This is one of my favourite cartoons from my childhood: Captain Star. It is very obscure and you've probably never heard of it. The cartoon is about a rocket ship captain who is the best in the universe. He gets orders from mission control, and ends up waiting on the nameless planet waiting for his next orders. The visual style may seem crude and offputting, but as a whole the show was strangely appealing for me.
This is probably my favourite episode in the series:
Please give this a chance and watch at least this one episode.
Captain Star is great because he understands one thing: he is better than you. He doesn't give a damn what you think, because only what he thinks matters. This lends him confidence to achieve true greatness.
Better Than You was a phrase that left an impression on me from a Neopets game feature. Each week they would choose a game and posted a challenge score that you could try to beat for bonus neopoints. I know at least some of you know what I'm talking about.
The concept of being better than you has been an important theme I've valued. How can I so blatantly and rudely make such a bold claim? In what way can one measure human value?
There have been tests developed to try to measure certain aspects of human value. The most obvious example is IQ tests, an ever popular topic at TL. I believe I properly constructed IQ test does in fact give a strong indication of the aspects it tries to measure, such as logic, patterning, verbal, numeric and spatial aptitude. Such a test is a step in the right direction in what I dream of.
My dream is the creation of HVI or Human Value Index. "Intelligence", as compiled from an administration of an IQ test, seeks to measure only the abilities I listed above. HVI would measure the overall output capacity and usefulness of an individual. It would require extensive preparation and study of test subjects to create an accurate, reliable test.
The eventual idea is to test children after a period of maturity, say 16 years, to determine their optimal aptitudes, abilities and talents. Then they would be prescribed a list of occupations they may pursue based on this test. I will admit, my reasoning for this system is that I do not want to work for what I should rightly deserve. Here I can toss in a reference to Naruto, Neji vs Rock Lee, talent vs hard work.
I'll stop here for now. I am rambling on purpose because there's a lot on my mind I want to get out. Please enjoy more Captain Star if you can appreciate it.
Well my two cents is that: communication, intuiton, risk assessment, wisdom, morality, empathy, motivation, resourcefulness: these are all virtually untestable with a standardised exam yet are absolutely vital in most work places.
No one deserves anything imo. They either get it or they don't. What you want would be much more achievable if all humans were unthinking robots with stat lines that could be easily placed into their jobs.
"His orders - discover new worlds, name them after himself and then sell them things."
"Good morning Cpt. Star, Navigator Black, may I offer you fresh undergarments?"
What the Hell . . . indeed, obscure would be a way to describe this cartoon. I watched the first part, I'll watch the other ones later. It was ... interesting.
On February 19 2009 09:05 Shiverfish wrote: The eventual idea is to test children after a period of maturity, say 16 years, to determine their optimal aptitudes, abilities and talents. Then they would be prescribed a list of occupations they may pursue based on this test. I will admit, my reasoning for this system is that I do not want to work for what I should rightly deserve. Here I can toss in a reference to Naruto, Neji vs Rock Lee, talent vs hard work.
Values are relative; what one human values, another does not. Therefore any resulting measurements are completely subjective.
I recall someone talking about a similar system to what you are describing being used in GDR (I have no idea if it is true). Sounds like a planned society to me.
the impossibility of such a feat, and certain kinks in the "test" aside, i would be strongly against any such implementation upon society. Although it would wield a "better" society in the sense that individuals in said society would be more "secure" and it would yield more results than any implemented in our present world, it would also propagate a hierarchical structure that i am very uncomfortable with, due to three facts.
One: that such a measuring system would do nothing to reiterate human nature, thus we would find ourselves in an extremely corrupt society.
Two: it would by either by peer pressure or structural imposition obligate one to "work". I know this may sound ridiculous, but i value the freedom to burn time and money without contributing anything to society other than whatever money i may spend.
Three: Anyone at the bottom of the proverbial totem pole would probably wipe themselves out, since in fact their life has little value, and if they don't wipe themselves out i am sure some sort of eugenics program would stem from this society and wipe them out.
It could work if society were to change drastically before this happened, think of it as communism, if implemented in the correct society it would be utopia, but if slapped upon our current and previous societies, well.. China and Russia are good examples respectively.
EPT
