If you could become "augmented"...would you?
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Only as a necessity, such as organ failure, lost limbs or if everyone else gets augments and then those without are targets without the necessary defence or they start to lose rights, like in the job markets. Which is exactly the direction Deus Ex: HR was heading in Hengsha.
To be honest, the idea kinda scares me. Sure it's cool and flashy, but I much prefer my own flesh, blood and bone. Evolution has spend millions of years crafting me into who I am, and I happen to enjoy it. I'd rather stay what nature intended me to be. Granted, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, since I think that augmentations could better a lot of people's lives, such as those with debilitating diseases, birth defects, or other defects such as dysfunctional limbs. I also think it would be an amazing opportunity to restore sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and whatnot, and to help our veterans get back their lives if they've lost limbs or organs in service.
Which opens up another frightening application, ie military applications. You'd have to be VERY trusting of your government to think that they wouldn't abuse augment, or perhaps even more-so, other countries' governments. Just saying, there are plenty of countries that would probably augment all of their soldiers into T-900s in a heartbeat, and if your country hasn't done similar actions, maybe you should consider moving somewhere remote where there are absolutely no precious resources...
One last thing: there's no telling what the psychological side effects are. There may be none, which would be great, but we don't know how the human mind would cope with the thought of bits of it being torn off. Like I said, there may be nothing, but there could be SOMETHING, and once you start to augment, I don't think there's an easy way to go back.
Which opens up another frightening application, ie military applications. You'd have to be VERY trusting of your government to think that they wouldn't abuse augment, or perhaps even more-so, other countries' governments. Just saying, there are plenty of countries that would probably augment all of their soldiers into T-900s in a heartbeat, and if your country hasn't done similar actions, maybe you should consider moving somewhere remote where there are absolutely no precious resources...
One last thing: there's no telling what the psychological side effects are. There may be none, which would be great, but we don't know how the human mind would cope with the thought of bits of it being torn off. Like I said, there may be nothing, but there could be SOMETHING, and once you start to augment, I don't think there's an easy way to go back.
Considering Ghost in the Shell is high on the list of my fav anime, and Motoko Kusanagi is one of my fav anime characters, yes, I very much would if it could get me closer to the world of ghost in the shell.
If not full conversion, Kusanagi style, then, at the least, the sub-brain computer. Net diving, vast wealths of knowledge, and, well, a more powerful brain would be awesome.
Honestly, I'm not too keen on limb upgrades. 'mma be the party pooper here, I guess, but getting an augmented arm, or arms means they have to be anchored to the body sufficiently if you're going to lift with them.
If lifted weight exceeds the strength of what the arms are anchored to, they're gunna come off with varying amounts of gore depending on anchoring.
Even if they're properly anchored, and your arms can lift the item, but your body can't support it, it's kinda useless. If you do get the car over your head, and your legs give out, well, the item's gunna come down on your frail body.
Anyone ever watch that ep of Tazmania where Francis X. Bushlad used that super strength cream on his arms, and lifted the boulder? His legs went rubbery, then gave out, and he got crushed just after he remarked that he forgot to give them strength.
If not full conversion, Kusanagi style, then, at the least, the sub-brain computer. Net diving, vast wealths of knowledge, and, well, a more powerful brain would be awesome.
Honestly, I'm not too keen on limb upgrades. 'mma be the party pooper here, I guess, but getting an augmented arm, or arms means they have to be anchored to the body sufficiently if you're going to lift with them.
If lifted weight exceeds the strength of what the arms are anchored to, they're gunna come off with varying amounts of gore depending on anchoring.
Even if they're properly anchored, and your arms can lift the item, but your body can't support it, it's kinda useless. If you do get the car over your head, and your legs give out, well, the item's gunna come down on your frail body.
Anyone ever watch that ep of Tazmania where Francis X. Bushlad used that super strength cream on his arms, and lifted the boulder? His legs went rubbery, then gave out, and he got crushed just after he remarked that he forgot to give them strength.
Probably not, I have a decent body already. Maybe when stuff starts breaking down or if I get in an accident where I lose a limb or something, but otherwise, I'm pretty sweet how I am.
I already do live there. It's called New Zealand.Alexei F. Karamazov said:
I would get a bionic heart, and have it go off in 20 years. Then I'll have a motivation to get shit done, including my life dream of riding a tamed, friendly alligator before time's up.
Yeah. Starting with my teeth. I take extremely good care of them. It's just always bothered me that they can't regrow. The human body?s pretty amazing. Broken skin heals. Cut nails and hair grow back again. Fractured bones knit together. But you can?t regrow tooth enamel. Ever. I would definitely opt for some augmented teeth. That would be sweet. After that, I'm not sure what parts I would alter.
Given current state of civilization? Hell no, can you imagine what kind of EULA would come with augments? Firmware updates, DLC, SUBSCRIPTION FEES?
