I'd allow an opt-out option, myself, for those that just didn't feel like it.
I don't like pressuring people. It's more like, "HAY, WANNA JOIN THE NANOSWARM PARTY? WE'VE GOT SIMULATED BEER. BUT IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT IT'S STILL COOL."
No. While I do consider the whole "single mind" scenario positive, I do not like the idea of transitioning into it from individuality, as that would likely entail retaining awareness of what one has left behind. The likely regret and grief that could ensue is problematic.
No
If we disagree, that much, at least, we have in common
I see the Awesomeness.
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No.
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...well, actually, no. It depends on what you mean by "a single mind" - if you mean "a new mind, which would erase all memories of individuality", then I'd be more inclined to say "yes", but you likely mean "link all humanity in a single mind, retaining memories of individuality", than likely "no".
I don't think it's possible for humans to accurately anticipate what instrumentality would actually feel like. Whether things like "regret", "remorse" or "grief" would still be a factor can't be anticipated.
It's a Blue-and-Orange Morality situation that we just can't wrap our minds around right now.
Hmmmm if I could create Instrumentality...
Nah, wouldn't do it.
Creating some sort of collective mind like Geth might be neat, though. Now, individual geth program is not sentient, but I do wonder what if beings that are already sentient could form a similar network. Each retains each own mind but becomes much, much smarter in a collective due to shared subconsciousness and all that...
If we disagree, that much, at least, we have in common
No, because if we are all the same, one simple virus could kill us all, because our immune systems are the same.
Also, we won't be able to adapt.
Short Hair
How do you know we aren't already in one single mind but choosing to ignore the fact?
Under World. It rocks!
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Did you just call me a tomato?
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![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
That single mind must have some serious case of split personality then. Poor guy
That would essentially mean killing everyone, or at least making them brain-damaged. Loss of anything unique is bad, especially since hatred and suffering are necessary for conscious thought (if you don't hate bad things and feel sad when they happen, you won't attempt to avert or avoid them.) Such people would be mindless, helpless vegetables in practical terms.
A more interesting question might concern something sort of like the Geth thing mentioned above: If people could be made essentially psychic, so that all of humanity knew what everyone else was thinking (sort of like how I imagine Betazed is,) would you do something like that? Would the increase in awareness make up for the loss of privacy? That's a tough question, but I tentatively say no.
Chaotic New Troll
I COULD, but I'd probably drive you all crazy with my obscure references to video game trivia and my tendency to ramble on and on about languages with no clue as to when I'll stop.
Would you kindly click my dragons?
I COULD, but I'd probably drive you all crazy with my obscure references to video game trivia and my tendency to ramble on and on about languages with no clue as to when I'll stop. 
Did you know that this is the plot of a sequel to Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy?
I'd rather die, my free will and individuality is worth more to me than any measure of world peace.
KVLFON
Heh, I wonder what'll happen when Raw Power and the rest of the transhuman crew get here.
"Atheism is the religion whose followers are easiest to troll"
Yes. The whole is more than the sum of its parts. The difference between the current bunch of humans and a single entity of billions of minds would be like the difference between a bunch of brain cells and a human brain.
^
We wouldn't be human in such a form, we would be something entirely different. If this is a good thing or not is open to interpretation and YMMV.
Depends on how the single mind works. It's a fairly vague concept.
Why does every one always jump to the total assimilation? I enjoy my novelty of experience. It would be cool to try to do it with, say, one person I really liked.
But everyone? Who the fuck even thinks that's a good idea?
| DA Page | Sketchbook |
If you found out you had the choice to join every human in the world into one single mind and reduce hatred and suffering at the cost of reduced human individuality (i'm saying "reduced" because I believe nothing is ever eliminated, simply suppressed), would you do it?