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If you could become a cyborg,would you?

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lordGacek Since: Jan, 2001
#51: Dec 12th 2011 at 12:37:05 PM

@Octo: I take Simons' trenchcoat! cool

Octo Prince of Dorne from Germany Since: Mar, 2011
Prince of Dorne
#52: Dec 12th 2011 at 12:41:18 PM

Heh, good choice. I must be stuck in the 80s, because I still think Badass Longcoat s are in fact badass.

Plus, I like 80s synthpoptongue

Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken. Unrelated ME1 Fanfic
CDRW Since: May, 2016
lordGacek Since: Jan, 2001
#54: Dec 12th 2011 at 12:52:15 PM

Hey, epilepsy is bad enough without seeing everything in blue cool

USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#55: Dec 12th 2011 at 1:31:59 PM

Well, I don't necessarily agree with Milos' idea that humanity is "perfect as-is" (I think such a notion is patently absurd, actually), but I will say that I question the wisdom of assuming that transhumanism will be a good thing. It could be a good thing, but reality doesn't often live up to our expectations. Now, granted, I'm probably biased—though my opinion on scientific study of this nature has softened as I've learned more about the scientific establishment (I will admit, I was rather ignorant, in this regard), and I now am simply wary of scientific study, rather than actively distrustful. Either way, my point is, transhumanism and related technology—cybernetic and biological—aren't cure-alls for our problems.

Personally, I believe science is a means, not an end. Too many problems occur when people treat the idea of discovery as an end onto itself and release technologies into the world without considering their potential effects, only to lead to bad things like commercialization or militarization of said technology. Such as it is, transhumanism would be a singularity-inducing technology, and should not be taken lightly. I don't think one should think of it as "oh, cool, I can be the Six-Million-Dollar Man!" Instead, it should be more "this would change the world as we know it forever, let's think before we go crazy with this."

I mean, from potential genetic distortions in the human genome over time to privacy concerns and propaganda potential of in-built internet connections; from the military applications to the potential to create far worse issues between the rich and the poor; and from the potential of overuse and abuse to unforeseen complications in the initial testing phases, transhumanism is not a toy, and should not be treated as such. There are tons of issues we face in relation to it—and all that assumes we can even get any of it to work properly. It's certainly not something to see and immediately go "oh yeah, I'm going to be a badass cyborg guy!"

Basically, I find the enthusiasm for this idea with the seeming lack of consideration it's being given to be rather unsettling, and wonder how seriously any of the people here actually take this idea. Transhumanism isn't our plaything, it's a tool to fix some fundamental issues with human society; if you degrade it into a toy, only bad things can come out of it, in my opinion.

I am now known as Flyboy.
Steventheman Cmdr. of His Supremacy's Armed Forces from Wales Since: Feb, 2011
Cmdr. of His Supremacy's Armed Forces
#56: Dec 12th 2011 at 1:33:48 PM

[up] Then what's the point of developing it for the public?

And I know I'd never afford them, but I still want to see people with them.

FIMFiction Account MLPMST Page
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#57: Dec 12th 2011 at 1:36:08 PM

What do you mean, "what's the point?" I didn't say transhumanism wasn't useful. I said that it shouldn't be treated as a simple toy to be whipped around. It's something that should be given serious ethical and practical consideration, from drawing board to actual implementation. Transhumanism is something that we must watch very carefully, lest it go profoundly wrong...

I am now known as Flyboy.
joeyjojo Happy New Year! from South Sydney: go the bunnies! Since: Jan, 2001
Happy New Year!
#58: Dec 12th 2011 at 3:30:04 PM

Thread Hop: nah, i'm already perfect.

hashtagsarestupid
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
HellmanSabian Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#61: Dec 12th 2011 at 6:09:56 PM

Cyborg as in replace damaged limbs and such with the parts? Yes. My brain is staying squishy though. Once your just a program on a machine, your not really a human. Not to mention what would happen if you fell in the water.

I'm baaaaaaack
RocketDude Since: May, 2009
#62: Dec 12th 2011 at 6:11:34 PM

I would want to be Augmented, for sure.

edited 12th Dec '11 6:11:44 PM by RocketDude

Emidawg Nothin' sweet about me from Baltimare Since: Feb, 2011
Nothin' sweet about me
#63: Dec 12th 2011 at 7:00:11 PM

I would replace the bits that fail over time. I wouldnt go full blown cyborg in one shot.

Several people mentioned that flesh heals, but what if said cyborg body came with nanites that "healed" mechanical components?

I wouldnt mind having better eyes, glasses are a pain and Lasic surgery and contacts are not able to correct my severe astygmatism. Especially eyes like the kid in Speaker for the Dead, where he could plug in and download things he'd seen out of his cyborg eye.

