X-Message-Number: 8047
From:  (Mike C.)
Subject: Uploading/Duplication: Who Is Who? (Re: What Am I?)
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 1997 02:29:30 -0400

>>Message #7979
>>Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 22:04:44 -0800 (PST)
>>From: John K Clark <>
>>Subject: What am I?-
>>

>>I need some advice and it's not the sort of thing I can write to Ann Landers.
>>About a year ago I started building a matter duplicating machine. It could  
>>find the position and velocity of every atom in a human being to the limit 
>>imposed by Heisenberg's law. It then used this information to construct a 
>>copy, and it does it all in a fraction of a second and without harming the  
>>original in any way. You may be surprised that I was able to build such a  
>>complicated machine, but you wouldn't be if you knew how good I am with my 

>>hands. The birdhouse I made is simply lovely  and I have all the latest tools
>>from Sears.
>>
>>I was a little nervous but I decided to test the machine by duplicating 
>>myself. The day before yesterday I walked into the chamber, it filled with 
>>smoke (damn those radio shack transformers) there was a flash of light, 
>>and then 3 feet to my left was a man who looked exactly like me. It was at 
>>that instant that the full realization of the terrible thing I did hit me. 
>>I yelled " This is monstrous, there can only be one of me", my double yelled 
>>exactly the same thing. I thought he was trying to mock me, so I reached for 
>>my 44 magnum that I always carry with me (I wonder why people think I'm 
>>strange) and pointed it at him. I noted with alarm that my double also
>>had a gun and he was pointed it at me. I shouted "you don't have the guts to 

>>pull the trigger, but I do". Again he mimicked my words and did so in perfect
>>synchronization, this made me even more angry and I pulled the trigger, 
>>he did too. My gun went off but his gun jammed. I buried him in my back yard.
>>

>>Now that my anger has cooled and I can think more clearly I've had some pangs
>>of conscious about killing a living creature, but that's not what really 
>>torments me. How do I know I'm not the copy? I feel exactly  the same as 
>>before, but would a copy feel different? Actually there is a way to be 
>>certain, I have a video tape of the entire experiment. My memory is that the 

>>copy first appeared 3 feet to my LEFT, if the tape shows the original walking

>>into the chamber and the copy materializing 3 feet to his RIGHT, then I would
>>know that I am the copy. 
>>
>>I'm afraid to look at the tape, should I be?
>
>No.
>
>>
>>If I found out I was the copy what should I do? 
>
>Live and be you.
>
>>
>>I suppose I should morn the death of John Clark, but how  
>>can I, I'm not dead.
>
>If you killed John Clark he is dead.
>What is your name?
>
>>
>>If I am the copy would that mean that I have no real  
>>past and my life is meaningless?
>
>You were born when you were formed and then you lived.
>That is your history.
>Your memories are not always your past.
>
>>
>>Is it important, or should I just burn the  
>>tape and forget all about it?
>
>It is not important to me.
>Is it important to you?
>It may be important if you find out the copy was not Perfect.
>

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