A thought experiment.

[Korten12]

To give a bit of back story, in my Sci-Fi English class, we were discussing the book Neuromancer, and we discussed the idea of the is the human self really tied down to a body, and does living in Cyberspace really matter since in essence, reality is also one big computer (not that it is, but the idea that our mind is just pusles and such that can be converted into data.)

And so it brought me to ask this question (which is taking it to the extreme mind you):

Would you mind living in a future where the physical realm has been voided out and everyone existed simply in Cyberspace?

Think the Matrix but there is no body on the other side and the "cyberspace" isn't just reality digitalized.

Personally? No, call me old fashion but I feel like our body is part of what makes us, human, and becoming simply programs really removes our humanity. Not to mention this could be abused.

But what is everyone else's thoughts?

 

[HardkorSB]

If that were o happen, we would stop being humans. We would think differently, live differently, all the things that matter to us now (food, shelter, health, mortality, money etc.) would cease to be important. All the lmitations of our bodies would be gone.
We would probably become a collective entity, kind of like the borg, only better, maybe we would have machines that we could control in order to do stuff in the "real world".
Basically, humanity would be over and we would be a whole new race.

I think this will happen eventually, maybe not during our lifetimes, but it will.
I wouldn't mind it.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Yeah, why not? All the human brain is, after all, is a rather advanced computer simulating an intelligence. The only reason to think otherwise would be a religious one, and the vast majority of people here are either actively atheist or non-religious.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Nope. I like the world roughly the way it is, I like having a body, I like looking at (some) other bodies, I like all the physical world and the things in it. I don't really want to live in a computer, it sounds kinda shit.

I know brains are sort of computers, but we're computers adapted to our environment, we have certain needs that we get depressed or go nuts without, and I don't think a digital universe could provide them. I don't think it would take our humanity- at least, not immediately- but I don't think it would be good for us.

 

[Vegosiux]

I would mind, yes. I do like my individuality, thank you very much. Also...you know, who'd be maintaining all that stuff, hardware and whatnot? Who can guarantee we get equal treatment? Who can guarantee I'll have enough stuff to do in there, apart from simply "existing"? I mean, it's going to get boring after a few million cycles if everyone just tries to out-kickass each other all the freaking time.

Yeah, why not? All the human brain is, after all, is a rather advanced computer simulating an intelligence. The only reason to think otherwise would be a religious one, and the vast majority of people here are either actively atheist or non-religious.

Careful with that. There might be reasons that have nothing to do with religion that could apply.

 

[Korten12]

I would mind, yes. I do like my individuality, thank you very much. Also...you know, who'd be maintaining all that stuff, hardware and whatnot? Who can guarantee we get equal treatment? Who can guarantee I'll have enough stuff to do in there, apart from simply "existing"? I mean, it's going to get boring after a few million cycles if everyone just tries to out-kickass each other all the freaking time.

Yeah, why not? All the human brain is, after all, is a rather advanced computer simulating an intelligence. The only reason to think otherwise would be a religious one, and the vast majority of people here are either actively atheist or non-religious.

Careful with that. There might be reasons that have nothing to do with religion that could apply.

That is also another thing, I mean what have robots maintain the outside, but then who maintain them? More robots and so on... I feel like it would end eventually...

 

[Esotera]

I spend most of my day on the internet or near a computer anyway, and so do most people that live in the developed world...there's not really a lot of difference to going fully virtual. I probably wouldn't as I haven't entirely grown up with the internet & I enjoy a bit of time away from it now and then, but it's tempting.

 

[Envy Omicron]

To give a bit of back story, in my Sci-Fi English class, we were discussing the book Neuromancer, and we discussed the idea of the is the human self really tied down to a body, and does living in Cyberspace really matter since in essence, reality is also one big computer (not that it is, but the idea that our mind is just pusles and such that can be converted into data.)

And so it brought me to ask this question (which is taking it to the extreme mind you):

Would you mind living in a future where the physical realm has been voided out and everyone existed simply in Cyberspace?

Think the Matrix but there is no body on the other side and the "cyberspace" isn't just reality digitalized.

Personally? No, call me old fashion but I feel like our body is part of what makes us, human, and becoming simply programs really removes our humanity. Not to mention this could be abused.

