Poll: Cyber or genetic modifications?

[Jamash]

Neither.

I think that if robotic technology has advanced enough to make cybernetic replacement of body parts viable, then it would also be advanced enough for me to have a decent suit of power armour or a big robotic exoskeleton instead.

So I would go for the option that is like cyborg prosthetics, but instead of replacing my body parts, they're all connected together and armoured and controlled by me resting safely inside an armoured compartment in the middle of the collection of robotic killing limbs.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Both are fun, but I think I'd go for the radical gene-splicing/modification for more fun.
And if I could afford that, I could probably afford to move somewhere cannibal-free.
I'd go wild with the gene mods. I've always thought it's only the mind that matters, anyway.

 

[Lightspeaker]

Well I'm thinking cybernetics because you can do quite a lot there that's beyond biological limitations and...

...and I just changed my mind.

 

[Parasondox]

If it's 2077, is there going to be a war later on this year? Nah. Just imagining things.

Cyber modification. Well, how much maintenance and upgrades would I need and how often? If its once a week, too much. Once a month, maybe. Twice a year? Sure dont mind. As long as the software is good. No iOS though.

What were we talking about? Cyber penis? That will please the partners.

 

[Lodgem]

I like the idea of cybernetics, but I have at least one potential issue. It may be a bit silly but my concern is power supply. Will my arm stop working if I forget to recharge it? Is the cost of recharging trivial, or is it something that I'll need to consider in my budget? How long can it run between charges and how easy is it to charge if I go camping or something like that?

If that isn't an issue then I'd go for cybernetics, all else being equal. It depends, of course, on what options each has available.

 

[DocJ]

In XCOM I threw all my meld at Dr Vahlen in the first game, and the field of genetics is so vast with so many possibilities. That said, I'm not going to complain about being turned into Raiden either. If I had to choose I'd go with genetics, but a mixture sounds just fine.

 

[Quazimofo]

A mix or full cybernetics. No wireless functions though because thats too big a security risk.

So you don't want Bluetooth subwoofers installed in your pecs so you can flex them and Actually had the bass reverberate outwards from them to the best you set? Or, even better, a system connected to built in speakers wired to play the notes you pantomime playing! You'd be the world's best air guitarist! You could find a band of like minded individuals all with similar systems for other instruments and make an instrument-free band. I'd call it... Troubador Tech.

That being said, I'd still go gene splicing. Less obvious, so there's an element of surprise, and while they're at it they can fix my ailments. Also, no new weaknesses or special upkeep to worry about besides exercise, but you'd have to do that to some degree regardless unless you went "more machine than man" with the cyber mods

 

[Sonmi]

Neither, I'd say.

Cybernetics are rather risky in the sense that they'd be unreliable and vulnerable to hacking if complex, I'm not willing to sacrifice parts of my body to enhance them either. If I was already missing a limb though, I wouldn't object to it being replaced, of the two options, it's the one I dislike the least.

Genetic modifications are a huge no-no on my side, unless it's to cure serious diseases. It's completely dehumanizing, and would open a whole can of worms in terms of societal problems. Hello eugenics and a widening of the class gaps, goodbye ANY hope of upwards mobility for families unable to afford genetic enhancements, thus dooming their children to eternal mediocrity.

 

[Level 7 Dragon]

Neither, I'd say.

Cybernetics are rather risky in the sense that they'd be unreliable and vulnerable to hacking if complex, I'm not willing to sacrifice parts of my body to enhance them either. If I was already missing a limb though, I wouldn't object to it being replaced, of the two options, it's the one I dislike the least.

Genetic modifications are a huge no-no on my side, unless it's to cure serious diseases. It's completely dehumanizing, and would open a whole can of worms in terms of societal problems. Hello eugenics and a widening of the class gaps, goodbye ANY hope of upwards mobility for families unable to afford genetic enhancements, thus dooming their children to eternal mediocrity.

