Crime Prevention: Magic Mirror

[notjenschiz]

Originally published at Jason's Fresh Produce. You can comment here or there.

A friend of mine was recently infuriated by this article. The crux of the article is that anti-abortion activists are supporting legislation that will REQUIRE a sonogram before a woman gets an abortion. Basically, you make her watch the little heartbeat before she gets rid

Comments

[colleenky]

Have you read Nudge yet?

[notjenschiz]

I haven't read Nudge-- http://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234388685&sr=8-1 --but it looks interesting!

It also reminds me of a gripe I've always had against God. The religious like to say, "There is evil in the world because God gives man choice." But they generally have no rebuttal to the question, "Why are so many of the choices bad, and why do I want to do them? Why not make all the choices good, or make broccoli taste better than chocolate?"

[aaronjv]

That's a great idea, but how do you get those pictures in front of rapists and horny fathers/brothers/uncles/cousins?

How can you make said pictures clear enough to be seen through a drug/alcohol fog?

And if it's a negative image, perhaps the negative reinforcement would drive some people's low self esteem even lower, so they eat/drink/smoke even more, becoming more like the thing they see every time they try to get some comfort and respite from their shameful existence?

I'd say we should add the pictures, and also lower the price to say, free, and give them away in churches.

[notjenschiz]

"I can't stop eating. I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat. It's a vicious cycle. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I'd like to get in touch with and forgive... myself. "

Fat Bastard, Austin Powers

[notjenschiz]

By the way, I should re-emphasize that I am pro-choice, that I don't really condone this particular practice, and I don't think it would stop all unwanted pregnancy. I'm just interested in how the power of emotion-based decision making could be turned to good.

[reichart]

I'm all for the sonogram.

But I also want to show the expectant female some of the following stats:

- Chance the child will have complications.
- All the drug related problems.
- The cost of raising a child.
- The stats on raising children with one parent.
- A simple outline of her life for the next few years (burden of time and energy).
- Oh, don't forget before and after pics to show stretch marks.

Ya know, paint a picture of REALITY.

[notjenschiz]

hear hear! Information in *both* directions.

[doctorray]

but through technology we could harness that dumbness-by emotionally blackmailing people-and help prevent poor choices.

Oooh! Totalitarianism *and* emotional blackmail! It's the worst of a soulless dystopian future and suffocating small-town Babbitry all rolled into one.

Check the sell-by date on this particular piece of produce, dude - it stinks.