That Will Never Work!

[nathan1233521]

you sir are a genious (but i still beleive in god)

[thepowerofozone]

you can brake down any idea by bringing it to the extreme. i don't have to have an answer to every 'if' to have a point or a workable solution. SPOT ON!!!!!!!

[williamskidfears]

I.e. "We must cultivate our garden."

[ConradW]

I like this. I like the challenging and provocative and dare I say revolutionary message.

"I'm too young to be a cynic" - Me.

[dlucas90]

In other words, to complain without providing a solution is to bitch.

[wherewasyou]

i like this. sometimes if i put a facebook update that is a bit "out there" people just start putting critical comments on without offering any input of their own. now i now to stay well away from that discussion

[mmsayre]

The last sentence in this video is spot on.

[dontyouwannabecool]

civilized human beings are deathly afraid to lose their "standard of living."

god forbid there's no plumbing!

[prognemesiss]

those were some very wise (and fast) words.

you might have needed to slow down for the that certain group, who has difficulty hearing/ listening to a good point (not to insult with hearing problems)

[herpesstud]

does protean like pink hole?

[prognemesiss]

sorry, but what do you mean by "pink hole"?

i can think a dozens of possible things which could be a hole, with the color pink.

also, what does this have to do with the video?

it like asking an architect why strawberries are red instead of rainbow?

it makes no sense.

please makes sensable questions or remarks

[LonnyFrank]

If you do not know what pink hole he is talking about, then maybe you should get out more. But yeah, it has absolutely nothing to do with the video. Which I am sure his comment is as empty as his brain.

[undergreyforest]

Agree 100%.

[mhicnanolc]

Proto: I might still be shaking off the effects of a summer Sunday of too much beer, but I haven't a clue what what you just said....

[looperdude2009]

this crack head is a product of inner city ghetto education

[mmsayre]

yea i can barely understand him and his monosyllabic grunts, why can't he learn to form a sentence?

Sarcasm

[WakeUpBe4itz2late]

The picture you have on your profile does make you look like a serial killer with their eyes caught in the headlights.

[ethervagabond]

What are you talking about? What-ifs are ABOUT intellectually pursuing the ins and outs of an idea to see whether or not it's valid. By your logic, it would be a good idea to move to the desert and go, "what are we going to do about water? oh well, I have some canteens here, I'll figure out water when I run out." Then you die of thirst. Consider that some people ask what if as a basis of being genuinely interested in, and not dismissive of, the validity of an idea.

[OnixIsis]

yup. absolutely.

[crewlla]

I find that the what ifers all the worst type of worry warts. I would never rely on them if I was stranded out some were they would drive me up the wall. there like a two year old child that never grew up. instead of why its what if.

[Gaisko]

Innovation is the answer to the questions themselves. You need questions to start the engine of innovation, but all too often it is the wrong questions to make it possible. For example, Instead of asking, "How are we going to get water?", the more appropriate question would be "How much water do we need to quench everyone's thirst?"

[cottonwhiskersuk]

Don't ask "why?", ask "why not?".

[DBVPSlayer]

why the hell are there ads for improving your golf swing on your video?

LMAO

that's the last thing that comes to my mind when i watch your vids.

[izakmd]

"That will never work" is the complete failure of rationalism. What if Christ became a rationalist and said, "Well, I'm just a peasant carpenter, it is statistically improbable that anyone will listen to me"? The truth is that going out and trying to attempt one's goals is not vanity. It's merely going fishing in the world of facts. Whether a man is met with success or failure is immaterial, and this rationalist reluctancy is always a coward's route. Period.

[practicalmagic9]

your point is well taken, but among these people there are those who are asking "what if" in order to find solutions to possible flaws in a plan.i tend to be a what if person, and have learned to use this quality to be a problem solver and see the possible refinements in a plan.however in the end the only way to KNOW is to do a thing and then make adjustments.

[MOONDOGGIESWTF]

I'm not so concerned with the "What ifs" but more interested in the thinking behind this idea because it is mostly flawed.

If I had a serious infection or disease where one of the minor symptoms was mild nausea I would not focus much, if any effort into trying to alleviate my upset tummy, rather I would go for the root cause.

There is nothing wrong with money; there is something however extremely wrong with government, central banks, and statism as a whole.

[Mortello]

I've had a similar experience: I said a cartoon utopia where in a world where everyone gets what they want wouldn't be happy simple because of the greed of the few that want what others can't get. I got called out on how such a society would work and pinned on the mechanics rather then them focusing on the outlook of the human perception; they completely missed the point. I'm sure you might have had a similar thought.

