That's what a hippie would say. (best said in a Myrna voice)

Agreed there's far too much evidence of them being sentient to consider them just machines and the head honchos of the institute seem to be in denial about this. I still don't get the purpose of the infiltration program. It seems like such a program would be more of a hassle than it's worth. If they only had gen1 and gen2 synths there probably wouldn't be a railroad. The only logical reason I can see for gen3s is because the older models are kind of creepy.

Disagree

I'm fully aware of that. You've made no secret you consider them just machines. Here's one part I have questions on though. I still don't see how controlling a city and making them anti-synth would work out in the long run though. Wouldn't you want to make the city pro-synth so you don't have an uprising when you take control? Why help the paranoia about your orignization?

The Institute has no intrest in the wasteland besides salvage tech. People being pro or anti synth doesn't matter to them.

If you're talking about Diamond City, they don't make them anti-synth, a synth malfunction independently which caused the paranoia. Piper was the one who keeps trying to bring up the synth issue.

Points up yep broken mask...... And well Piper sure aint helping either heheheh. (then again they do snag people soooooooo)

^This

Diamond City is anti-synth because of the Broken Mask Incident were a prototype synths was accidentally sent to the surface by The Institute, and it wandered over the Diamond City where it started malfunctioning and killing people.

OFC, the people of DC has no way of knowing this was all an accident, which only caused deep seated paranoia that The Institute WAS trying to replace everyone, when they really weren't.

I was referring more to the mayor's speech. Not the broken mask incident. I'm pretty sure I remember him lecturing about the dangers they face from synths.

You can't really blame her. She don't know any about the Institute besides all the out of context stories. On the other hand she could ask when you become their leader but instead she rips you a new one.

To be fair, being the boogeyman, they're being blamed for whenever something bad happens. It's not like the Institute can defend themselves whenever something bad happens. During Nick's quest, a doctor killed his patient and hides his body, and everyone would just assume the Institute did it. The Institute is likely get blamed for whenever something bad happens, regardless of whether they did it or not. They do replace them though, but I doubt they're responsible for every crime.

Because when you're being accused of being a synth, the best way of disproving it would be to speak positively of synths.

DC mayor is a synth and he was likely trying to show he isn't a synth by being anti synth. If you mean Hancock he just as confused as everyone else. He didn't know his own brother is a synth.

After rewatching the mayor's speech I see that I misremembered it. My bad people that one's on me. In fairness they also do things that encourage that image such a university point and the Art fiasco. Sure they shouldn't be blamed for everything but it's not like they aren't responsible for some of the things they're accused of.

Looks at Molerat tracks leading up to, and away from body.

Examines bite marks on throat, torso,and extremities.

Notices clump of fur clutched in dead mans hand.

"Yep, Institute for sure bag him boy's"

(but they are grim enough to have earned rep, well I woulld say......I)

Yes, they are responsible for what they did. I'm just bringing up a point that since the Institute is an easy target, it's very easy for people to put the blame on them, especially if they want to justify a reason for why their loved ones disappear. It could inflate easily in term of reputation. Considering the Institute is not only kidnapped, they often also replace people. Kidnap people without replacing them wouldn't do the Institute any good since they would just make people on edge and conscious and make their job on the surface harder. If the Institute does what it supposes to, then people shouldn't be aware that their loved ones have been kidnapped and replaced. It just feels like a lot of the time, people are just looking for a way or a reason to justify for why bad things happen, so they need to have a target to direct their grief at.

For all she knows you've been replaced with a synth

Just because there don't seem to be as many humans in the Institute as there are humans in the Brotherhood. The Institute's soldiers seem to all be synths. If one considers them to be "just" machines, then the actual number of humans in danger from blowing up the Institute is pretty small; even smaller if you evacuate them. While the BOS may evacuate, or may be at fault for ~not~ evacuating, it's still the difference between actively warning them to evacuate and just ~hoping~ they do the right thing and protect their innocents.

How about this,why not give them four arms and the ability to look in multiple directions at once so they can't be snuck up on. As it stands the human design is sort of inefficient.

Why does every nation around the world have a spy program?

The Institute would be moronic to not have eyes and ears all around the Commonwealth. Any group that tries to remain protected and isolated while keeping themselves blind won't be either for very long.

The Institute is a big place. Far bigger than what we're presented with in-game I'm sure. Its a self-contained society thats been breeding for 200 years.

It has way more population than whatever forces The Brotherhood expedition brought.

She has no problem doing missions and sleeping together afterwards but asking questions is a step too far because I might be a synth?

Because racism. Ghouls, super mutants, and synths all face discrimination in the wasteland even if they did nothing wrong so a four armed mutant would to.

I disagree with your disagreement.

Lets look at some facts.

Synths -

- are biological, they have bone skeletons, they have hearts, they have muscles, they have lungs, and they have a brain, all human, based entirely on human DNA.

- develop emotions, like most natural born humans.

- can learn and think on their own beyond their initial programming, like humans growing up and having experiences.

- feel fear at the thought of losing themselves to being reprogrammed (through the interface chip implanted in their brains)

They are no more machines than we are.

Which are synthetic.

All synthetic.

More likely an advanced CPU of some sort. Synths regularly receive software package updates for various systems.

Synthetic organic material replicated based on human DNA structure, yes.

Automatron puts an interesting spin on that. ADA feels regret, pain, guilt, and anger at various points.

However, she also indicates that this is a programmed personality matrix that can be easily switched on and off easily. If ADA can replicate human emotions so well, why is a Synth any different?

AI's can learn and adapt based on their own programming. Its still programming.

And yet they also regularly volunteer to "lose themselves" with a mind wipe.

Since when can humans be reprogrammed directly and receive updates to their OS?

It's noted in several places in the game that Gen 3s are indistinguishable from humans, the only way to know for sure is dissecting the brain and finding the interface chip. For all intent and purpose, they are as human as natural born humans are, they were just originally constructed by a mechanical process rather than a completely biological one. Let me say this again.. indistinguishable from humans, that means that DNA testing can't single them out, they are human.