That's definitely a different way to look at it. I remember that post from him and I wasn't even heading in that direction. It's interesting though just how true it is about people not having original thoughts anymore.

Science fiction books have been playing with it for a long time.

I can't help but think of John Wyndam's The Chrysalids. Have you read it? In a post apocalyptic world (post nuclear) they kill children born with deformities to keep the bloodlines pure, as well as mutated crops. Some people with genetic mutations end up or escape to The Badlands, a kind of borderland on the edge of this fanatic community.

The one thing they can't detect is telepathy, however, and the children who have it keep it a secret from the others. When they are discovered, they go on the run.

The idea of this new type of human is quite positive - greater empathy, ability to work together etc.

So you're in love with her?' she went on. A word again ... When the minds have learnt to mingle, when no thought is wholly one's own, and each has taken too much of the other ever to be entirely himself alone; when one has reached the beginning of seeing with a single eye, loving with a single heart, enjoying with a single joy; when there can be moments of identity and nothing is separate save bodies that long for one another ... When there is that, where is the word? There is only the inadequacy of the word that exists. 'We love one another,' I said.

The microchip, however, is nightmarish indeed. We are already losing our ability to think, our uniqueness. If this eventuated, I'd be hiding out in the hills somewhere - in the badlands with other technologically deformed folk.

You have a microchip in your head, it's only a matter of time before they get this to connect to wifi and boom, you have the internet in your head.

And hackers. And mind control. And we would not even know it. And we would not even know what else too either.

I would not accept putting microchip in my brain.

Intelligence may even become less important, because we all will have AI in our heads to help us out.

Help us out? I would not be so sure about that.

Needless to say, when this happens, this will really shake up society.

Or rather ruin it.

What interests me though is what happens when you have these constant streams of other peoples' thoughts going through your head constantly?

I do not want that. I am good with my own thoughts.

I don't think it's a stretch to say unless we are careful, we will face the very real problem of forgetting ourselves.

This is very much possible. And not necessarily because of the thoughts of other people.

Having all of these thoughts in your head, you might start to wonder... wait, did I think that or did he think that? Which thought was mine? And so on. What happens when we can no longer accurately tell our own thoughts from other peoples' thoughts?

Insanity. Craziness.

Do we all become the same?

The same mindless slaves.

There would be no "we", and no "I" either.

Do we start to mentally merge in some weird Star Trek-esque way where one person starts a sentence and another finishes it?

Rather one person start a sentence (command), and many will do it, without even being aware of it.

What might the psychological impact of this interconnectedness be?

Indescribable. Unthinkable.

Would society be improved or destroyed?

With a thing like a microchip in people's brain? Rather destroyed. Just like personalities, individual thoughts and consciousness.

What do you think? Sci-fi nonsense? Stoner talk?

Or maybe a planned future reality.

Heard a song which goes... "Life is but a dream." Someday science might have some interesting discoveries which I hope to witness in my lifetime. Always looking forward to reading your articles. !BBH

Carl Jung had some interesting ideas about this (not micro-chips 😁) in his concept of the collective unconscious; there are also ideas about collective memory, especially in communities that have experienced tragedies, and how that shapes identity; and Lev Vygotsky explored lots of ideas about how identity is created. The consensus seems to be: generally not in our control. And this is before we get to micro-chips 😅

The Danger of a Digital Collective Consciousness – Memories of the Future?

Introduction
In the world of Star Trek, the Borg are a formidable, highly advanced species that gain an enormous advantage through their collective intelligence and instant sharing of knowledge and experiences. Every individual within the collective is connected to the group, dissolving individual consciousness. But what happens if this type of collective intelligence doesn’t remain in science fiction and starts becoming a reality?

The Idea of a Collective Consciousness
The notion of uniting into a collective consciousness as a society isn’t new. Already, we are constantly exposed to the thoughts, opinions, and ideas of others. Through social media and technological advancements, our thought streams are increasingly intertwined. But could this lay the foundation for a genuine collective consciousness that transcends individual minds?

The Theory: Memories of the Future
An intriguing theory to consider here ties into Einstein’s theory of relativity, which suggests that time expands and contracts. What if history isn’t linear but rather memories of a future that repeats itself endlessly? An eternal cycle where we find ourselves in the same moments, yet armed with knowledge and experiences from both the past and the future. Could it be that we’re not only connecting with the thoughts of others but with a collective memory that transcends time and space?

The Danger of Digital Control
However, the idea of a digital collective consciousness comes with dark implications. What if this consciousness isn’t solely fed by human thoughts and experiences but controlled by a central digital entity? In today’s world, where increasing amounts of information and data are digitally recorded and centrally stored, we must ask: what happens when this knowledge is no longer decentralized but controlled by a single entity?

Imagine a powerful corporation or government being able to monitor and manipulate the thoughts and knowledge of an entire society—a scenario that could threaten the very concepts of freedom and individuality. What happens to free will when all information and thoughts are channeled through a single system? When we no longer have control over what we know or think?

Conclusion
The concept of a collective consciousness enabled by technology is fascinating yet deeply unsettling. The danger lies not just in evolving into a united intelligence but in that intelligence being centrally controlled—a notion reminiscent of dystopian science fiction. But what if what we see as the “future” isn’t just a linear sequence of events but memories of a recurring history? A cycle trapping us in an illusion of freedom and control.

Question for the Community
What do you think? Are we already part of a collective consciousness, and if so, how much does it influence us? And more importantly, how dangerous could it become if this consciousness is not only collective but also digital and centrally controlled?

These are some interesting concepts will talk about them soon in a post...

Thought exercises like this are truly fascinating. I believe we are evolving in the direction you describe, and social media has been a massive game-changer in this shift. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that many people no longer form their own opinions. Instead, they scroll through social media, adopting the biases and beliefs of the “alphas” they follow. When it comes to "reading" articles, most seem to skim headlines or small snippets of text, forming opinions without being able to articulate the reasoning behind them.

Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-chip interface, is already being tested in patients and is likely to scale and evolve rapidly.

Yesterday, I came across a video where Steven Greer discusses the future of human consciousness. It's fascinating, but like many in this space, I remain cautious about the legitimacy of the claims. When someone’s career depends on capturing attention, there’s always the temptation to sensationalize—but it does give us something to think about.

After thirty years of meditation, I’ve come to believe that consciousness is a universal field of intelligence we all tap into. If we can collectively understand and harness this on a global scale, it could free us from our current evolutionary stagnation. The challenge will be to achieve this balance while preserving our individuality.