[twinsouls]

True sometimes people question things cause they are affraid but others point things out cause of statistics and facts.Yet they will both be called "Negative" How? I say I wont play lotto cause MOST LIKELY I will loose.I will not marry cause I will Lose.Same thing and statisticaly acurrate but yet I would be called NEGATIVE.WTF?

[bubblesort]

Critical voices might just be trying to have a conversation about your idea. You can't think of everything yourself. Why not take advantage of the input people are offering? Cutting yourself off from a discussion isn't the answer. Ideas develop and spread when people engage with them. Sometimes that means answering critics. Don't let the critics get you down, though. Just work with them. See what they can contribute. People are offering input. Don't throw it away.

[robertantonnyc]

what if you don't make it? Bah Humbug. What if you don't try? THAT is the question.

[katiatomsk]

Good point. People need to open their minds and be resourceful. We are not taught or challenged to be resourceful anymore.

[SecretTrollAccount1]

Interesting video Protean.

[herpesstud]

@secret STFU you fuckin troll! BLOCKED!

[genericfighter]

Sir, I wondered why I had subscribed to you channel, and you have just shown me. nice work, you hit the nail on the head.

[Lurple]

The amount of satisfaction you get from life depends on your own ingenuity, self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. People who wait around for life to supply them satisfaction usually find boredom instead.

[ReverendAtomSmasher]

Nice!

[proteusview]

InTheEndIWasRight

Indeed a perfect example... and one that requires more patience to explain than I possess or can spare

[IHaveYourSealab]

the mind is the same all over the world.

the evidence is beautiful

[d0md0mt0mt0m]

Also a lot of people are like, for example, if I say we should build a big tower, some one would say "what if it get's destroyed by an earthquake?" In my mind, this is the same logic as "I won't put on my socks coz I'll just have to take them off again tonight"

[uzoma0024]

good point. I believe it is fear that stops people from exploring or creating new ideas. The fear of failure.

[3dw0rd]

EXACTLY! People who will criticize any idea or any approach that hasn't been explored or tested. They try to negate any forward or progressive thinking, normally with a superior or condescending attitude, with a million reasons of why you CAN'T do something, most of them breaking down to IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, or WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY. They don't think, they hide behind convention and consider it "wisdom." Not only in philosophical terms. In practical ones as well. Thank you!

[proteusview]

3dw0rd

I like the point you make about it being masked as wisdom.

[UniqueExposures]

Your absolutely right. The "What If" people need to take a min and think for themselves. Good vid.

[proteusview]

Often times they can answer the questions themselves, if think about it. They'd rather tell you what won't work, however.

[god0fmusic]

yea, that's great what you say, lol.

i'm sick of answering what ifs about anarchy...

"what if someone kills someone, what if someone steals, what if some guy comes along..."

irrelevant questions. anarchy is like zen. it's about how you apply it, not about how you conceptualize it.

this goes for everything, not just anarchy. i just wanted to use this example.

[EuroInvicta]

Well Protean, I kinda disagree.... the innovators and 'what if-ers' are two sides of the same coin. For every innovator, someone else needs to go 'wait a minute, will that really work?' Those 'what if' questions are the initial steps to the 'how' question. It would be foolish not to consider the 'what if's'. We need all types of minds in this world for it to be balanced. Fine if you wanna consider yourself an innovator, but you need to respect those different from YOU. They're valid too.

[Fanatism]

You're kind of right, but a lot of those 'what if-ers' are automatically negative to any new alternative innovations without even trying to see the possibilities. There's a difference between constructive criticism and ignorant criticism.

[proteusview]

Fanatism

Constructive criticism is great. Seems terminal criticism is about something else altogether. What's worse than that is those who don't even make an effort to consider how something can work.

[x0TheJackal0x]

man i love this video

[punished4honesty]

The Merchant of Venice. Shylock wants his pound of flesh for MONEY. He admits he can't trade the flesh for esteem or money, but - THE DEBT must be paid. That to me explained money. It is a concept of evil that replace cooperation/survival/leadershi­p based on ABILITY for the survival of the group

[punished4honesty]

human species began - like how a George Romero Zombie apocalypse is. SURVIVE. Humans were SURVIVORS. The 'environment' is Thanatos. You are screwed. Hide alone - you eventually starve. You start cooperation. As a TEAM you survive, the pack, clan, tribe, family. NEEDS Tinker/thinking guy, leadership, some kind of rules/punishment against betrayal. SOME take RISK salvaging things you need. Others are not so useful - but you feed them. Money-concept is alien to humans. Never worked but for evil

[MOONDOGGIESWTF]

there is not much to explore behind this idea, at least not until hugely important factors are dealt with first, get rid of central banks then government, progress to a highly educated, wealthy and free society. Then you can maybe talk about getting rid of money although at that point there would probably be no need.