Well, let us pretend that gene mods are handled the same way as they are in "Read Only Memories". Where there are restrictions on certain types of gene mods (those that affect mental functions, etc) and spliced people are made sterile (though the government offers to bank their eggs/seed free of charge). Would you do it personally? If you didn't had the money, would you go backalley gene splicing? (assuming it is relatively safe).

 

[Sonmi]

Neither, I'd say.

Cybernetics are rather risky in the sense that they'd be unreliable and vulnerable to hacking if complex, I'm not willing to sacrifice parts of my body to enhance them either. If I was already missing a limb though, I wouldn't object to it being replaced, of the two options, it's the one I dislike the least.

Genetic modifications are a huge no-no on my side, unless it's to cure serious diseases. It's completely dehumanizing, and would open a whole can of worms in terms of societal problems. Hello eugenics and a widening of the class gaps, goodbye ANY hope of upwards mobility for families unable to afford genetic enhancements, thus dooming their children to eternal mediocrity.

Well, let us pretend that gene mods are handled the same way as they are in "Read Only Memories". Where there are restrictions on certain types of gene mods (those that affect mental functions, etc) and spliced people are made sterile (though the government offers to bank their eggs/seed free of charge). Would you do it personally? If you didn't had the money, would you go backalley gene splicing? (assuming it is relatively safe).

Restrictions on genetic modifications would be a good place to start, but it doesn't go nearly far enough in my opinion.

I agree with it all if genetically modified individuals are made completely sterile, but do not get to save any eggs/sperm. The whole problem would be the concentration of wealth and power in the wealthy genetically modified social class, such a thing cannot happen if they cannot reproduce at all.

I'm somewhat a Luddite when it comes to these things, and I most certainly wouldn't try back alley splicing either, I value the sanctity of my humanity.

 

[Level 7 Dragon]

snip.

Well, let us pretend that gene mods are handled the same way as they are in "Read Only Memories". Where there are restrictions on certain types of gene mods (those that affect mental functions, etc) and spliced people are made sterile (though the government offers to bank their eggs/seed free of charge). Would you do it personally? If you didn't had the money, would you go backalley gene splicing? (assuming it is relatively safe).

Restrictions on genetic modifications would be a good place to start, but it doesn't go nearly far enough in my opinion.

I agree with it all if genetically modified individuals are made completely sterile, but do not get to save any eggs/sperm. The whole problem would be the concentration of wealth and power in the wealthy genetically modified social class, such a thing cannot happen if they cannot reproduce at all.

I'm somewhat a Luddite when it comes to these things, and I most certainly wouldn't try back alley splicing either, I value the sanctity of my humanity.

Well, sperm/eggs saved before they get the treatment..

Anyway, it depends on how much does the person needs to splice to stop being "human". Say, if a person removes allergies and cancer genes from the genome, nobody would complain (personally, I think those types of splices should be made obligatory, like vaccines were). But if a person gets mild gene doping, like the the myostatin-related muscle enhansement mutation [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myostatin-related_muscle_hypertrophy]. Would you cut the line at cat ears and lizard tales or something else entierly.

In Read Only memories, most people with radical gene splicing were the way they were because splicing is the only known cure for cancer in that world. So, if a person has the condition, the doctors are forced to replace the damaged cells by splicing the person with DNA from some other mammal, though the results vary, this is why it is used as a last resort. Some people just end up with a different eye colour, some with fur all over their body, some with unwanted body parts.

Still beats dying a painful death, though.

 

[Recusant]

Neither. Even assuming another six decades of CRISPR-style advances, genetic tampering is difficult, fraught with risk, and above all, SLOW. This isn't like gene therapy to improve cancer treatments; most of the changes you're going to make aren't going to affect your current tissues, but what they become when the cells reproduce. So get the changes made and enjoy dodging cannibals for the months or years it'll take before you actually get super -strength and -speed. Especially given that you're not just modifying muscle, since the pressures involved would snap your tendons, or tendons, since you'd also break your bones. You'd pretty much need to revamp yourself from the ground up. And even if you do find a way to age the tissues instantly, you've increased your caloric requirements by at least a dozen times. Depending on how you modify your digestive system, you'd either need to eat almost constantly, or gorge yourself at every opportunity- and the frequent, calorie-dense feasts you'd require would mean you're going to be joining the cannibals, most likely. I'll pass.

