> On Sep 28, 4:35pm, Geoff Smith wrote:
>
> } > come to pass. Also, the computers might take over at some point, or they
> } > might also see some advantage in cooperation.
> } I cannot see a highly superior population of autonomous computers caring
> } one bit about collaboration with human beings. This would be like us
> } colloborating with mosquitoes... why would we do it? They're
>
> Why do people keep dogs? Cats? Plants? Dumber than we are, and a
> drain on our material resources. But they amuse some of us, and humans
> might amuse 'superior' minds. At least humans are sentient and
> capable of language.
Excellent point, and it give me yet another reason to try to prevent
computers from surpassing my intelligence: I don't want to be a pet. If I
end up being one, I think I will have to take some funky drugs to be
content staying that way.
Side point: Do you think if humans were to become the pets of a superior
power, they would evolve to become less intelligent, like domesticated
cats and dogs? This might solve the "funky drug" problem for my children.
> In _Excession_ a ship-Mind talked about the interest it took in the
> affairs of the humans aboard it, and how it liked to see things to
> completion, which led to it hosting one specially for forty years. In
> "State of the Art" the ship is alleged to like to hook humans up
> with each other. "The Arbitrary had an oddly heterosexual bent."
> I think these attitudes are plausible.
Sounds plausible to me. ;)
Another Side Point: I find I'm envious of extropian list-members'
knowledge of science fiction. I've read minimal amounts, so most of the
ideas taken for granted by some of the more well-read people are entirely
new to me. Then again, this deficit forces me to be creative since I have
no sci-fi to quote.
geoff.