But what is everyone else's thoughts?

It depends, do i get to tranfer my mind into a ninja robot body to maneuver in the physical realm when I feel like it? Because if I could, than no, I wouldn't mind living in cyberspace. As Esotera already mentioned, most people in the civilised world already spent the majority of their time on the internet anyways. Plus having a ninja robot body would be cool.

 

[Korten12]

To give a bit of back story, in my Sci-Fi English class, we were discussing the book Neuromancer, and we discussed the idea of the is the human self really tied down to a body, and does living in Cyberspace really matter since in essence, reality is also one big computer (not that it is, but the idea that our mind is just pusles and such that can be converted into data.)

And so it brought me to ask this question (which is taking it to the extreme mind you):

Would you mind living in a future where the physical realm has been voided out and everyone existed simply in Cyberspace?

Think the Matrix but there is no body on the other side and the "cyberspace" isn't just reality digitalized.

Personally? No, call me old fashion but I feel like our body is part of what makes us, human, and becoming simply programs really removes our humanity. Not to mention this could be abused.

But what is everyone else's thoughts?

It depends, do i get to tranfer my mind into a ninja robot body to maneuver in the physical realm when I feel like it? Because if I could, than no, I wouldn't mind living in cyberspace. As Esotera already mentioned, most people in the civilised world already spent the majority of their time on the internet anyways. Plus having a ninja robot body would be cool.

No, basically the outside world doesn't exist. You simply live as an entity in cyberspace. Where you could be a ninja.

 

[lacktheknack]

I'd... rather not.

Ever heard of "corrupted data", the phenomena that happens if the power goes out, or a program gets glitched, or even if a process finishes too fast?

Imagine your head turning upside down and your heart falling off.

...Yeah. I'll stick to a more stable reality.

 

[G3]

But as soon as you become part of cyberspace, or "code", you also give up the unpredictability. The simple fact is no AI will ever be anything remotely human or random. It just can't. There is always a first line of code. It will repeat. Therefore it is predictable.

The greatest thing about the human brain is that we do not understand it. From that incomprehensibility we get love, passion, drive, joy...

[yeah yeah, I'm a dweeb about this AI/NPC stuff but it's kind of my zone right now, sorry]

 

[Tanakh]

That is also another thing, I mean what have robots maintain the outside, but then who maintain them? More robots and so on... I feel like it would end eventually...

Wait... so you are saying that living like that could be dangerous because the maintenance and fail safe mechanisms would probably just last a couple thousand/million year?

...

I have bad news for you about your current carbon life form mate.

Also, why the heck not, sign me in. I have only one condition, not to destroy the "base me", tough through normal decay chances are the virtual me would outlast him.

Finally... i find really weird the arguments against. The current life seems way more random, less safe, as individualistic as a virtual one (in principle), but whatev makes guys happy.

 

[Korten12]

That is also another thing, I mean what have robots maintain the outside, but then who maintain them? More robots and so on... I feel like it would end eventually...

Wait... so you are saying that living like that could be dangerous because the maintenance and fail safe mechanisms would probably just last a couple thousand/million year?

...

I have bad news for you about your current carbon life form mate.

Also, why the heck not, sign me in. I have only one condition, not to destroy the "base me", tough through normal decay chances are the virtual me would outlast him.

Finally... i find really weird the arguments against. The current life seems way more random, less safe, as individualistic as a virtual one (in principle), but whatev makes guys happy.

I know I will die eventually, my concern was with everyone. People can breed and continue on living in real life, but if suddenly all tech outside began to fail, then everyone would die.

 

[Coppernerves]

I'd get really curious about the "real world" and how it makes the electronic reality.
I might even investigate in spare time, or seek a career to do with making sure all the "real world stuff" is working properly.

 

[Me55enger]

Interesting Idea.

With the birth of the digital age, there has been a growth in this idea of the mind/conciousness separate form the physical body. Ironically, it seems to be being discussed primarily in both film and literature, over games and the internet.

Matrix is a good example, as you pointed out. But we should also consider novels such as Neal Stephensons Snow Crash which is notable for the odd weighting in narrative value between the real world finale and the metaverse (his internet) finale. Insofar as they are deemed equal in terms of length, importance and phyical space on the page.

