The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Comments thread for "The Laws of Magic: Part 4 of 8"
NevynK:
--- Quote from: hollow49 on June 29, 2007, 05:11:20 PM ---Transmitting a thought or mental impression to another, as long as the other is not obliged to pick it up, is not going to violate the law
--- End quote ---
Since the letter of the law says invade I don't think transmitting will be a problem unless you are transmitting orders or in some way trying to influence that person. It basically like wearing a freakin headset only much cooler.
iago:
--- Quote from: NevynK on July 08, 2007, 11:21:32 PM ---Since the letter of the law says invade I don't think transmitting will be a problem unless you are transmitting orders or in some way trying to influence that person. It basically like wearing a freakin headset only much cooler.
--- End quote ---
Yeah. It's ultimately just a wizardish cellphone, right? :)
Sorry about missing this last week for the laws. I'll get back on the stick this week. I had to be out of town for Origins.
mikeryan:
--- Quote from: NevynK on July 08, 2007, 11:21:32 PM ---Since the letter of the law says invade I don't think transmitting will be a problem unless you are transmitting orders or in some way trying to influence that person. It basically like wearing a freakin headset only much cooler.
--- End quote ---
Sending foreign thoughts directly into another persons brain isn't an invasion? I politely but vehemently disagree. The idea of it sets my teeth on edge. It's not as vile as robbing someone of their free will, but it is potentially annoying , inconvenient and down right creepy.
If I'm online and a discussion thread turns into racist propaganda, I can stop reading. If someone walks up to me on the street and tries to sell me (probably) stolen watches, I can walk away. If the phone rings during supper, I can not answer. If I'm in the middle of something and don't want to be disturbed, I can turn off the mobile phone.
With a telepathic message, you get it all. No matter how offensive the content, no matter how inconvenient the timing. Sure, a wizard might have a way to put some filters in place but I'm talking about vanilla mortals here. I don't think a mortal who is unaware of magic would have any option of blocking an unwanted or unexpected message.
Now I know I am very much in the minority opinion here. I'm cool with that. I'm just throwing the idea out there.
iago:
Well, you're not wrong that it can be used invasively, just as a gun can be used to kill instead of used for target practice on a tin can. But only one of those uses of a gun would count as a violation of the Laws ... the same could be said of thought transmission, in that light.
--- Quote from: mikeryan on July 09, 2007, 11:51:03 PM ---Sending foreign thoughts directly into another persons brain isn't an invasion? I politely but vehemently disagree. The idea of it sets my teeth on edge. It's not as vile as robbing someone of their free will, but it is potentially annoying , inconvenient and down right creepy.
If I'm online and a discussion thread turns into racist propaganda, I can stop reading. If someone walks up to me on the street and tries to sell me (probably) stolen watches, I can walk away. If the phone rings during supper, I can not answer. If I'm in the middle of something and don't want to be disturbed, I can turn off the mobile phone.
With a telepathic message, you get it all. No matter how offensive the content, no matter how inconvenient the timing. Sure, a wizard might have a way to put some filters in place but I'm talking about vanilla mortals here. I don't think a mortal who is unaware of magic would have any option of blocking an unwanted or unexpected message.
Now I know I am very much in the minority opinion here. I'm cool with that. I'm just throwing the idea out there.
--- End quote ---
mikeryan:
--- Quote from: iago on July 10, 2007, 12:17:05 AM ---Well, you're not wrong that it can be used invasively, just as a gun can be used to kill instead of used for target practice on a tin can. But only one of those uses of a gun would count as a violation of the Laws ... the same could be said of thought transmission, in that light.
--- End quote ---
I get where you're coming from. I guess it's kind of like that mind control law. Sure, you can use mind control to get a date with a supermodel, but you could also use mind control to help your pregnant friend kick heroin. Surely that would be a good reason to use mind control, right. ;)
Leaving the offensive stuff behind for a minute. Forget about offending, scaring or confusing a defenseless mortal for kicks. There is still the inconvenience issue, and I don't think there's a work around. Call display is a Godsend, and it allows me to not answer my phone more than I answer it. If I really want to dig into a book or something, I'll unplug the phone and turn off the cell. Come to think of it, Harry unplugs the phone when he's doing big magic too.
So imagine someone who really wants to get into a book, or a doctor who is in the middle of open heart surgery, or a wizard who is so focussed on a delicate magic ritual that he can't spare even a little focus on a call block. Then just at the critical moment, he gets a brain wave. "Hey, we're going to Mac's. Meet us there".
A bit melodramatic, but it's still an invasion of privacy.
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