Random thoughts accumulated throughout the quarter

If there is artificial intelligence, what makes ours different? What sets our smarts apart from what we teach to computers? Intelligence is what the whole “what sets humans apart from animals” argument is based on. If we give animals artificial intelligence, does that make them equal? How do we know that ours isn’t artificial? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if intelligence is artificial or “god-given” like ours. Computers are smarter. It’s funny that the origin of something is more important than its product and result.

“knowledge” was used in describing the future. It went from technology advancing at infinite speeds to knowledge increasing at infinite speeds. Knowledge? What can be known will start to change so rapidly that knowledge will only be relevant for a second or our realities will all be so different from one another’s that knowledge won’t exist because so many things will be true at once that there will be nothing to know. This assumes that everything that can be comprehended can or already is created, but doesn’t dreaming about something make it exist to a certain extent?

We may never die. But last night I did think about my mortality. That I will probably die from cancer made me sadder than just the concept of death. Because I fear pain? Because it’s a pre-mature death? I think the concept of not living as long as we could is scary but if fear is induced by the unknown, why is cancer scary at all? I will know exactly what is going on, what part of my body is failing, how long I have to live, and the amount of pain I will have to endure. In association with the other, I feel like it is the most direct interaction we will ever have with becoming the other. The slow death will change who I am and how I think, creating another being. But on plurk, Nanotext said something about us being able to betray our “selves”. I disagree with this. A self is so all-encompassing that everything is included in something that the self would do. Every human is capable of the same things. And to quote I heart Huckabees, “How am I not myself?”

There are a lot of problems in the world. The thing is that the people who are inventing the technology that “is” the future are thinking that their creations will solve the problems. Things like politics will still need to exist in the future as long as our lives are still “real”.  I believe that humans will always desire to commit crimes. Maybe if we become self-sufficient beings, money will become superfluous, eliminating theft and if our lives are entirely in fantasy, we will not need to be punished for killing or stealing.

The following two quotes are from that movie we watched in class about the future and technology.

“the first time we can imagine feeding everyone” we won’t need to! We’re going to become robots. We won’t need to fuck the earth over because our biological needs will be overcome.

“there’s a lot of room for mischief”

I highly doubt that people who are passionate enough about technology to design it that mischief is on their minds. Programmers don’t fuck around. They’re going to either design something to sabotage technology or advance it. Mischief will not be an issue.

Our bodies are not in a natural state. Much like the machines we use on a daily basis, our bodies are a part of what we have altered.

Earring, tattoo, fingernail polish, hair coloring, plucking eyebrows, iud, metal in joints, chemicals, hormones from milk, inhaled pollution, pigment from the sun, contact lenses, anti-depressants, lead, mercury, vitamin supplements that don’t really work, cigarettes. All lead to our ability to change who we are physically in effort to change who we are as people.

It will be incredible in the future to see what things end up in our bodies. Already I can’t list everything unnatural in my body, but this is because I don’t know.

Everyone looks at the world from such a macro view. Close up, all that matters is the moment. But it's hard to understand and draw conclusions from the present. It's interesting how we seemingly know more about life and the future than we do now. Even more than we know the past. 

We will become what created us. In the sense that time processed cells that became us, we are continuing this cycle. Eventually, humans will serve as the creators of life, controlling all species including our own.

Knowledge eludes all reason. Even with proof, something can never be known. Either we are incapable of understanding or the truth does not exist. It seems that there must be, if not truth, some constant in the universe that humans often label as truth. Or is individual perception the definition of the universe?

