Question: Humanity ITT

[mattqatsi]

I was recently penned with a question about the nature of being human. This was in reference to the evolving nature of technology. The asker (who was most likely having fun playing Devil's Advocate) was talking about how technology has become an increasing part of our lives. In reference to the cyberpunk genre, it was brought up that some people in these fantasy stories (Ghost in the Shell, Deus Ex) are so interconnected with technology that the majority of their body parts are electric or robotic in some way.

This is understandably normally considered bad, except in the case of fake organs to keep people alive. People normally consider this, the dominance of bodies by robotic functions, to degrade the value of human life. That if we get augmentations such as those presented in these science-fiction realms, we lose a part of our humanity, which is the worst thing possible to do.

Is this really the case? Known by many, the true soul of humanity is our ability to think. Descartes said "I think, therefore I am." Rand proclaimed in "Anthem" that the anthem of humanity is "Ego", "I." Being sentient beings, being conscious of being conscious of consciousness is what makes us human, not the ability to survive solely off of the preset bodies we are given.

Now, each animal has evolved from a lesser form of that animal (whether you are a creationist: Not every subset of horse or dog was on the ark, they evolved to better suit their environment; or you are an evolutionist: we all came from one organism.) They all evolved to adapt, they survived natural selection. Humans on the other hand have "evolved" very little (note: when I use evolve, I mean subtle changes, not monkeys --> humans, so both sides can agree with me), in fact, over the years, I believe we have changed the least out of any species. Why is this? As the only race self-aware, are we meant to spur on our own changes? Are we meant to take responsibility for living through long periods of time instead of letting nature or God take care of it?

If so, is the phrase "Who we are is only a stepping stone to what we can become" true in a physical sense? Are we to adapt our bodies through augmentation to survive the upcoming rising temperatures? Or to be able to take enormous pain, transcend disease or survive in space much easier? If so, what will make us human in the end? Our physical bodies and their limitations or our minds, our individuality being able to survive much longer than previous.

Please help me, this idea has recently conflicted with what I thought before

[rmk]

cliffs=

[mattqatsi]

This pretty much is the cliffs of what could be longer.

Will we really lose our humanity to technology? Will physical augmentations destroy what it means to be human?

[dawninja]

srsly

tl;dr

[nick 13]

Way too long broe

[mattqatsi]

Sorry, I tend to overthink, but I did put in cliffs

[shreal]

You are misinterpreting snappy rhetoric with what makes a human.

We are.

That is all there is to humanity.

We are a small emulation of what we call the Universe

[mattqatsi]

You are misinterpreting snappy rhetoric with what makes a human.

We are.

That is all there is to humanity.

We are merely a small emulation of what we call the Universe
That is kinda what I'm saying. Will these changes make us less human like most say? Or the fact that we are as a people, that will make us human...

I'm not misinterpretting snappy rhetoric, I'm adding it in to slightly alter the view with which you approach this question

[rmk]

look at my fucking penis

[312c]

Technology is nothing more then an advanced form of evolution.

[le0]

Way too long broe

[ChewY]

watch the matrix, its actually a documentary from the future.

[ChewY]

also cocks

[mattqatsi]

look at my fucking penis
Oi Vey, I expected more intellectualism out of DG
... Where the hell is UnluckyXIII? He's one of the few shreds of sanity to be found on these forsaken forums...

Oh, and I don't think that's mod sassing, but tell me if it is

[le0]

watch the matrix, its actually a documentary from the future.


also cocks

[shreal]

That is kinda what I'm saying. Will these changes make us less human like most say? Or the fact that we are as a people, that will make us human...

I'm not misinterpretting snappy rhetoric, I'm adding it in to slightly alter the view with which you approach this question

What keeps a human a human is when a human looks in the mirror they see a human, not the flesh he is wrapped in.

The only thing special about humanity is that we have a concept of self, that doesn't make us special at all, in a zen view that is the ultimate transgression.

Sorry, i had a pretty amazing shroom trip last night that destroyed my view of humanity, this thread is great.


Everything is as it should be. Humans refuse to understand this.

[mattqatsi]

I'll disagree with you on the ultimate transgression, I consider it a blessing...

[shreal]

I'll disagree with you on the ultimate transgression, I consider it a blessing...

Why do you consider this a blessing? A blessing from what? What has being alive ever done for you?

