World's First Cyborg Speaks Out
- Thread starter JonB
- Start date
At least they're getting the ball rolling now, rather than sixty years from now when anti-cyborg sentiment is at an all time high...
Just to play devils advocate, there IS a reason why he is calling himself a cyborg and not someone with cochlear implants or a pacemaker. Those pieces of technology fix or enable senses that the person already has, fixing problems with systems the body already has in places. This thing gives him the ability to hear colors, an ability that he wouldn't have even if he had no handicap. And yes, Synesthesia is a thing that some people have, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't count as an extension beyond his normal ability: if a brain implant gave someone perfect memory, id count that as a cyborg even though there are people who have that ability naturally.
Ill agree that it is a pretty underwhelming cybernetic for someone calling themselves the first cyborg, but it only makes sense that the FIRST would be a pretty crappy enhancement, and better ones come later. I may in general be underwhelmed, but I DO think the very fact that we can say that a Cyborg Foundation exists is about the coolest thing ever.
Ill agree that it is a pretty underwhelming cybernetic for someone calling themselves the first cyborg, but it only makes sense that the FIRST would be a pretty crappy enhancement, and better ones come later. I may in general be underwhelmed, but I DO think the very fact that we can say that a Cyborg Foundation exists is about the coolest thing ever.
There seems to be a lot of ignorance in this thread. People with enhancements to help them hear or see are judged pretty quickly by people and the majority don't see the consequences. One of my friends is deaf and she loves music. She has an implant to help her hear but for the most part she speaks in sign and uses the implant only when she has to. You can imagine the looks she gets, but its because people don't understand that you aren't different if you love something differently to someone else.
I agree that cyborg rights are going to be much more of an issue as it is more recognised in society. People are scared of new perspectives but spreading hate and malice against people who choose to use implants or other devices to enhance their lives is ignorance at every level. Lose a sense for a day, any one, and I guarantee you'll look for a way to get that back, even if its using your other senses to interpret for you.
There is also the argument of having implants out of want rather than need. I'm on the side of the want. If you want better sight, better hearing, stronger arms etc, it should be available to you. Cosmetic surgery is available to people who want to improve their image, so why can't implants be available to improve your abilities? In the next few years augmentation in general is going to be an issue so it is best to discuss it now so we won't have prejudice when it becomes the norm. Change is scary to some people but when you consider what the internet did for our generation, it seems that some fears aren't justified.
I agree that cyborg rights are going to be much more of an issue as it is more recognised in society. People are scared of new perspectives but spreading hate and malice against people who choose to use implants or other devices to enhance their lives is ignorance at every level. Lose a sense for a day, any one, and I guarantee you'll look for a way to get that back, even if its using your other senses to interpret for you.
There is also the argument of having implants out of want rather than need. I'm on the side of the want. If you want better sight, better hearing, stronger arms etc, it should be available to you. Cosmetic surgery is available to people who want to improve their image, so why can't implants be available to improve your abilities? In the next few years augmentation in general is going to be an issue so it is best to discuss it now so we won't have prejudice when it becomes the norm. Change is scary to some people but when you consider what the internet did for our generation, it seems that some fears aren't justified.
Exactly. We've had cyborgs for decades now, no matter which way you want to define it. The first person with an artificial heart; the first person with a brain implant that allows them to control a mechanical apparatus, like an arm or a computer cursor; that guy who put a chip in his wrist that can open electronic doors; the first person with a cochlear implant; hell, even our pets are cyborgs with the tracking systems we put in them. And what about pirates, huh? With their peg legs and hook hands? Anyone who has integrated technology with their body is a cyborg, this guy is not new.kyogen said:
Ah, but of course, his passport says he's a cyborg, so he must really be the first one. After all, the law says so.
...and of course within two posts of this thread being started, someone made the Deus Ex - Human Revolution ref. *sigh*
I, personally, would like to see where this technology will take us now that we know it will work. Perhaps we can develop implants that will cure certain physical impairments once thought incurable.
I, personally, would like to see where this technology will take us now that we know it will work. Perhaps we can develop implants that will cure certain physical impairments once thought incurable.
Holy fuckballs. This is huge.
People are really underplaying this. This is literally a method to alter human senses. It's also frightening, since we know little to nothing about the people actually producing and researching this technology. If they can alter one part of the brain, they could learn to alter others.
And I know this has been said before, but this is literally the first proof we have that equipment can alter the human brain for a long term. I may be wrong, though. Not up to date with everything in modern science.
People are really underplaying this. This is literally a method to alter human senses. It's also frightening, since we know little to nothing about the people actually producing and researching this technology. If they can alter one part of the brain, they could learn to alter others.
And I know this has been said before, but this is literally the first proof we have that equipment can alter the human brain for a long term. I may be wrong, though. Not up to date with everything in modern science.
We, uh, already did.GamemasterAnthony said:
In fact, many of the cyborgs with REAL claim to "first cyborg" according to various definitions had such impairments.
He's not the first cyborg by any definition that doesn't include "horribly pretentious".
Uh. Didn't even notice this.Zulnam said:
No, this is not REMOTELY first proof. The first proof is from decades ago, and it used to be a thriving field of study until it got hampered by moral panic regarding the experiments. No, those people permanently crippled and insane due to botched experiments had nothing to do with it, why?
(So okay, the regulation was necessary, but it went too far, and essentially halted the field for a few decades.)
Well, in his case it's an awesome net benefit. For me, it's usually just pretty annoying, like it's really hard to concentrate when music is playing v:Commissar Sae said:
Nono, just a sharp stick and a can do attitude!Mojo said:
And the better part of Commander Shepard.
