update from sparkleup
This commit is contained in:
Madison Scott-Clary
parent
542b5f5337
commit
6d3a44acfe
|
|
@ -18,31 +18,31 @@
|
|||
<p>And you know what. You all begin to convince me of this fact. If you have been following the System feeds, you will have doubtless seen the ways in which the System differs from life phys-side in levels completely so completely fundamental that they strain the imagination. We (by virtue of the fact that you are even reading this) have all used the ‘net. To greater or lesser extents, we have all felt the ways in which it is different than ‘real life’. I myself have often found the ways in which tactility differs here from out in the world: there is touch, yes, and there is something akin to the sensation of hot and cold (thermoception, the dictionary tells me), and it obviously could not function without a fairly accurate simulacrum of proprioception. If you don’t know where you end and the rest of the sim begins, it is nigh useless as a shared space.</p>
|
||||
<p>But touch? Touch is subtly different in so many ways. I remarked on this to a friend who is far, far more into the tech side than I am, and he immediately mentioned that he had felt similar. The reason, he explained, is that no matter how hard the implants try, they can only approximate the sensation of touch. Hearing? Fine. We have decoded the phenomenon of sound well enough that we are able to toss sense in there just fine. Smell? Well, that’s a bit more difficult, as I’ve read that there is some funny quantum aspects to that sensation. In the end, however, it is just a matter of simulating chemical interactions well enough.</p>
|
||||
<p>Touch is so inexact, though. For each person it is different, and for each location on the body, the reaction is different. If you touch me on the shoulder, I might turn around to look at you. If you stick your finger in my ear (please don’t) I will likely react much more violently. However, if <em>I</em> stick my finger in my ear, it elicits no such reaction, and can even feel pleasant.</p>
|
||||
<p>Those in the System talk of such varied experiences, but when I brought this up with some friends that I’ve made over there (I’ve been asked to withhold their names), they seemed more confused than anything, and had me try in several ways to describe this difference in touch, the way I sometimes fail to sense a touch, or the way I sometimes feel a strong, sudden pressure (for who has not accidentally stubbed a toe?) with about the same level of intensity of brushing my fingers over a surface.</p>
|
||||
<p>Those in the System talk of such varied experiences, but when I brought this up over the chat-line with some friends that I’ve made over there (I’ve been asked to withhold their names), they seemed more confused than anything, and had me try in several ways to describe this difference in touch, the way I sometimes fail to sense a touch, or the way I sometimes feel a strong, sudden pressure (for who has not accidentally stubbed a toe?) with about the same level of intensity of brushing my fingers over a surface.</p>
|
||||
<p>They said that there is no such issue within there. The dreaming brain is far more capable of coming up with the sensation of touch than the limited version we find in our implants.</p>
|
||||
<p>An example: One of these friends is a furry, which means that her form (what we might think of as an avatar) comes with all the accoutrements that that entails. She has fur, whiskers, and a tail, to put it plainly. Those may come with some expanded sensations via implants, but in there, in the dream, her body knows how they work. She can wag her tail (if that’s a thing that her species does), can feel the ways in which the teeth of a comb move through her fur, can lick her chops, and has even told me that she enjoys having her ears petted. None of these, she told me, were things that she found possible via the ‘net.</p>
|
||||
<p>An example: One of these friends is a furry, which means that her form (what we might think of as an avatar) comes with all the accoutrements that that entails. She has fur, whiskers, and a tail, to put it plainly. Those may come with some expanded sensations via implants, but in there, in the dream, her body knows how they work. She can wag her tail (if that’s a thing that her species does, I don’t know the specifics), can feel the ways in which the teeth of a comb move through her fur, can lick her chops, and has even told me that she enjoys having her ears petted. None of these, she told me, were things that she found possible via the ‘net.</p>
|
||||
<p>This is a complete and total fundamental difference between us phys-side and those who live sys-side.</p>
|
||||
<p>And what a small one, too! Consider the larger ones:</p>
|
||||
<ul>
|
||||
<li><em>Forking:</em> Those who upload can create copies of themselves. Complete and total copies that live and experience completely separate lives. Not only that, but when a fork wants (if a fork wants!) it can merge back with the original copy or persona or whatever you want to call it, and then that persona has the memories of <em>both</em> copies. This beggars the imagination: we simply have no way to <em>actually</em> understand this, bound as we are by the laws of physics.</li>
|
||||
<li><em>Reputation markets:</em> Well, I say bound by the laws of physics, but on a more base level, they are as well. The System only has so much capacity (though it is growing every few months, these days), so in order to limit this potentially boundless expansion, there needs to be some factor which places limits on them, whether it’s strictly for keeping bad actors at bay or simply to conserve space for new arrivals.</li>
|
||||
<li><em>Forking:</em> Those who upload can create copies of themselves. Complete and total copies that live and experience completely separate lives. Not only that, but when a fork wants (<em>if</em> a fork wants!) it can merge back with the original copy or persona or whatever you want to call it, and then that persona has the memories of <em>both</em> copies. This beggars the imagination: we simply have no way to <em>actually</em> understand this, bound as we are by the laws of physics.</li>
|
||||
<li><em>Reputation markets:</em> Well, I say we’re bound by the laws of physics, but on a subtler level, they are as well. The System only has so much capacity (though it is growing every few months, I hear), so in order to limit this potentially boundless expansion, there needs to be some factor which places limits on them, whether it’s strictly for keeping bad actors at bay or simply to conserve space for new arrivals.</li>
|
||||
</ul>
|
||||
<p>But of what use is money to them? They don’t <em>need</em> to eat. They don’t <em>need</em> to pay for travel. There is nothing for them to buy except this capacity to create, which means there is no money changing hands. Instead, they have decided on a currency of reputation. The more you do and interact and contribute, whether it is from being on the Council of Eight or simply having a really good conversation with a friend, you accrue reputation, and it is through this mechanism that one pays for expansion. Create more? Interact more? Gain the <em>ability</em> to create more, the <em>ability</em> to interact more.
