From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Tue Jun 03 2003 - 14:23:31 MDT
On Tue, Jun 03, 2003 at 01:10:28PM -0400, Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>
> Harv: (loudly) We're just wasting our lives pretending to be on the cutting
> edge when we're not!
>
> (At this point the loud music in the bar has just reached dramatic pause and
> Harv's outburst echoes in the temporary lull as everybody turns to stare at
> Harv.)
At a nearby table with three similar-looking clones:
"Who's that?"
"One of the regulars. I think he gives the place a wonderful
atmosphere."
"So much despair... I find it hard to imagine that kind of
state."
"Maybe because the way you... *we* are wired. But I think he
has a point. Notice that skulking avatar in the corner?"
"The one with the wobbly feelers?"
"Yes. He is going to get vaguely guilty and leave."
"OK, that is an improvement.
"And the luddite spy caumoflaged as a bush-robot - I mean, how
obvious can you get? - he is going back to his homesite and
gloat about how impotent we are."
"While there is real work being done on the outside."
"Yeah. I assume there is."
"Actually, the big problem is keeping multiple perspectives. On
one hand we have a lot of past that actually amounts to
impressive human achievement, on the other hand it really is
next to nothing and certainly no reason to be proud. And the
future is both empty and filled with the grandest visions."
"Makes me happy I'm a clone."
"Me too."
"Me too. But the issue of motivation and inspiration is still
real. We need motivation to actually do things, and inspiration
from somewhere to do it."
"Some people are motivated by others, like being in good
standing with the crowd."
"But how boring is that? Besides, if you only do things because
others like them you are their slave. One should do what one
likes, regardless of others."
"Spoken like a true individualist clone."
"Yes, but we all agree anyway. This place might be good for
inspiration, but I doubt it is a good motivator."
"And an even lousier place to work in."
"Say that to the RoboTender - look at the tips he is raking
in."
"You know what I mean. Some people get their best ideas here,
even meet their significant others, but making them real is an
individual project best done outside."
"And sober."
"I like the place for the people."
"And who cares who they are outside, or how old they are. What
really matters is what ideas and interactions we contribute
here."
"I lost the count of who of us are who."
"Who cares? Let's order Harv some extra drinks."
"But this time, let's make it a prime number."
[Just a homage to a great original!]
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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