If they develop superior prosthetics, would you amputate your biological limbs?

[Jake Martinez]

I was reading this story: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-08-bionic-leg-amputees-natural-gait.html

And I thought to myself... if they had limbs that were truely bionic, allowing functionality that surpassed normal human limbs, would I have my normal healthy ones replaced?

Personally, I think I probably would. I think the advantages would be too great, especially considering my bionic limbs would retain their strength and function as I got older. Plus, the next time someone cuts you off in traffic you could rocket punch them in the face through the windshield.

Would anyone else do this, or is it just too creepy?

 

[NoNameMcgee]

If it looks and functions completely like a normal limb, but with obvious benefits, then yes. Otherwise nope. I don't want any of my limbs replaced with ugly metal bits or have metal bits sticking out of me anywhere, that part is more of a fantasy for 13 year olds who just watched Terminator 2 for the first time.

 

[coolkirb]

I dont think the sense of touch can be replicated so no

 

[ultrachicken]

There are other factors that come into play, like how the limbs are powered, how long they last, how expensive they are, and how prone they are to breaking due to, say, water damage. Furthermore, I don't have much call for super strength in my day-to-day life. I'm a student, my days consist of sitting at desks. If I could get some kind of ocular implant, that would be nice, but again, the factors I mentioned earlier are important in that case, as well.

 

[StraightToHeck]

either an eye with a camera and/or laser in it or an arm that has a chaingun option

other than that, I'm not interested

 

[Ghengis John]

snip

Short answer: No.

Long answer: I wouldn't hold it against anyone who did, but I have ethical concerns about it. Not to mention a sense of pride in the way I was made, and worries about the social disconnect from being modified. I've had these hands for long enough that when I look at them and see the scars and old familiar marks it's grounding. They give me a sense of history and no one can say they're anyone's hands but mine. Maybe that sounds silly compared to the ability to rocket punch people or sprint faster than a car, but I'll manage somehow so long as you really don't go trying to push your metal weight around. And I can't imagine the maintenance on bionic limbs would be cheap. Furthermore, why do I need to rocket punch anyone? Are you telling me that if you only had super strength you'd become a huge jerk?

 

[LokiArchetype]

Does full functionality include being able to sense heat and pressure along the entire surface?

 

[Jake Martinez]

I dont think the sense of touch can be replicated so no

Well, I said "allowing functionality that surpassed normal human limbs" as the caveat. Also, they could replace sense of touch. It's just electrical impulses.

Hell, if you want to be creeped out you can see if you can get a doctor or scientist to do a nerve conduction test on you. They shock you with electrical impulses and it actually makes the muscles in your body move involuntarily. It's like someone else is driving your body...

 

[Sacman]

Hell the fuck yes... but they would have to be on the level of Ghost In The Shell prosthetic limbs...<.<

 

[Jake Martinez]

Does full functionality include being able to sense heat and pressure along the entire surface?

Yes - or even better than normal. With, obviously, the potential for future upgrades.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

No and such a practice should be outlawed. Prosthetic limbs are for those who lose their limbs due to circumstances beyond their control, not for people who just feel like hacking theirs off.

 

[ShotgunZombie]

For me, it depends. If it's something that I needed like a replacement after losing a limb then yes, otherwise no. It's certainly a fascinating prospect to be able to replace missing limbs but I'm rather attached (emotionally... err, and well, physically) to my body parts so I'll pass but I'll take power armor any day. Just saying...

 

[AperioContra]

Fuck. Yeah.

I want four robotic legs, and cranium that makes me look like shredder.

 

[Jake Martinez]

No and such a practice should be outlawed. Prosthetic limbs are for those who lose their limbs due to circumstances beyond their control, not for people who just feel like hacking theirs off.

Why? Baseball players get arm surgery when they don't need it so that they can throw faster and other athletes get laser eye surgery when they don't need it to enhance their vision.

I don't see the difference other than the "It's creepy and I'm uncomfortable with it" argument.

 

[SirDoom]

No and such a practice should be outlawed. Prosthetic limbs are for those who lose their limbs due to circumstances beyond their control, not for people who just feel like hacking theirs off.

...and why should I not be able to take a saw to my arm should I choose? Assuming I pay for all medical bills afterward, anyway. You wouldn't chop off your own limbs unless you could afford a replacement if you were sane, right?

 

[Flailing Escapist]

I wouldn't chop my arms off or anything. But I wouldn't be nearly afraid of loosing them as I am now.

 

[OverweightWhale]

Hell the fuck yes... but they would have to be on the level of Ghost In The Shell prosthetic limbs...<.<

The first thing I thought about when I starting reading the post was Ghost In The Shell.

OT: I'd probably replace my legs, but probably nothing beyond that.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

As soon as they perfect the rotary machine guns that would be fitted into my new cyber forearms, I'm heading to the closest bandsaw, post haste.

 

[Dominic Burchnall]

There are other factors that come into play, like how the limbs are powered, how long they last, how expensive they are, and how prone they are to breaking due to, say, water damage.

Another problem is, as the rest of your body degraded through age, would your upgraded bionics be too much for your body to bear? Say you got upraded arms and legs, would your torso still be able to support the extra wieght and necessary mechanical implants to keep them in place? Also what about if you became senile? It's difficult enough to restrain a flailing pensioner when the main concern is not accidently hurting them, but what if the main concern was that they could knock you through a wall whilst doing so? Or quite literally forgot your own strengh, and broke your own jaw trying to swat a fly away?

 

[Canadamus Prime]

No and such a practice should be outlawed. Prosthetic limbs are for those who lose their limbs due to circumstances beyond their control, not for people who just feel like hacking theirs off.

...and why should I not be able to take a saw to my arm should I choose? Assuming I pay for all medical bills afterward, anyway. You wouldn't chop off your own limbs unless you could afford a replacement if you were sane, right?

I was unaware of that. Besides modifying your biological limbs isn't the same as replacing them completely. Although I don't approve of that either, not if it's not necessary.
Edit: oops quoted the wrong person.