A consciousness spread across multiple minds, multiple bodies, would doubtless experience the world very differently than an individual. How would it experience sensations? Ordinarily, it is difficult to shut off unwanted perceptions of the world, such as the pain of a burn; doing so requires years of training. How would this pain be perceived if it is experienced by one mind among dozens? Thousands? I would guess, as the number of shared minds grows, the sensations experienced dilute. But if this is true, then as a hive grows, it becomes useless. A one million strong mind may not be able to sense the world around it, simply because all perceptions are so individually tiny. Perhaps it works as we believe insects do: a hive would be able to detect sensations, but with detachment. A body being shot would not register pain, but damage. However, this leads to another question: how is pleasure perceived? A joke might soon become simply clinically recognized as funny, with no emotional reaction. An excellent steak might become simply sustenance.
General thoughts?
Question related to Zor's recent topic:
Moderator: NecronLord