[ubuntu-za] Subliminal Message Software

[Vijay Makanjee]

Dr. Johan P. Prinsloo wrote, On 13/05/2009 17:32:
> Trevor Hughes wrote:
>> On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 2:57 PM, LordFoom <lordfoom at gmail.com> wrote:
>>   
>>> Just because it can be used for any purpose doesn't mean we have to
>>> assist people in pursuing those purposes.
>>>
>>>     
>> Now I feel I have to make a comment here.
>>
>> Since you do not know the terms under which the research will be
>> conducted you are just jumping to conclusions. The original poster
>> seems quite transparent in his intentions and one would think that if
>> he wanted to be misleading any one he could have worded his request
>> differently.
>>
>> This list - I thought - was about helping with Ubuntu and not making
>> moral judgments particular when you have no facts.
>>
>> So how about helping me then.....
>>
>> I want to be able to flash subliminal messages to myself while I use a
>> computer - I am hoping to motivate myself and quit smoking. I have
>> found plenty of software to do this under Windows but not too much for
>> Linux and particularly Ubuntu.
>>
>> I have found xsublim and some info how to get it working with Copiz
>> and GNome. Does any one here have any other suggestions or tips on
>> xsublim?
>>
>> Trev
>>
>>   
> Dear Trevor,
> 
> Thank you for your assistance and advice, we shall be investigating it
> thoroughly as I would prefer using linux machines in this project as
> licensing, costs and other issues are not as problematic. You responded
> to my request and provided assistance in accordance with my posting,
> which I appreciate and respect.
> 
> In terms of the National Health Act 2004, (Act 61 of 2004) any research
> must be registered with the National Health Research Committee. The term
> used in my original posting clearly stated "research project", which
> anyone involved in scientific research would know implies a research
> proposal to be approved by a research committee, which would further
> imply scrutiny by a research ethics committee, which would further imply
> registration with the National Health Research Committee.  As chairman
> of the relevant research ethics committee I'm responsible for ensuring
> all informed consent requirements are adhered to. My original posting
> further mentioned "for improving productivity in the workplace", which I
> would consider a worthwhile cause. Seeing as the University concerned
> had passed the research proposal and considered it of value to the
> industry I doubt it would be used for anything sinister or for World
> Domination.
> 
> I'm nevertheless impressed to see that people in South Africa have
> become aware of their rights in this regard and ask relevant questions
> when proposed research is discussed in public forums. I just wish that
> when people visit their health care providers (Doctors, etc.) they would
> also ask more questions and ensure that the providers meet the
> requirements for informed consent and ethics in their rooms. I wonder
> how of the people who jumped on this request realise that they should be
> signing informed consent forms at their physiotherapist, doctor, etc,
> even for a procedure as simple as an injection.
> 
> Notwithstanding the above, I must admit that I'm quite taken aback by
> the hint of Illuminatiism and "big brother" attitude of some
> respondents, particularly as this is an open source Linux / Ubuntu
> forum. I have not read any complaints regarding the subliminal Micro$oft
> based products freely available on the internet. People should attempt
> to think before attacking with insulting responses and rather first ask
> and become more informed. But to open a response to a simple request for
> assistance with words like "This is highly unethical" is nothing but an
> insult to one's intelligence and integrity, particularly where it is a
> generally and well-known fact that researchers have to adhere to
> legislated ethical requirements for research in South Africa.
> 
> Dear Trevor, Quintin and Simone, your objective unbiased input, support
> and assistance is much appreciated. As I am strictly an Ubuntu person
> with all of my PC's at home and business running on nothing other than
> Ubuntu, I feel it important to do this research on a OS I trust and
> believe in as I am a great supporter of the Ubuntu philosophy.
> 
> We as Ubuntu and Linux supporters should use every opportunity to
> promote our product and create awareness of Ubuntu and Linux. Even our
> e-mail signatures should be utilised as it is free advertising. My
> signature on html e-mails contain the following words as standard :
> 
> *This e-mail was generated with Mozilla Thunderbird on Ubuntu Linux 9.04
> <http://www.ubuntulinux.org/products/whatisubuntu>
> Wise people use Linux
> Wise Linux users run Ubuntu <http://www.ubuntulinux.org/>*
> 
> I am a damn proud Ubuntu user and I advertise the fact and I shall
> employ Ubuntu Linux at every opportunity and where I have the influence
> to do so.
> 
> Kind regards.
> 
> Johan
> 
> 
Johan

The detailed explanation helps. (As an aside, my brother - a doctor -
was often made to use medication which some drug company was testing.
When he asked about the protocols being used, the response was that it
was passed by the ethics committee of the university. But, and this is
the important thing, the patient who was being 'experimented' on was not
informed!) Having been around government for some time esp the DOH, I
frankly am very sceptical of their overall ethics anyway.

However there is always a danger when using subliminal messages. I
suppose the issue is what message is being used. Given the nature of the
transmission, the message itself is so fleeting that it remains in the
viewers mind although s/he does not remember it as an actual message. In
fact there are these messages being transmitted to us all the time from
a variety of media! Perhaps even the Ubuntu marketing is one of these!!

I am aware that there are other OS which have readymade software which
is used. But we are linux users - and some of us tend to have strong
opinions - perhaps articulated in the manner that is not always calm or
appropriate.

Anyway your explanation is there and what it has done is raised a debate
aside from the technology to enable the message being transmitted. So
that is good.