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. > Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8047