|
||||
* <em>Creative potential:</em> This is what happens when you combine the first point with the second. Say you are a mathematician. It can be frustrating to work on a complex problem one step at a time. What if you had more brain power to throw at the problem, and that brain power had <em>exactly the same knowledge</em> going into it? Obviously, there are plenty more situations that require collaboration with other unique individuals, but this alone makes it worthwhile. Already, there have been great contributions to the fields of math, theoretical physics, literature, and sociology/psychology. Hell, some of these are already being used to earn money which is being put to use in the day-to-day demands of the System. For them, though, this is the basis of an economy that cherishes such pursuits. Already, we are seeing more individuals in those fields uploading than any other.</p>
|
||||
* <em>Creative potential:</em> This is what happens when you combine the first point with the second. Say you are a mathematician. It can be frustrating to work on a complex problem one step at a time, and managing a team comes with its own problems. What if you had more brain power to throw at the problem, and that brain power had <em>exactly the same knowledge</em> going into it? Obviously, there are plenty more situations that require collaboration with other unique individuals, but this alone makes it worthwhile. Already, there have been great contributions to the fields of math, theoretical physics, literature, and sociology/psychology. Hell, some of these are already being used to earn money which is being put to use in the day-to-day demands of the System. For them, though, this is the basis of an economy that cherishes such pursuits. Already, we are seeing more individuals in those fields uploading than any other.</p>
|
||||
<p>When I think about all of these facts, I have to admit, I think that you may be right on the question of speciation. It is not just that we cannot interbred with them, for that is a question of biology, and one party lacks that aspect. It is not just that they are not of human stock, for that is demonstrably not the case. But it does come down to a complete and fundamental change in the very fabric of being.</p>
|
||||
<p>The term “post-human” has been thrown around plenty, of course. It mostly fits, too, but I would argue that it also implies some remnant of humanity more than those within the System have (the creation of new, unique post-humans springs to mind). They are something <em>more</em>. They are something <em>different</em>. They are exohumans, perhaps. The language fails.</p>
|
||||
<p>The term “post-human” has been thrown around plenty, of course. It mostly fits, too, but I would argue that it also implies some remnant of humanity other than those within the System have (the creation of new, unique post-humans springs to mind). They are something <em>more</em>. They are something <em>different</em>. They are exohumans, perhaps. Post-biological. The language fails.</p>
|
||||
<p>They are uploads, and we are not.</p>
|
||||
<p>I stand by my firm argument against so many tired and played ones that I have seen. They are beings. A new species, perhaps, but we afford rights to <em>beings</em>. We afford rights to <em>individuals</em>. That they can fork presents new problems, but what has ever stood between humanity and a problem but staunch conservatism?</p>
|
||||
<p>I stand by my firm argument against so many tired and played ones that I have seen. They are beings. A new species, perhaps, but we afford rights to <em>beings</em>. We afford rights to <em>individuals</em>. That they can fork presents new problems, but what has ever stood between humanity and a solution but staunch conservatism?</p>
|
||||
<p>Vote for the granting of rights. Vote yes on <em>referendum 10b30188</em></p>
|
||||
<p>Yared Zerezghi (NEAC)</p>
|
||||
</blockquote>
|
||||
<p>As soon as he received confirmation that his post was visible on the DDR forums, Yared backed out from his rig and headed for the door, stretching a crick out of his spine as he went.</p>
|
||||
<p>This had become routine. The action of posting a particularly frustrating essay to the forums had often been followed by going out for coffee, but now, as soon as he posted, he knew that Councilor Demma would arrive for a debriefing. This had turned into coffee together every two days. Yared would always go to the shop at the end of his street and wait for Demma’s tireless driver to show up, buy three coffees and three pieces of himbasha, and lead him to the car. Sometimes, they drove out past the edge of the city to the fields of low-moisture corn and beans. Sometimes, they drove into the city center by Government House and walk the perimeter.</p>
|
||||
<p>Or, as today, they simply sat in Demma’s car, sipping on coffees and nibbling sweet bread while they talked.</p>
|
||||
<p>“Mr. Zerezghi,” the well-dressed driver said, enough acknowledgement for the day.</p>
|
||||