[DecentralizedByGuilt]

fair trade ends the reign of central banks. Not open free market capitalism.

Step one to being able to get a people to govern themselves is- Constitutional Direct Democracy

[CinemaSounds]

You know what I do Ed when people tell me That Will Never Work? I usually drop my fuckin' pants down and say "Believe me, that WILL work" ;-)

People are always going to be talking shit not matter what you do. So when people say things you don't agree with or how you should live, just nod your head, don't argue with them, and do what you want to do.

[KagarBeardtooth]

So, you're in favor of doing away with money.

Are you in favor of replacing the current system with some type of barter system?

[scotsmanlerxt]

Point well taken. Many great minds were dismissed as crazy before their ideas swept the globe. If you want to succeed, you must proceed in a way others think is insane.

[Mysticblue1212]

Ah, but what if you are wrong? ROTFL, I am sorry, I just had to say that. I actually agree with you on this issue.

[raythetse]

When people continually come up with "What if.." questions, what they are really doing is looking for an excuse to give up and stay home.

[NowisEvollovetion]

"What If" is used by the mind to stiffe change, it is an attempt to keep things 'EXACTLY' the same.

'NO MIND LIKES CHANGE', most people as their (false) personality are 'SET' (like concrete) IN 'THEIR WAYS' (opinions, beliefs etc).

That is why to wake them (the majority) up, to the current problems we are facing in this world is so 'DAMN DIFFICULT'.

They are the WORLD OF THE 'LIVING DEAD'.

[StuffedAnimalAdvisor]

I'll agree with you on the part of staying out of the innovator's way.

But while they can build and refine the initial idea, those what if questions do become important if you are going to make something lasting.

[CaptainFrantic]

Excellent and thought provoking as usual. Funnily enough, on my latest blog entry (which just lists topics I'm going to cover in the future) I state that I intend to tackle this very issue. I'm sick to death of people saying to me (as an anarchist) "Stop talking about the problems in government if you haven't got any answers". Such a stupid and small minded remark. I now say to them "then stop saying that cancer is a problem unless you can provide a cure!"

[rhalas]

You're actually right about us not needing money. In fact the planet would be FAR better without it. HAve you watched the film Zietgeist: Addendum yet? I'm pretty sure it's available on youtube.

[DeraJa]

I believe a barter and gift economy are the most morally evolved and virtuous ways to conduct human interaction. But at the same time, there are many economic problems that arise from a barter/gift economy which may only be solved through money. In spite of this, I still hold barter/gift economy as an ideal. Great video!

[08071987]

they will always ask the wat if questions if they disagree with an Idea

if ones idea is different to their idea to addressing an issue they will oppose with questions that cross examines the idea

Its just the first step to debate and when it comes to debate one has to defend his/her idea/opinions from the opposition

And vice versa one must ask the wat if question in order to defeat an idea they think will serve no purpose be too dangerous or result in side effects more than the sentiment

[marconospam]

Good video. You can see this question ad absurdum used by mainstream media all the time to try to invalidate ideas they don't like.

[Chrisnoscrub047]

aw I remember that vid!

Dude, you made a video on this topic in the past. Its about one person being able to point at a system and showing the flaws yet other people won't acknowledge the flaws as flaws unless that first person comes up with a "better idea".

[xprincexofxsavagesx]

When I was an anarchist, I was asked one of those situational questions. All anarchists know the question well. I told him that if he tried, he'd have to die.

That was before I knew of my close relation to royalty. Now I'm on the other side. So I'm much more humane.

[Brandt761]

What's the situational question?

And what does royalty have to do with it?

[xprincexofxsavagesx]

Almost verbatim: "What if it(as if it were some organization) just relapsed into a State?"

Nothing but myself. I'm arrogant, live with it.

[Brandt761]

Ach so. Well, usually, it should automatically relapse. As soon as you take authority away, it seems inevitable that groups should band together for protection, this making their own authority.