Cybernetics seems, at first, a safer bet- but, as others have noted, bodily rejection is always a looming threat, and even if that's dealt with, mechanical breakdown of non-self-repairing body parts does not mix well with a post-apocalypse scenario. I'd consider supplementing my body with technology- but as the glasses on my face and watch on my wrist attest to, that's not really a new idea.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

You plan to modify your body for self defense

Could I also modify my body for sex?

Are you talking about bigger/tighter parts, or self defense from sex?

"Okay, I know I gave you The Spinner...', no, okay. What would, like, an augmented penis be called? Like, The Rumbler."
-Pat
"The Blender."
-Matt
"The Rumbler, The Blender..."
-Pat
"The Mixer."
-Matt
"The Mixer? Hmm.. eh."
-Pat
"The Slap Chop."
-Matt

"How about I connect my neural hub into your mom's ass?"
-Pat

First thing I thought of when I came into this thread.

But yeah, I'm all in for cybernetic mods just because they're less restrictive than what you can do than gene splicing. Sure, with gene splicing I can have perfect vision, and see from much greater distances, but do I get zoom? Can I see different spectrums of light? How about night vision? What if I want ALL of that at once? Can't do that with biology.

 

[Chaos Isaac]

I'd probably go with gene splicing first, get a natural tail some freaky eyes and maybe grow some shark teeth. While I do love the idea of cybernetics, i've been reading Shadowrun stuff, where bioware can basically do the same thing with less effect on your humanity, so i'm kinda running on that.

That said, I am also very partial to getting a cyber-tail, with some freaky cyber-eyes and some cyber-shark teeth that can glow and shit. It'd of course be close circuit stuff with some wifi ability if I turn it on, maybe a data jack kinda thing so I can surf the web with my brain.

And I mean, if the gene splicing stuff doesn't work out, it's still fixable with cyberware.

 

[Headsprouter]

Gene splicing, definitely.

As long as it's as cool and flexible as I imagine it.

 

[renegade7]

I think I would use genetic modification to fix really basic stuff: to prevent or slow aging and to increase my resistance to disease. For anything more complicated I would use cybernetic or mechanical augmentation, because that's easier to swap out if I change my mind about what augments I want.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Spoiler

You plan to modify your body for self defense

Could I also modify my body for sex?

Are you talking about bigger/tighter parts, or self defense from sex?

"Okay, I know I gave you The Spinner...', no, okay. What would, like, an augmented penis be called? Like, The Rumbler."
-Pat
"The Blender."
-Matt
"The Rumbler, The Blender..."
-Pat
"The Mixer."
-Matt
"The Mixer? Hmm.. eh."
-Pat
"The Slap Chop."
-Matt

"How about I connect my neural hub into your mom's ass?"
-Pat

First thing I thought of when I came into this thread.

But yeah, I'm all in for cybernetic mods just because they're less restrictive than what you can do than gene splicing. Sure, with gene splicing I can have perfect vision, and see from much greater distances, but do I get zoom? Can I see different spectrums of light? How about night vision? What if I want ALL of that at once? Can't do that with biology.

Strictly speaking... yes to most of those. There are a multitude of animals that can see further into the spectrum then we can, well into ultraviolet and infrared. And there are many ancillary organs from the animal kingdom that can push you a bit more then that. Once you get out of those two, you're kind of out of the 'vision' spectrum, but their's still some animals we can jack organs from to get there too.

There are also many animals (Particularly birds) that can see as well, if not better, then any camera you could conceivable jam into your face or eye socket; Perhaps even better then what you could fit into a reasonable, human sized sensor mast. And with a minor tweak or two to your visual processing lobes, 'zooming' would become a meaningless concept. Passive night vision is also an easy fix (Though you would need a flashlight for active, but hell, you can get those for a couple bucks).

There are some fascinating animals out there.