredictable and the creatures within 'The Shimmer' were so inventive. It was also really pleasing to see a team of exclusively female scientists picking up where the men had previously failed, and tackling some unknown evil shit all by themselves - woohoo, go girl power!
The cast is excellent, with Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac and Jennifer Jason Leigh all bringing quality performances to a complex science fiction/ thriller which is by no means an easy feat. Annihilation is definitely worth a look for lovers of creepy and original science fiction.
FINAL SAY: It's not destroying...It's making something new.
3.5 Chilli peppers
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