Your arrogance is fine. However, should any member of your family ever try to assert themselves as rulers in my country...well, same thing as your answer to the situational question, really.

[DeraJa]

why aren't you an anarchist anymore?

[xprincexofxsavagesx]

Anarchy doesn't offer anything. I'm nothing but me now.

[DeraJa]

so what are you? a stirnerian egoist then? Doesn't that still sort of make you an anarchist?

[proteusview]

DeraJa

Who says I'm not anymore?

I'm just trying to live up to my name. ;)

[Brandt761]

No, actually, not having answers to serious questions does make your idea less workable, at least as it is. Now, idk how serious these problem scenarios were...But for instance, without money, how are you gonna determince the value of any goods? Trade without money is virtually impossible, impractical at best. And without trade, what kind of society do you have?

Stuff like that.

[Brandt761]

Sure, if you like the desert, you can live there. What you can't do is move a majority of people to the desert and expect that to be a good idea, or for people to like it.

[RealBlack1]

Man! you strike me as a deep brotha' Someone i could actually learn something from. Your cool!

[Brandt761]

Thanks...sometimes I wonder if I'm too mean to people, but hopefully I have a point.

[DeraJa]

you are missing the point brandt. The point is that in spite of the countless advantages of money, there are also issues, and you wont even be able to see the issues until you stop looking at things in cold economic terms.

[Brandt761]

Humm...sure. But there are also countless problems with agriculture. Trust me, the human race would be happier without it.

But okay...eliminate money. What's the society gonna look like, then? No more exchange of goods means you'll only ever have the bare necessities. Of course, more people might have those, if you're lucky.

[Nate2203]

you don't need more than the bare necessities...

[Brandt761]

Right...you go live with the bare necessities. Like i said, it's fine for you to go live in the dessert, but don't expect others to follow suit.

[andrewh817]

No more exchange of goods?? You'd actually have to have something to trade to get what you want instead of paper someone said has value.

[Brandt761]

Yeah...well, I'll trade you one of my shoes and my

ACDC Black Ice- Metal Box Set for your ideas...

Of course, you can always just use gold to trade. That has actual value.

[GUIDOBRAT]

you'd give up Angus Young?..lol

[Brandt761]

On second thought...no way, man!

[GUIDOBRAT]

lol...yeah, I knew you'd have a 2nd thought about that..

(Bon Scott would roll over in his grave, man...)

[Brandt761]

What? Of course he's rolling in his grave: He's Bon Scott.

Anyways, I was making sure to mention something I actually own and care about. But of course it doesn't work. If I had to give up my copy of Civilization IV in order to get Hearts of iron III, I'd be very upset indeed.

[GUIDOBRAT]

well, for me..someone would have to put a .357 Magnum to my head in order for me to give up any of my Beatles or Stones stuff....and EVEN THEN I'd have to think about it...

[Brandt761]

Rolling Stones? don't even own their music. Beatles...not that much of a biggie. But my Queen, ACDC, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath stuff I'd fight a World War over.

[herpesstud]

@brandt you know they do backwards masking! there are satanic subliminal messages when played backwards. YIKES! just dont' do it baby. thanks. have a blessed one.

[Brandt761]

Which one?

[Brandt761]

What? ACDC, demonic? Noooo, it can't be, it's a lie!

[herpesstud]

ac/dc stand for anti christ/devil's children! SIN!

[Brandt761]

You don't say? I suppose if you play Dirty Deeds backwards, you will hear Bon Scott telling you he's on "the road to the underworld" or something like that?

[herpesstud]

i think you're making fun but it affects your psyche. shouldn't feed on satanic negativity baby. just tryin ta help ya. thanks

[Brandt761]

Right...how is that bad for me? Also...herpesstud. And there's no hidden message in there at all?

[RevSpike]

That Betrand Russell quote is great, and right on! It is a similar thought that has been going through my mind a lot lately. seems to me most folks are motivated not by learning/growing/changing because it is painful in that then they must admit to themselves that they might be wrong. worse is they are more concerned that OTHERS will think they are wrong and see them as weak.

I could go on a while about this subject.

[ohgoodlord]

Please take a quick look at this anime called "Arjuna". It's very significant to your video about humans not needing money.

[elliefinnt]

I hear what he's saying. Some people are more interested in picking you and your ideas apart than listening with an open mind. Those are the same kind of people who say every song has already been sung, why bother?