Shadows are cast almost every moment of our lives. In fact, in every occasion where we are not in absolute darkness, which I assume is rare for most people. But does the presence of shadows make us bigger? It makes sense that  my mass or being is larger when it is effecting more things. If I am solitary, am I less of a person? Is my shadow influencing my size? And if so, would it be my mass that’s affected? Or my essence? Discussing the issue of self, it is seemingly non-existent due to change, which is constant or represented by every action and thought I've ever made. Both are overwhelming. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_pyAA8TT80DJILvtOC_uYw-hS7Q8y9YQSiJ0J1nMAgw7Ug1Kc_mcGSpNSYQ-JHGMnJpex5cAKKAWoISDu1UprF6QwuyHmo_L80Kkt-PusSjze0GE9nHitb8oHhC2068tClLijN-9kqhT/s1600-h/yikes.jpg

I hate babies. More than any other object I can think of. They are bad in every possible way for example, size. Small in magnitude, especially when compared to the absolutely heinous amount of fluid they produce and large relative to what matters which is a birth canal. Babies have no mercy, demanding ruthlessly even when you physically cannot provide any more. They stipulate to no end things like  money, energy, food, swinging them around in circles, sleep, simplified language, and money. But my contempt is rooted in more than just babies themselves. Everyone surrounding them becomes a selfless, providing idiot insistent on talking in ridiculously high voices, dealing with absurd amounts of stress, giving in to primitive manipulation tactics, and being lied to constantly.

Yet babies are essential to life. However, without biological drive, no one would want them. People, without their rational being blinded by their biological clocks, would see that logically babies have far more flaws than benefits and having a baby is practically the definition of irrational behavior. But babies demonstrate the change that is happening to the human race. Even having them requires convincing one’s self that the extraordinarily occasional coo or giggle will make the suffering worth it. That we can force ourselves to think irrationally. Children are given night lights so that they do not fear the dark. Evidence of how humans are trying to deny their biological instincts. Obviously we are more vulnerable in the dark and it is a survival tactic to feel fear. Even the way babies are born has changed. Quote from my Anthropology teacher Allison Rollins: "babies are removed in other ways now." Not only has birth changed in it’s meaning, it no long exists. Removal is the new form of birth, much more efficient, orderly, and less biological.  

Being an organic being is totally inconvenient and we are avoiding having to face the fact that our bodies are a part of nature rather than something designed to cater to us. All of adult life is spent trying to deny our biology. Deodorant masks our stench, fans and air fresheners allow us to pretend we don't poop, Botox make it so we don't age, boogers are an embarrassment, bad breath is unacceptable, women in labor have a blanket over their legs, we close our eyes when we swap saliva, and wear sock so our feet don’t smell. Kids totally disrupt this false reality we have created. Not only do they disrupt it, they are more grotesque than we are so we have to stare the disgustingness of biology in the face. To someone used to sitting on the pedestal of general cleanliness, vomit covering the world comes as a shock. I think that being reminded of how gross bodies are is not helpful or necessary. Ultimately, children are equivalent to Ribofunk for exposure to disturbing liquids. The reason that we don't want to deal with the fact that our bodies are organic is because it's a reminder of our mortality. Not having to feel our greasy hair is motivation in itself, but with silky smooth locks comes the ability to pretend that we can control our bodies, thus controlling our lives. If I can moisturize my skin to make it softer, perhaps when the time comes I'll figure out a way to extend my life. Perhaps it's this logic that makes not only the care for but alteration of our bodies so important. 

This summer I will be Nannying for four kids in Madina. On paper anyway. Really, I will be raising the offspring of people who have more important things to do like run and marinate lamb in 60 dollar bottles of wine. In a culture where success and cleanliness and organization are the top priorities, children simply do not fit in.  Figuring out how to deal with children (that's what they are; something to be dealt with) is intimidating and totally unstructured. People just punch 'em out and pray. Literally, there is no recommended method for raising kids. Don't beat them? Racking my brain, that is the only common knowledge about kids that I can think of. The reason that raising children is such a daunting task is because our priorities are so much higher. As hunter-gatherers, human success was survival. Now there are thousands of ways to assess success from self-esteem to morals to relationships to outlook. There is no way to raise a child completely successfully. 

