X-Message-Number: 10986
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #10956 - #10961
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 21:07:53 +1100 (EST)

Hi everyone!

For Bob Ettinger I will say this: once you (or I) start incorporating
these machines/computers/devices into ourselves, we will cease to be Eloi.
The Eloi basically let all such questions be settled by creatures outside
of themselves, who did not consult them at all. 

I myself, if only because of the multiplicity of computing (and other) 
devices we might want to attach to ourselves, think that we'll end up by
developing detachable systems --- detachable brain parts, if you like ---
rather than having everything all the time part of us. It's not that we
won't have very close relations to our detachable parts:  as close as our
relationship to our hands. But that we will not be always attached to
them.

A second question is that of just what will happen in the future.
Basically I doubt that it will turn out very well, but I am sure that
there are some people who will try to go the Eloi route (not that they 
would call it that!) and in the end find out for themselves the problems
which go along with that setup. After all, if we have drug addicts now
it's likely that we'll have virtual reality addicts in the future. I would
hope that we'll have better means to treat such addictions (once the
addicts realize their problem, no doubt by some very uncomfortable 
experiences) than we do now, too.

And for anyone who seriously believes that we can let computers care for
us completely, with no further concerns, I think they're wrong, but 
ultimately we'll all find out just what that means by actual test.

		Best and long long life to all,
		  and to those of Christian background,
		    best of the season,

			Thomas Donaldson

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