This Space for Rent
mailedbypostman Since: May, 2010
#64: Dec 12th 2011 at 7:55:55 PM

The flesh is weak!

Seriously though, I would try to avoid replacing stuff unless it's necessary. If it ain't broke..

Wulf Gotta trope, dood! from Louisiana Since: Jan, 2001
Gotta trope, dood!
#65: Dec 12th 2011 at 8:01:21 PM

@OP- Certainly. I'd start small- an eye here, an ear there, then work my way up. A few bones. Artificial blood. Organs that one can live without, like a single kidney or a lung, just in case something goes wrong. Finally, the vitals. A new heart and liver, the second lung and kidney... As for the brain... don't know that I'd want to mess with that, if only because if something were to go wrong, that's it.

They lost me. Forgot me. Made you from parts of me. If you're the One, my father's son, what am I supposed to be?
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#66: Dec 12th 2011 at 8:09:42 PM

Shit, I'd replace almost everything. Arms, legs, eyes, vital organs. Pretty much everything except the brain. I want to keep living in my prime until my brain starts to go, and get to the point of being even harder to kill.

I wish the military would give me those parts, of course as soon as I had all of them I'd leave and go offer my enhanced services to the private sector as a corporate heavy or something.

joeyjojo Happy New Year! from South Sydney: go the bunnies! Since: Jan, 2001
Happy New Year!
#67: Dec 12th 2011 at 9:15:21 PM

Unlike most people here I wouldn't start hacking off limbs so I can kill terrorists or outrun cars, but when my body starts failing I think I will rather be a cyborg then a corpse.

edited 12th Dec '11 9:15:52 PM by joeyjojo

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Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#68: Dec 12th 2011 at 10:05:20 PM

@57:We're just gushing about all the cool things it could do. There are probably thousands of scientists who are actually working on all the ramifications transhumansim would bring (in their spare time, at least).

Also, I think I made a thread about something like this before.

Edit:Yep, made it before.

edited 12th Dec '11 10:06:49 PM by Ekuran

ekuseruekuseru 名無しさん from Australia Since: Oct, 2009
名無しさん
#69: Dec 13th 2011 at 5:11:09 AM

If humans are a part of the natural order, then human creations, like machine replacements for body parts, are also a part of the natural order, no?

That said, I'm rather attached to my own body. I'd be not only concerned with net improvement, but by lack of new disadvantages. Even then, sentimentality would prevent me from changing anything unless it was made necessary. But, once I am at at that stage, I might as well have fun with it. I can't really give a fair answer until this happens, though.

culex2 They think me mad Since: Nov, 2011
They think me mad
#70: Dec 13th 2011 at 5:32:55 AM

A complete "human brain in robot body" sort of cyborg? No.

I would use cybernetics though if needed to replace a damaged body part that can't be repaired outside of straight up replacement, or would be needed for me to be healthy through a natural lifespan.

To the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
GreatLich Since: Jun, 2009
#71: Dec 13th 2011 at 4:21:26 PM

Thread hop: No thanks. I'd prefer to lose the organic altogether. Call me when they got that uploading thing down. (one spaceship built to last for a body; I'd like it ready to go, please)

MyGodItsFullofStars Since: Feb, 2011
#72: Dec 13th 2011 at 4:23:25 PM

I'd rather augment my cells with custom enzymes and molecular machines than start replacing body parts. Besides, why cut off an perfectly functioning arm to replace it with a mechanical one, when you could just graft a mechanical arm onto your body for a total of three arms?

joeyjojo Happy New Year! from South Sydney: go the bunnies! Since: Jan, 2001
Happy New Year!
#73: Dec 13th 2011 at 4:37:01 PM

But aquaman, you can't have more then fours limbs at a time, you lack the neurological analog to control it.

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Octo Prince of Dorne from Germany Since: Mar, 2011
Prince of Dorne
#74: Dec 13th 2011 at 4:46:06 PM

[up]And that's what neuroware is for. But MGIFOS has a point: We shouldn't just consider cyberware, but also bioware (not the company)...

...too much Shadowrun...tongue

Anyway, uploading? Bah, you can't upload the self, you'll just create a copy.

Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken. Unrelated ME1 Fanfic
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#75: Dec 13th 2011 at 4:50:51 PM

I might actually consider brain uploading, myself, if we had something interesting and worth the time to try out as a body and it could be transferred to other things if I get bored with whatever body I chose.

Otherwise, I think I'll just go with the favored answer of "I guess I'd replace stuff as it broke."

I am now known as Flyboy.

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