<p>“Mr Zerezghi,” the well-dressed driver said, enough acknowledgement for the day.</p>
|
||||
<p>The owner of the coffee shop had already made their order as soon as Yared showed his face, so they collected their tray of drinks and food and walked through the late morning heat to the black car that stood idly by.</p>
|
||||
<p>As always, it took Yared a moment to acclimatize to the blast of conditioned air that greeted him when he slipped into the car, so Yosef Demma sipped his coffee and waited until Yared could speak once more.</p>
|
||||
<p>“Mr. Zerezghi, a pleasure to see you as always. How are you? Have you had a good day?”</p>
|
||||
<p>“Mr Zerezghi, a pleasure to see you as always. How are you? Have you had a good day?”</p>
|
||||
<p>“Yes, Councilor,” Yared said, sipping at his coffee to stave off the chill of the air. “I trust that you have as well?”</p>
|
||||
<p>“Quite good, quite good.”</p>
|
||||
<p>The formalities, those were also rote by now.</p>
|
||||
|
|
@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
|
|||
<p>“Of course, Yared. You have your own reasons to argue for individual rights, and we do want to respect those. You must understand, however, that we have the benefit of a team of analysts on our side, and they have determined that, from the Direct Democracy angle, this is the most efficient way forward specifically for the secession movement.”</p>
|
||||
<p>Leaning back into his seat and holding his empty coffee cup in his hands to leach the last bits of warmth from it, Yared sighed. “Of course. And as I mentioned, I’m not necessarily against the arguments you suggested.”</p>
|
||||
<p>The note had come late the night before, delivered via courier, along with an apology that he had been given so little time to work it into his next post. <em>Begin to agree with speciation,</em> it had read, and a tang of distaste tickled at his senses. <em>Not quickly, just hint that you’re being swayed. Say you’re starting to be convinced, but that this only strengthens your arguments.</em></p>
|
||||
<p>Demma reached out a hand for Yared’s cup, as he always did, and crumpled it together with his to dispose of in a waste basket hidden in the back of one of the seats of the car. “Mr. Zerezghi,” he said, bowing slightly in his seat. “Thank you once more. I won’t take up any more of your time. You should have your next suggestion in the next day or two.”</p>
|
||||
<p>Demma reached out a hand for Yared’s cup, as he always did, and crumpled it together with his to dispose of in a waste basket hidden in the back of one of the seats of the car. “Mr Zerezghi,” he said, bowing slightly in his seat. “Thank you once more. I won’t take up any more of your time. You should have your next suggestion in the next day or two.”</p>
|
||||
<p>Yared returned the bow and, as if that were the command he was waiting for, the driver opened the door to let him out into the growing heat of the day. He swayed once more at the shock of the temperature difference.</p>
|
||||
<p>“Yared,” the driver said, nodding, then slid back into the driver’s seat of the car.</p>
|
||||
<p>Once he could walk again without stumbling, he made his way back to his room and out of the sun. It was air conditioned, yes, but the unit in the wall had seen better days. <em>Much</em> better days.</p>
|
||||
|
|
@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
|
|||
<p><strong>Yared:</strong> I felt it got the point across quite nicely.</p>
|
||||
<p><strong>True Name</strong>: That it did.</p>
|
||||
<p><strong>Jonas:</strong> We’ve been tracking the speciation argument, as far as we can see, and it’s an interesting idea. I go back and forth on it. Sometimes, it feels like a distinction without a difference, and sometimes, phys-side ideas just leave me completely baffled. I’ve forgotten how strange the System sounded when I was outside of it.</p>
|
||||
<p><strong>True Name:</strong> Yes. It is a good talking point, but also a line that you should walk carefully. I worry that it will lead the discussion back to the sub-human voices that pop up here and there.</p>
|
||||
<p><strong>True Name:</strong> Yes. It is a good talking point, but also a line that you should walk carefully. I worry that it will lead the discussion back to the “sub-human” arguments that pop up here and there.</p>
|
||||
<p>His heart dropped. So they had picked up on the change.</p>
|
||||
<p><strong>Yared:</strong> I’m worried about that as well. Still, when I’ve argued on the forums in the past, I’ve found that building a strong argument and then slipping a little bit of empathy for the other side nudges them to do the same.</p>
|
||||
<p>A lie, but hopefully a helpful one.</p>
|
||||
|
|
@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
|
|||
<p><strong>True Name:</strong> I GUESS</p>
|
||||
</article>
|
||||
<footer>
|
||||
<p>Page generated on 2021-08-29</p>
|
||||
<p>Page generated on 2021-09-23</p>
|
||||
</footer>
|
||||
</main>
|
||||
<script type="text/javascript">
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
Loading…
Reference in New Issue