Poll: Transhumanism: How Far Would You Take It?

[SoranMBane]

However far it would take for me to be nearly immortal. So, anywhere from major genetic modification, to full-body conversion, to Altered Carbon-style brain uploading. Whatever is required to keep my mind and personality intact in some form for at least a few hundred years.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Posthuman.

Spoiler: Because that could explain this guy...

FOUND YOU

Woot more people for the Post Human Club. *highfive*

*teleports synobal... somewhere else... never to be seen again*

*stares blankly, eyelessly at the next victim*

*just stands there... menacingly*

 

[Drake Barrow]

I went with Option 7 - I'm good with a lot of things, provided my mind/self stay intact. A few minor gene enhancements? Alright, cool! My soul uploaded into a Vorlon-style arrangement of 'mutable energy/noncorporeal form bound to an extradimensional matrix and requiring an encounter suit to interact with the physical world'? I could handle that. Just so long as I'm still myself at the core. I would understand that a new state of existence would cause change in perspective, but if I completely forget who I was, or only a copy of myself exists as opposed to the original, then forget it.

 

[Marik2]

Isn't option 2 technically what we do now?

Technology has enhanced the standard of living and has made us better with diseases.

 

[josak]

I picked option 5, frankly I think we are living on he cusp of at least 4 being viable, the problem I have is the one well raised in Deus Ex what happens to those who cannot afford augmentation? So I would be in favor of a plan that makes augmentations covered by taxation so long as they serve a useful function.

This serves the common good and the individual.

 

[Moloch Sacrifice]

I voted 6, as it just beats out 5 in a very close contest. Either way, I personally regard the idea of hanging onto a human body as unnecessary sentimentality, especially if the rewards for discarding it are so great. I also have some rather long term plans for my consciousness (should technology allow it), so all my decisions on this are considered with the very long term in mind.

The benefit of 5 is that grants me much of what I'm after; longevity, improved mental capacity, and physical versatility. However, the main reason it can compete with 6 is that whilst extremely transhuman, I am still of a similar kind of consciousness as I am now. that means I can still view the universe with awe, be excited by the mystery of exploring it, and perceive it all from a personal level.

However, to become 6 represents something altogether entirely different; to become a mind so different from my current self, to be able to understand concepts far beyond what the human mind is capable of, and to rise above the petty, arbitrary mechanisms that govern a human-like's life is something I would gladly sacrifice my humanity for. Whilst being human or human-like offers an irreplicable experience, I view it in an entirely pragmatic manner; it certainly is not a cornerstone to my beliefs, or sense of identity.

 

[Sarasena]

I would go all-out on the genetic/biological and nanotech enhancements. Rewrite my genetic code, fill me with nanites that repair all damage, give me the ability to digest cellulose and change my skin color like a chameleon, give me new color cones in my eyeballs, transform my muscles into organic carbon nanotubes, whatever, I'm down with all of it. Splice my genes with the best the plant and animal kingdoms have to offer, please.

But I wouldn't stick actual metal parts in myself, not unless I really, really had to. The thought of it really icks me out.

Also, I am PROFOUNDLY skeptical of the idea that our perspective consciousness would somehow carry over if we copied our brain data into a computer; seems no different than creating a brain replica, and surely that wouldn't carry our consciousness over either.

 

[Celtois]

I picked option 5, because it seems to me that by the time your advance to option 6 you have basically destroyed yourself, in so far as your mind it no longer comprehensible.

However I think if I was face with the option right now, to undergo any of these procedures at no cost I would probably stick with minor physical and mental augmentations, or no changes at all. I would be willing to consider further augmentations really only if I felt they were necessary for my survival.

 

[Lightknight]

Anything over 2 and I might as well go all the way.

Go Post Human with me, we will be great cosmic beings with intellects spanning the galaxy.

Well, I have to be smart about it. The longer I wait, the better the initial version and features of the body I use. If I went full post human first generation I may only have dial up without the ability to upgrade...

I like the idea of having a regular brain "backup" so that if I ever do kick it I can just be restored to the robotic body.

 

[synobal]

Anything over 2 and I might as well go all the way.

Go Post Human with me, we will be great cosmic beings with intellects spanning the galaxy.

Well, I have to be smart about it. The longer I wait, the better the initial version and features of the body I use. If I went full post human first generation I may only have dial up without the ability to upgrade...

I like the idea of having a regular brain "backup" so that if I ever do kick it I can just be restored to the robotic body.

Hey you can always go back to meat, there is no rule that say you can't, just look at the Ancients from Stargate, a few of them went back to a meat body after the ascended.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

I'd go with minor augmentation. I wouldn't mind cybernetic implants that made my vision better or made my memory better. I don't particularly care about anything else but I have awful, awful vision(not exactly blind, but I need very high prescription glasses/contacts) and I'm extremely forgetful with a terrible memory. If I could fix those, you can bet your shiny hiney I'd be all over those augmentations.

 

[Schmeiser]

Pure for me, i believe that even if you replace something minor on yourself you change in a way. Yes it would be cool to lift 10000 tons with your bionic arms but i'll pass. I wouldn't be against it tho, it's your choice. Only thing i would never like is gene altering pre birth, i don't want every person to be tall black handsome with blue eyes. I want some individualism in the world(i'm positive that's not even a term but you get it). But i have a few questions, if you replace your body with some electronic technology how vulnerable would you be to hacking or stuff like that? I mean i see a lot of negative repercussions if you augment your body.

P.S. theres acid for a lot of stuff some people posted here or just meditation

 

[NSGrendel]

None of the initial options mention what would become of my penis or my capacity to take drugs, assuming I maintained some degree of biological substrate. So I can't really comment.

 

[Zakarath]

6 is the only way to become something approaching immortal, so I'll be going with that... eventually. I'd like to spend most of my mortal life somewhere around 2-3 (Just nothing that would compromise my taste buds. Good food is too high up on my list of the pleasures in life for me to throw it away), and then only switch over to 6 once I start approaching the time my brain would otherwise start to deteriorate.

 

[Silvanus]

I've got with option 3.

I'd replace a limb or three; I quite like the idea of leaving myself one human arm for sentimental reasons.

Could get that stomach replaced by something a little shinier.

 

[Heronblade]

But i have a few questions, if you replace your body with some electronic technology how vulnerable would you be to hacking or stuff like that? I mean i see a lot of negative repercussions if you augment your body.

Depends. Some configurations would be extremely vulnerable, namely those with wireless data connections that have a path to root files. Most of us are a bit smarter than that however. With the setups I envision, only direct physical access to a port would allow for access to the important files, and even then, hackers would have a tough time getting past the other countermeasures. This would include defenses aside from the traditional firewalls. For instance, it would be child's play to require that the user be conscious and stress free before write permissions can be granted.

None of the initial options mention what would become of my penis or my capacity to take drugs, assuming I maintained some degree of biological substrate. So I can't really comment.

Keeping to the important things?

Regardless, almost certainly nothing you don't ask for. Don't get something that filters toxins and drugs will work fine, and all your genitals need to work properly is blood. Heck, get an artificial heart and your blood pressure is easier to maintain.

 

[The_Echo]

Would a full body augmentation mean I never have to eat or use the bathroom ever again?

'Cause that's totally worth it.

 

[Belaam]

Hey, why can't I upload my brain?!

I'm done breeding, from a genetic standpoint, I'm done, why not mess around with what we've got. I'd pretty much be up for any of the above, but would be more inclined to be a test case for cybernetic implants/google glass corneas/etc. than genetic modification. Still up for genetic modification, but not as the first few people trying it out.