It's all an evolutionary illusion. Life is the greatest illness. We are all lies.

[Zain]

look at my fucking penis


Way too long broe

[mattqatsi]

Why do you consider this a blessing? A blessing from what? What has being alive ever done for you?

It's all an evolutionary illusion. Life is the greatest illness. We are all lies.
Are we really lies? Says who? Says a trip into an altered state of mind (an isolated mind that is being fucked with at the time)?

Alive has done a lot for me, countless things. Why would one consider it a curse and and illness? I find that utterly depressing

[rmk]

heh zain knows wuts gut

[shreal]

Are we really lies? Says who? Says a trip into an altered state of mind (an isolated mind that is being fucked with at the time)?

Alive has done a lot for me, countless things. Why would one consider it a curse and and illness? I find that utterly depressing
this has actually been my outlook on the human condition since i was youngin, i've always found truth in it, psychedelics or not.

Psychedelics are great tools for understanding what you are without being yourself, it's hard to explain if you are not savvy.

A hammer is a tool to drive a nail through wood, a shroom is a tool to seperate the human from the soul.

[Spamacus]

I didn't read any of this, mostly because you're a moron, secondly because you dream of becoming a fed.

Fed + Humanity discussion = fail
Dumb wannabe fed + humanity discussion = epic phail
Epic phail = Matt.

Thus, this thread is a vicious fucking straight line of failure, just like your life.

[mattqatsi]

A hammer is a tool to drive a nail through wood, a shroom is a tool to seperate the human from the soul.
Is there really a spiritual aspect to it? Is this really the movie "Altered States" (man, that freaked me out) or are the shrooms just a hallucinogen, something to make you believe what you are seeing is different, special and worst of all, real

[rmk]

Oi Vey, I expected more intellectualism out of DG
... Where the hell is UnluckyXIII? He's one of the few shreds of sanity to be found on these forsaken forums...

Oh, and I don't think that's mod sassing, but tell me if it is

i just read the OP, can't really call that too intellectual

"i think therefore i am" quote = wow big brains itt





of course we will do whatever we can to improve quality of life or survive longer into the future. self preservation is one of our strongest instincts broeski

[mattqatsi]

I didn't read any of this, mostly because you're a moron, secondly because you dream of becoming a fed.

Fed + Humanity discussion = fail
Dumb wannabe fed + humanity discussion = epic phail
Epic phail = Matt.

Thus, this thread is a vicious fucking straight line of failure, just like your life.
Come on, be fair, I'm posing an interesting question which has been bothering me, I'm looking for help.

Besides, what's wrong with wanting to be a fed? It's not like anyone has done anything on the forums to get arrested, or at least nothing they'd go after

[mattqatsi]

"i think therefore i am" quote = wow big brains itt
I was questioning the legitimacy of it, not using it exclusively as an argument

[rmk]

Besides, what's wrong with wanting to be a fed? It's not like anyone has done anything on the forums to get arrested, or at least nothing they'd go after

dude are you serious

[mattqatsi]

dude are you serious
Yes, after I am out of the Air Force, that is one career path I am considering

[rmk]

no i meant that no one on dg does anything that feds would "go after"

[shreal]

Is there really a spiritual aspect to it? Is this really the movie "Altered States" (man, that freaked me out) or are the shrooms just a hallucinogen, something to make you believe what you are seeing is different, special and worst of all, real

Everything is a spiritual aspect, we are born into a spiritually raped society so it's forgivable that you can't see it. There only the soul. I don't like the world "soul" or "spirituality" because it comes with a lot of associations.

You are a facet of the soul being characterized as an identity. Identity brings a lot to the table, like a world, and a world bring a whole lot of nothing. That is what we are, nothing, plugged into a train of thought called life. Life is nothing more than a highly decorated state of nothing. Nothing would exist without nothing.

It's a really convoluted train of thought you should avoid unless you can handle truth.

[musicnerdanimals]

no i meant that no one on dg does anything that feds would "go after"

there are bigger fish js

[mattqatsi]

Nothing exclusively on DG. From what I've seen, noone actively aids criminals on the forums. They wouldn't go for those who post Jailbait, they want to go after those who make CP, not horny teens posting ex-girlfriend's pics...
Besides, don't worry, if I do join the FBI, it wouldn't be for another 10-15 years... or maybe I should go NSA...