Granted, one day laying my hands on a new body along the lines of the CDF soldiers from Old Man's War would be pretty freaking sweet.
Granted, one day laying my hands on a new body along the lines of the CDF soldiers from Old Man's War would be pretty freaking sweet.
Yes. I so would.
If I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't be the first test subject. I'd honestly love it if I could be augmented in all sorts of ways.
I'd really love it if the world got to the point that "artificial bodies" become the equivalent "clothes" are today. Essentially.
If I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't be the first test subject. I'd honestly love it if I could be augmented in all sorts of ways.
I'd really love it if the world got to the point that "artificial bodies" become the equivalent "clothes" are today. Essentially.
Sure, but I'd prefer to actually augment the body I already have, not chop bits off and replace them wholesale.
So like, implants that give me additional senses/improve the body parts I already have? Fuck yes!
Not that I'd stop anyone else from going down that route, but I've always had a massive fear of bits of my body being removed. I blame exposure to the Borg at far too young an age.
EDIT: The exception to the "no robot replacements" thing would be if my own organs/limbs had already failed or been irreparably damaged, of course.
So like, implants that give me additional senses/improve the body parts I already have? Fuck yes!
Not that I'd stop anyone else from going down that route, but I've always had a massive fear of bits of my body being removed. I blame exposure to the Borg at far too young an age.
EDIT: The exception to the "no robot replacements" thing would be if my own organs/limbs had already failed or been irreparably damaged, of course.
After giving this some thought, I think I would start small. I mean really small. I would prefer to have my body filled with Nanotech machines. Microscopic little robots that zip around your bloodstream and fix any issues your body has and augment my abilities using those.
Eventually I may work my way up to full conversion. Maybe something like this: http://i46.servimg.com/u/f46/11/16/43/29/wing_b10.jpg
After all, why limit yourself to a mere humanoid form.
Eventually I may work my way up to full conversion. Maybe something like this: http://i46.servimg.com/u/f46/11/16/43/29/wing_b10.jpg
After all, why limit yourself to a mere humanoid form.
Can it make my right side match my left and put me on a level playing field with everyone else? hell yeah! muscle augmentation!
Jaegar piloting, here I come! I wouldn't really want to replace anything, but I am all for something that would enhance what is already there.
Oh and just warning you now, stay the **** away from anything psionic or psi-like. That is MINE! I get to be the first human with psychic/psionic abilities!
Jaegar piloting, here I come! I wouldn't really want to replace anything, but I am all for something that would enhance what is already there.
Oh and just warning you now, stay the **** away from anything psionic or psi-like. That is MINE! I get to be the first human with psychic/psionic abilities!
In a sense, people are already augmented with un-natural aids. Glasses and prosthetic legs, pins inside your body when you break a bone, electric wheelchairs, pacemakers etc. I count them as augments because your body didn't grow 'em to make up for it's shortcomings.
So there's no moral reason why one shouldn't do it.
But from an aesthetic point of view, I wouldn't unless it was indistinguishable from the real thing. Because some augmentations would put your visage into the uncanny valley. If I wanted night vision, well, that'll involve removing my eyes - and replacing them with something that don't look like human eyes. People would get very, very wary of me if that were to happen.
Then there's the pricing, cybernetics will most likely be rather expensive - which in turn will price a lot of people out and that will bring back-alley doctors with it. (And possibly crime.)
Plus augmented people will be more likely to get jobs - why hire someone when you can hire a superman who gets the job done faster or better. Johnny Poorman is going to find himself on the scrapheap of life.
Augmentation on a mass scale will probably be made illegal to keep the status quo, which I'd think is fairer.
I guess getting back to the question at hand, I probably wouldn't do it. But if augments were affordable, regulated and done by a reputable doctor - I probably would.
So there's no moral reason why one shouldn't do it.
But from an aesthetic point of view, I wouldn't unless it was indistinguishable from the real thing. Because some augmentations would put your visage into the uncanny valley. If I wanted night vision, well, that'll involve removing my eyes - and replacing them with something that don't look like human eyes. People would get very, very wary of me if that were to happen.
Then there's the pricing, cybernetics will most likely be rather expensive - which in turn will price a lot of people out and that will bring back-alley doctors with it. (And possibly crime.)
Plus augmented people will be more likely to get jobs - why hire someone when you can hire a superman who gets the job done faster or better. Johnny Poorman is going to find himself on the scrapheap of life.
Augmentation on a mass scale will probably be made illegal to keep the status quo, which I'd think is fairer.
I guess getting back to the question at hand, I probably wouldn't do it. But if augments were affordable, regulated and done by a reputable doctor - I probably would.
i'd go whole hog. eyes? ears? limbs? whole organs? sign me right up, i've been meaning to replace some of my squishy bits, they are after all....squishy and not as good as synthetic stuff.
heh.
heh.