Would you use a cheating option for real life?

That computer isn't thinking too small, it is thinking on a scale that I can contemplate doing just now.

If I got that power, and the scope to use it properly, what I really would like though is to go to universes where things we read about in books are real, just by snapping my fingers or drawing the shape of a door in time and space and walking through it. And bring stuff back from there and use it on this objective reality and treat it like my bitch.

Hail the Dark Lord Tam.

Because, really, if you had that kind of power, would you really give a shit about morality if it was an inconvenience? Cure cancer and AIDS and tuberculosis and malaria and ebola and all the other wreckers of humanity just to shut down Big Pharma. Not because it would be a good thing to do, just because you COULD.

Make everyone's life better. Whether they liked it or not. Smash, rend and tear the need for things like charidee organizations that spend huge amounts of their money on television and internet advertizing rather than helping the causes they profess to fight for.

I'd still have morals. I think I would undermine the filthy rich that don't deserve it though.

EG, the ones that only are rich and famous because they're desendents of someone who was. Or just marry famous people and mooch off them, then leave. I'd screw with them if I was bored.

Most of the time I'd just live my life though.

I'm baaaaaaack

I would probably just use the ability to give myself all of the books, comics, manga, video games, toys, and food I want.

I think a lot of people in this thread make a good case for the aphorism "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

I honestly don't know what I'd do if given this option. Actually, my first inclination would probably be to off myself after learning my life has been a lie, then (failing that) start hurling insults at the creator of the illusion, only to be promptly dragged into the Recycling Bin and then deleted.

The French Revolution was indeed a fascinating point in history, citizen.

edited 13th Mar '12 12:06:39 AM by 0dd1

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.

Then thank the gods they spend all their time online instead of doing anything that might end up with them having any power!

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'

*rimshot*

Also, I can picture that being the tagline of an internet-based ZANY COMEDY.

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Never mind.

As for the real world, though, unless it tries to kill me, it is of no concern.

edited 13th Mar '12 9:10:32 AM by SilentColossus

And how do you know that it won't try to kill you, if you don't know what it is? How do you know that your whole universe won't be deleted to make disc space for a comprehensive archive of lolcat pictures?

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

Worst. Doomsday. Ever.

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'

Well, really, it depends on how much I could do about it. Am I stuck in that game? Or can I travel throughout the computer and hide somewhere else?

edited 13th Mar '12 1:16:23 AM by SilentColossus

I'd cheat like a Mofo.

Fight smart, not fair.

No idea. One way to find out.

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

@ Jones: Worse? Or better?

I would cheat in the way that still provides balance to all other people who play fair. HINT: I would NOT cheat for money, but rather something else of much higher spiritual value

What profit is it to a man, when he gains his money, but loses his internet? Anonymous 16:26 I believe...

Laser vision?

Fight smart, not fair.

We already have it. If someone fires a sufficiently powerful laser in your eyes, you will see it. Briefly.

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

Nah, I wouldn't cheat. What would be the point? What I want out of life is enjoyment, and while I guess I could go do fun things for a while I suspect it would get boring if it was too easy.

Be not afraid...

Now, that is spiritual value.

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.

If I can't make myself a god, I'd just give myself a lot of money, and spawn material things into existence.

Ugh, I'll spoiler tag my own wish, just so some of you curious can view it

I'd cheat that I know everything, EXCEPT for what people are thinking, what will happen (precognition) and memories of every being. The more I know, the more I can do. Practical

What profit is it to a man, when he gains his money, but loses his internet? Anonymous 16:26 I believe...

I had thought about knowing all, but eh.

It would depend on the types of cheats that I'm allowed to access. Some might be weaksauce, like, I get an extra twenty bucks deposited into a special account a day, or I get to lose ten pounds of excess weight.

However, the sheer fact that then I'd know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Universe is just one huge simulation? Ontological shock would set in rather quickly.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Why?

As of now, your body is the result of the interactions between subatomic particles, as is the world that you perceive through your senses.

If reality is a simulation, then your body and the universe are the result of the interactions between electrons, or whatever other thing that the simulation uses to represent you. And so is the rest of the world.

What difference would this make, from an ontological point of view?

edited 13th Mar '12 6:58:56 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.

Well, if we're treating this like console cheats in an RPG, I might do things like forcing people to like me (set relationshiprank boss 100) or eliminating wars (set factionconflictlevel muslim christian 0). Seems like it would get boring after a while, though, and/or subject to all sorts of A God Am I style power tripping.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

But having everyone already like you without having to work for their respect...that's so hollow. And there are conflicts that occur for reasons other than Muslim or Christian fundies.

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I think that thing was supposed to be an example of the kind of cheat code he'd use. Then he'd use that same code with all pairs of ideologies, cultures or religions that are in conflict.

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.