[mattqatsi]

It's a really convoluted train of thought you should avoid unless you can handle truth.

I beg to differ... sure, I believe in a spiritual realm, but not one that is accessible by shrooms

[shreal]

I beg to differ... sure, I believe in a spiritual realm, but not one that is accessible by shrooms

There is only the spirit.

What else is there to believe?

[Spamacus]

I'm pretty sure you'll have some sort of intelligence test for the NSA. Unless they are looking for some weapons-grade stupid, you're probably not getting in. Nbd, js.

[mattqatsi]

I'm pretty sure you'll have some sort of intelligence test for the NSA. Unless they are looking for some weapons-grade stupid, you're probably not getting in. Nbd, js.
Believe it or not, I'm pretty smart... and I can prove it... I don't want to sound pompous but I don't want to let that claim go unrefuted...

Shreal, I believe in God, as well as angels and demons, all separate entities, not one oversoul

[rmk]

Nothing exclusively on DG. From what I've seen, noone actively aids criminals on the forums. They wouldn't go for those who post Jailbait, they want to go after those who make CP, not horny teens posting ex-girlfriend's pics...
Besides, don't worry, if I do join the FBI, it wouldn't be for another 10-15 years... or maybe I should go NSA...

do you not read the forums though jag had court on a fed case THIS WEEK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Smathers
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880002574A4006DC390.html
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2005/05/67629

edit: also http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1999/11/3272

[shreal]

Shreal, I believe in God, as well as angels and demons, all separate entities, not one oversoul

Before you knock spiritual meditation through the use of shrooms, take a look at where your spiritual meditation has come from.

Someone else.

Believing in angels and demons is almost as laughable as the idea of God.

I'm done with this thread, you're naive, you'll learn if you want to, if you don't it doesn't matter.

Just stack bills, thats all that matters tbh

[mattqatsi]

Yes, but how many of these have been brought against DG itself? As in cease-and-desist letters

[mattqatsi]

Before you knock spiritual meditation through the use of shrooms, take a look at where your spiritual meditation has come from.

Someone else.

Believing in angels and demons is almost as laughable as the idea of God.

I'm done with this thread, you're naive, you'll learn if you want to, if you don't it doesn't matter.

Just stack bills, thats all that matters tbh
Wow, as soon as I bring my personal beliefs into the thread, you leave... Ironic you call me naive. Prove me wrong! Prove to me that you are right! Because if you seriously are right, and I'm wrong, I don't want to be living in a lie.

Laughable as the idea of God? Oh, I can fight that all night

[rmk]

Yes, but how many of these have been brought against DG itself? As in cease-and-desist letters

oh i thought you meant "on the forums" like no one on these forums does anything fedworthy

wtf would you do on a forum to generate a cease & desist?

we should put no shitty threads in the tos and send out c&ds to you and toby maybe that would legitimize us :-p

[Spamacus]

Saying "I'm pretty smart" isn't exactly refuting the claim. Neither are the majority of your 950+ posts.

By the way, did you read the jag threads? If you did, you'd know that the people around DG don't just care about "DG itself" being targeted. The people here are DG, when they are targeted, DG is targeted.

[shreal]

Wow, as soon as I bring my personal beliefs into the thread, you leave... Ironic you call me naive. Prove me wrong! Prove to me that you are right! Because if you seriously are right, and I'm wrong, I don't want to be living in a lie.

Laughable as the idea of God? Oh, I can fight that all night

I'm not trying to prove myself right or you wrong. I am trying to tell you that there is no right and wrong. There is only you. There are only your ideas and the ideas of those around you. Why sell yourself short to a petty idea of God and demons that you have no idea the truth of?

God exists in a mans mind, not mans world. The soul is god, whatever it is we call the soul is the only reason we are here.

[mattqatsi]

Saying "I'm pretty smart" isn't exactly refuting the claim. Neither are the majority of your 950+ posts.

By the way, did you read the jag threads? If you did, you'd know that the people around DG don't just care about "DG itself" being targeted. The people here are DG, when they are targeted, DG is targeted.
Dammit! That wasn't the point of the thread. I just wanted to say that even though I want to become a fed, you have nothing to worry about

[rmk]

Dammit! That wasn't the point of the thread. I just wanted to say that even though I want to become a fed, you have nothing to worry about

if you fed as good as you post we wouldn't have anything to worry about anyway

[Spamacus]

Dammit! That wasn't the point of the thread. I just wanted to say that even though I want to become a fed, you have nothing to worry about

Sorry dude, you're right. By the way, can you tell your mom she gave me too much for last night? I don't need tips.