He's talking to all of us. I think you had a wild eyed account photo when I subscribed to you. You looked so different, I almost judged you. Then I decided to give you a chance and I'm glad I did. Woulda been my loss.

[Mekel343]

annotation explosion!

[knaifer]

I like what you are saying BUT there is a fine line between asking reasonably and going too far.

I think that line is so thin that its very hard for people to notice it and so they just cross it

[zndprophet]

I can relate to what you're saying a lot. I like how you talk about the WAY we talk about things, and not just more of the same about WHAT we talk about.

I get what you're saying, but I'm sure it's still lost on a lot of other people.

There's a common quote I'm sure most people know, but we seem to have forgotten:

"Where there's a will there's a way"

I get pessimistic, but not because things are impossible-but because people THINK they are impossible.

[proteusview]

zndprophet

You read me like a book.

[lightleague]

Pro, you should write a book... at least one of those coffeetable or (God forbid) one of those quick philosophy books some people keep for bathroom reading. No offense meant. ;-) You're very clever.

[cannedhuman2000]

You made some really good points there. Good vid

[HaleyMary]

Excellent point made in this video. Especially it not being worth answering the what ifs. the what ifs would all be circumstantial anyway. if the what ifs don't occur, then there are no what if scenarios to be concerned about.

[TheAnimalPeople]

Slow down the speech a bit.  We're not all valley girls.

[efilorpnagev]

Good point made in this video.

Some people are far to critical to the suggestion of any unconventional ideas to the point of being cynical.

If people held such cynical views we would still be stuck very far back in the past.

We can't have absolute certainty,this is something cynical people fail to realize.

Sometimes the approach shoud just simply be to try and see what happens,and if it fails,it fails.

Then you can know for sure whether an idea was worth putting into practice or not.

[Dnaem]

Geological sciences can tell you if the desert area is prone to having aquifers. Chemical sciences can turn oil into water. Structural engineering can design a aquaduct and build it.

But all of these things are not immediately obvious. In fact, some of these things are so complex, a person may have no knowledge of them. Sometimes technology and society has to advance to the point where they're even remotely able to ask the right question.

[PinkProgram]

What if humans could really think? ^_^ Maybe then you'd actually get things done ;)

6 billion humans and only a few thousand actually using their brains :)

[efilorpnagev]

@ Pink Program.

I agree,most people are thick and parasitically dependent on the few people who actually use their brain's :P

@ Dnaem.

"Chemical sciences can turn oil into water."

Thats not chemically possible,water is H2O ,

oil is hydrocarbons.

Graphite can turned into diamonds since both are pure carbon.

Much of the past has shown that things such as medicines worked inspite of doctors not knowing for a long time how these various medicines actually worked.

[staticbb]

I like what if

It allows you to cover all bases.

[GlendaMarx]

I love it when someone asks What if?...my answer,,,Do it and find out the answer. If you are too scared to find out, stop asking the stupid question.

You are always better off finding out yourself,,,,good or bad result, doesn't matter ,,you have found the answer at least.

[BayAreaLen]

"If, then how?" "If, then how?" "If, then how?"

I'm always accused of being a conspiracy theorist, and the phenomenon you speak of equally as plaguing stands only slow down the process of kicking over rocks to understand this world a little better.

[TheSecondCuming]

true that, it always pisses me off when people use the "what if" argument but its funny that this is coming from someone making an entire video about " what if all the industries just banded together to form cartels in the free market??" .... just saying

[Arppis]

It kinda sucks when people start saying: "You can't do that because no one else hasn't!", or you can't do something because it is difficult.

[MotionFur]

You can make basically any idea break down if you take it to the absolute extremes.

[DeraJa]

not really

[Ubah007]

you talk too fast

[nate556]

but... what if he didn't talk too fast ? *sly grin*

[Ubah007]

he would be talking slower

[Silveracity]

The ocean is a desert, with its life underground,

And a perfect disguise above.

Under the cities lies, a heart made of ground,

But the humans will give no love.

[proteanview]

...It felt good to be out of the rain.

[givebirthathome]

I was thinking about pointless comments...and I decided that schools kind of teach that along with other "hidden curriculums".  You are supposed to say something whether you have anything to say really, or not.

[GUIDOBRAT]

..in the desert you can remember your FRICCIN' name..because there ain't no one there to give you no FRICCIN' pain..

lol

[nate556]

I love that song.

[hume12345]

so true. i call these 'what if'ers' the youtube generation. you call also find them on newsgroups and academic life.

[mobby32]

nice

[farhmoha]

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