Transhumanism : Othor Games

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:36 pm

Seriously? A Furby? Geez...

I'm generally all for transhumanism of the technological variety.

Those videos, however, didn't seem to be a good example of what transhumanism is (typically) all about. Transhumanism is, to my understanding, about moving beyond the confines of biology and increasing the welfare of humanity as a whole.

For example, whether or not transhumanism gains hold as a viable construct, we're still going to have a human population issue. Yes, the possibility of literal mind control exists. And Artificial Intelligence will happen without the transhumanism movement.

Also, read the YouTube video description. Utter hilarity there.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:24 pm

Hmm, I'll keep my body and mind untouched by anything the government might want to put in there, even if it would get rid of aging and/or most disease's. I"m not a paranoia person, but even I can see this being abused, at all points of it's existence.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:31 am

Our electronic old men and their flexibility has allowed us to make progress in the mythical city on the hills.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:46 pm

anything that lets me implant lasers and explosives and lets me jump off of 6 story buildings and also cloak......................HELL YEAH!

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:34 am

Our electronic old men and their flexibility has allowed us to make progress in the mythical city on the hills.

I love Deus Ex and all, but that video just wasn't funny. At all.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:37 am

The idea of living forever sounds like the worst thing imaginable.

I'm all for evolving, but fusing ourselves with technology is not the way to do that.

Essentially, this. Even if everyone lives forever, etc, as someone posted earlier on, the idea of humans as immortal disturbs me to no end. As if the human population wasn't already damaging enough, you want to make us not die, as well? Death keeps our population down, at least to an extent, but if nobody ever died, we'd have even bigger human overpopulation problems than we do now. Unless this transhumanism would also stop biological reproduction, which would be counterproductive (no pun intended).

Biological creatures (including humans) grow old, weaken and, ultimately, die. That's how it has always been and how it always should be. :shrug:

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:54 am

Essentially, this. Even if everyone lives forever, etc, as someone posted earlier on, the idea of humans as immortal disturbs me to no end. As if the human population wasn't already damaging enough, you want to make us not die, as well? Death keeps our population down, at least to an extent, but if nobody ever died, we'd have even bigger human overpopulation problems than we do now. Unless this transhumanism would also stop biological reproduction, which would be counterproductive (no pun intended).

Biological creatures (including humans) grow old, weaken and, ultimately, die. That's how it has always been and how it always should be. :shrug:

so you would turn down the opportunity to have machine guns and ninja blades grafted to you arms and rocket boosters on your feet? are you insane? :blink:

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:41 pm

I rather stay human than become toaster. But nanotechnology and increased lifespan sounds intriguing...

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 7:40 am

I don't think we are smarter than ourselves.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:05 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4W5cTunKsg

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:19 am

Whoaaaa duuuuude, you can get brain chipz inserted into ur headz and experience euphoria and pleasure whoaaaaa that's so far ouuuut. Peace love and techno-hipster drugs straight into ur headz.. the future is where it's happening! :celebration: :disco:

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:57 am

It's the inevitable, absolutely necessary future, and the only alternative to extinction.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:42 am

dun dun dunnnnnnn

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:31 pm

Art would die. Sports would die. Everything that you have to get good at would die, since anyone could do it. Well, anyone who can afford it that is. And that just brings us to another problem.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:21 am

When the top rated comment mentions "the evolution hoax" I think I'll pass.

Also, any form of humanism rests on the mistaken notion that humankind is the master of its own destiny and therefore is fundamentally flawed.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:33 am

Too much potential for abuse. There will be conflict: religion, class warfare, eugenics, and a host of physical problems that the transhumified will experience, that have not been foreseen.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:06 pm

I would say that this has always existed no matter where you look and even today people do it by "Choosing" their mates. They may think themselves above animals being human beings, but they just prove themselves wrong going for the "pretty" ones that are desirable above the ugly ones. Sadly due to modern medicine babies that would have died have survived which is why we see the gene pool heavily polluted lately. Even though people may say it's due to broader testing and improved criteria I still believe autism is on the rise due to heavy pollution in the gene pool.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:19 pm

Too much potential for abuse. There will be conflict: religion, class warfare, eugenics, and a host of physical problems that the transhumified will experience, that have not been foreseen.

Right, because scientists and engineers tend not to be very good with people skills, and so they assume everyone behaves in the same manner that they do.

http://xkcd.com/592/

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:07 am

Sadly due to modern medicine babies that would have died have survived which is why we see the gene pool heavily polluted lately. Even though people may say it's due to broader testing and improved criteria I still believe autism is on the rise due to heavy pollution in the gene pool.

I was born at 23 weeks - spent my first five months of life in the NICU on breathing tubes. Then spent the next few months hooked up to monitors to make sure I was healthy.

I'm sure you can see what I mean by all that in regards to your "opinion."

Also, it would behoove you to audit a genetics course. Trisomy 21, for example, very rarely occurs anymore in the Western world due to genetic screening.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 7:08 am

Sadly due to modern medicine babies that would have died have survived which is why we see the gene pool heavily polluted lately.

But if modern medicine means those problems aren't a danger any more, is the gene pool polluted with essentially harmless and easily treatable conditions?

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:30 pm

I would say that this has always existed no matter where you look and even today people do it by "Choosing" their mates. They may think themselves above animals being human beings, but they just prove themselves wrong going for the "pretty" ones that are desirable above the ugly ones. Sadly due to modern medicine babies that would have died have survived which is why we see the gene pool heavily polluted lately. Even though people may say it's due to broader testing and improved criteria I still believe autism is on the rise due to heavy pollution in the gene pool.

I do seem to recall a certain someone who was trying to eradicate all the "problems and pollutions" in the genepool, and trying to create a "superhuman perfect race". It was kind of a big mess...

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:26 am

I do seem to recall a certain someone who was trying to eradicate all the "problems and pollutions" in the genepool, and trying to create a "superhuman perfect race". It was kind of a big mess...

Yes, JM Keynes continues to ruin our economy and sociology to this day.

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:34 pm

Yes, JM Keynes continues to ruin our economy and sociology to this day.

haHA! Very funny. *poke*

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:13 am

But if modern medicine means those problems aren't a danger any more, is the gene pool polluted with essentially harmless and easily treatable conditions?

Not sure if you're asking for a serious answer, but... the short answer is no.

Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis, for example, are both genetic diseases that have a severe detrimental effect on the individual (Huntington's disease symptoms occurring later in life, while cystic fibrosis tends to lower an individual's lifespan considerably).

» Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:03 am

Say no to transhumanism! No to prosthetic limbs! No to pacemakers!

Too much potential for abuse. There will be conflict: religion, class warfare, eugenics, and a host of physical problems that the transhumified will experience, that have not been foreseen.

Because sans-transhuman development these things aren't problems?