[mattqatsi]

I'm not trying to prove myself right or you wrong. I am trying to tell you that there is no right and wrong. There is only you. There are only your ideas and the ideas of those around you. Why sell yourself short to a petty idea of God and demons that you have no idea the truth of?

God exists in a mans mind, not mans world. The soul is god, whatever it is we call the soul is the only reason we are here.
I find the idea of an absence of absolute truth laughable and unthinkable. What proof do you have of this oversoul? A bunch of drugs that mess up your brain told you? Hallucinogens have showed you the way?

Petty idea of God? So far, I havn't head a better alternative... Evolution? Chance? Molecules smashing into molecules? No, I find the patterns of the universe, the same patterns found on micro and macro scales throughout existence, handcrafted by a designer... No truth of? I've seen truth through the world of God's existence, things that can only be explained by a God or explanations in the Bible. I see all the scientific mysteries, everything we don't have an answer fr scientifically, then I see the exact same mysteries answered by a book written thousands of years ago. I don't hink it's mere chance

[nick 13]

This is getting way too serious here with the paragraphs.

[mattqatsi]

This is getting way too serious here with the paragraphs.
There is a time to ponder as well as a time to jest

[mattqatsi]

if you fed as good as you post we wouldn't have anything to worry about anyway
What do you mean by that? That some posts are confusing? That I try and transcend the normal doldrum of quoting rap lyrics and acting electronically and technologically tough?

[Spamacus]

There is a time to ponder as well as a time to jest

But now is the time for me to spray on your mom's chest.

[mattqatsi]

But now is the time for me to spray on your mom's chest.
I was trying to think of something insightful to respond to nick, but that's all I could come up with... touche

[shreal]

I find the idea of an absence of absolute truth laughable and unthinkable. What proof do you have of this oversoul? A bunch of drugs that mess up your brain told you? Hallucinogens have showed you the way?

Petty idea of God? So far, I havn't head a better alternative... Evolution? Chance? Molecules smashing into molecules? No, I find the patterns of the universe, the same patterns found on micro and macro scales throughout existence, handcrafted by a designer... No truth of? I've seen truth through the world of God's existence, things that can only be explained by a God or explanations in the Bible. I see all the scientific mysteries, everything we don't have an answer fr scientifically, then I see the exact same mysteries answered by a book written thousands of years ago. I don't hink it's mere chance

First of all I never said that spirituality is found through mushrooms. It is found in life. I had a mushroom experience last night that got at the topic of this thread, I shouldn't have mentioned it.

Why do you need an alternative? Why can't you just accept that you are? Why have you latched yourself to the idea of the creator God? You are your own god, you created who you are. We are alive in a spiritual realm. The concrete material world inhabited by the soul showing itself in the way it has to, materially.

We are alone in the world without purpose, we are given a life to do as we say so. There is no grand mission, just do what you do and be you, free yourself from associations that have been created by more intelligent men to keep you ignorant to the truth.

[GodIncarnate]

Why does everything have to have an explanation anyway?
If there is a god, where the fuck did he come from? And where the fuck did that come from? And where the fuck did that come from?
The universe and the very state of "existing" is such a complex and crazy thing that our brains could never interpret anything about it once we get to a certain level. It's just not even worth wondering about because our life span is shorter than the amount of time it would take for a human beings brain to even be able to start interpreting what is REALLY going on.

So I just roll with it. Live your life and do what makes you happy.

The dude talking about the shrooms has a point in a way though.
I only did them a couple times but what it does is disconnect you from everything you know about the world.
When I was on them, I was just a being. I didn't have any sense of feelings or family or ANYTHING. My phone started ringing and I honestly didn't know what the fuck it was and smashed it on the ground.
Basically it lets you see what the world would be if your mind wasn't conditioned with all these facts of reality and life that are pumped into it since the day you are born.

[rmk]

What do you mean by that? That some posts are confusing? That I try and transcend the normal doldrum of quoting rap lyrics and acting electronically and technologically tough?

umad

[shreal]

thread got owned so hard

[Nore]

look at my fucking penis

"look at my fucking penis" ~ rmk 2k5