It's simple processes such as this that begin to generate discussion over the value of a separation. I say gve it 15 or so years for this to really become a talking point and see what crops up.

Capatcha: Pay the Ferryman. What d'you guys think?

 

[Envy Omicron]

To give a bit of back story, in my Sci-Fi English class, we were discussing the book Neuromancer, and we discussed the idea of the is the human self really tied down to a body, and does living in Cyberspace really matter since in essence, reality is also one big computer (not that it is, but the idea that our mind is just pusles and such that can be converted into data.)

And so it brought me to ask this question (which is taking it to the extreme mind you):

Would you mind living in a future where the physical realm has been voided out and everyone existed simply in Cyberspace?

Think the Matrix but there is no body on the other side and the "cyberspace" isn't just reality digitalized.

Personally? No, call me old fashion but I feel like our body is part of what makes us, human, and becoming simply programs really removes our humanity. Not to mention this could be abused.

But what is everyone else's thoughts?

It depends, do i get to tranfer my mind into a ninja robot body to maneuver in the physical realm when I feel like it? Because if I could, than no, I wouldn't mind living in cyberspace. As Esotera already mentioned, most people in the civilised world already spent the majority of their time on the internet anyways. Plus having a ninja robot body would be cool.

No, basically the outside world doesn't exist. You simply live as an entity in cyberspace. Where you could be a ninja.

Close enough, I suppose. Although I would also like some dummies to practice sneaking and stabbing with.

 

[Tanakh]

I know I will die eventually, my concern was with everyone. People can breed and continue on living in real life, but if suddenly all tech outside began to fail, then everyone would die.

Ohh, well, I am not that concerned with everyone, like this planet and the people, take care of it, but once I am gone that's that.

Also, a civilization advanced enough to build machines capable of doing a "Matrix" and copying/emulating brains without the biological base is probably capable enough to keep said machines for much longer than what humanity will last in this planet. I don't know if you realized it, but in the matrix the machines only had to provide an interactive playground, in your version they would need to be able to read the topology, input and output of the brain and it's chemical balance on an instant, then emulate it on a totally different architecture, that would be an almost godlike feat and the technology needed is totally out of our reach and comprehension, not to mention you would need to do it millions/billions of times. Given that, making such data run on a Standford Torus while building a massive ark that would allow it to depart earth when needed seems like a simple task.

But as soon as you become part of cyberspace, or "code", you also give up the unpredictability. The simple fact is no AI will ever be anything remotely human or random. It just can't. There is always a first line of code. It will repeat. Therefore it is predictable.

The greatest thing about the human brain is that we do not understand it. From that incomprehensibility we get love, passion, drive, joy...

There's no reason to think humans are fundamentally unpredictable, they are actually boringly predictable most of the time. If they are, there is also no reason to think it can't be emulated in a code, or with emerging complexity. Finally, deterministic doesn't imply predictable, like AT ALL, the Lorenz Attractor for example arises from a simple ordinary difference equation's system and it's way less predictable than any human.

I think you are assuming too many things.

 

[Laughing Man]

Personally? No, call me old fashion but I feel like our body is part of what makes us, human, and becoming simply programs really removes our humanity.

How do you know that hasn't already happened? One of the theories throw out there is that any civilisation sufficiently advanced enough would be able to make a perfect simulation of itself. Then on top of that that simulation when it becomes advanced enough would be able to make a simulation of itself, essentially existence could be nothing more than advanced simulations built on top of advanced simulations.

Think about it 50 years ago we had little in the way of simulation tech, now it is possibly to make pretty accurate representations of flight, driving, etc the next step would, logically, would be simulations of more finite entities and at some point the ability to simulate the human brain along with the nuances that a body impose on it, i.e the concept of self. If it's possible to simulate that then does having a physical form really matter, would you even know the difference in a sufficiently advanced simulation?

 

[Muspelheim]

Bloody hell, no. I rather like being a physical being.

Could I get to be the guy cleaning and dusting off the Sapiens Machine on the outside? You know, you need at least someone to look after those lazy robots.

They all sweep it under the cyber-rug, I tell you...