The Diamond Age is about children, specifically a little girl, but the underlying theme seems to be that she just wants to be loved. But it is not enough to love a child. And you can't because it seems that their main goal in life is to make it difficult for you to do so. The young girl's book is an effort to standardize the raising of a child. In the future, it's possible the a simulation program will be available for the perfect childhood. The product will be children with high self-esteem, good money management, the ability to communicate, and no desire to kill anything. The book talks about pain, but not in depth. It's simply addressed and not explained. The assumption that all children experience enough pain is the cause of this. But is some pain required to grow up?  Some awkward mistakes necessary for genuine character to develop? And when would the simulation stop? Producing top-notch adults, the world would be a better place, right? Politics will surely sabotage this ultimately beneficial plan in the way that I see Madina being torn apart now. No one has more authority than anyone else to say what's the best parenting technique. Is television on Sunday mornings teaching children to be inactive? Should cookies be given at lunch or dinner if at all? Size zero women all over Madina not only cannot agree, but are fuming over other's methods and fear that a single glimpse of another lifestyle will ruin everything they've done thus far. 

I think the thing that really gets me about children is that they have to live abridged lives. It is unhealthy for them to see brutal violence, even if it's real. Sex cannot be addressed until 8th grade, and adults hide their mistakes from children. All of this in effort to give them the best. But if you cannot, why does hiding it from them equate to a solution? I want to forget that I sweat and focus on having full experiences and children have the opposite effect on one's life. Other than selfishness, specifically the desire to live for myself and in the way that I want, I don't want to deal with children because of the shakiness and uncertainty surrounding what's healthy for a child, the lack of knowledge about the effects of how children are treated, and the idea of being responsible for someone else's development. With no real guide other than unsupported opinions and gut feelings, raising children is all about the luck of the draw and I'm not going to risk getting the short stick.  

The theme of Burning Man 2009 is evolution; perfect for the present situation we as humans have ourselves in, where progression and drastic change seem to be trends that no aspect of life escapes. Bodies, current issues, money, lifestyle, social interactions, and the definition of life all seem on the cusp of becoming completely reinvented, but what does that mean for us now? At the beginning of my adult life, I'm wondering how I am to predict and prepare for this future that can only be speculated about? This situation has been present throughout time. Everyone says that technology is changing the world, but all that I see people's constant need to be adults, struggle for financial stability, and breed. Like all the other generations, I think that my life will be different. Technology is my safety net to insure my "success" in life. If any mistakes are made, a robot will help me fix it. Medical advances are the most prevalent example of this, fixing me if an arm is broken or liver over stressed. Yet little evidence of this amazing future I expect exist. Robots are not a prevalent part of my life and to expect that they will be is naive. Technology isn't just going to appear, it will grow. From this, I know that I won't be saved by robots, but I feel a certain hope and comfort knowing that technology will and already has made my life easier. I'm just excited to reap more benefits. Which is what's so fascinating about the idea of robots. They give endlessly. All we have to do is make them and we will never stop receiving the benefits that they provide. Which goes against the rules of life that have been learned. That you have to work for what you have and money doesn't grow on trees and there is some form of karma that exists. Our entirely selfish use of something seems to fundamentally weaken morals. I feel like a defining feature of a jerk is someone who gets what they don't deserve and/or doesn't appreciate it. Everyone will possess this trait. I feel it now even with my laptop and min-fridge. This feeling of not deserving the privileges that technology provides. I in no way contributed to the making of these technologies. Perhaps in the future everyone will have jobs producing new robots and electronics and that lurking feeling of undeserving will vanish. But will our ignorance toward whether or not we deserve the help we will receive leak into other aspects of life? Will kindness no longer be necessary? Kindness is a tool to get what we want and what will be the point of social interaction if we have all that we desire? Also, in class we talked about the concept that what information and experience and stimulation is only useful if there is a self to apply it to.  I completely agree with this and believe that it will sculpt what we do with our opportunities to design ourselves in the future. We will want to live someone else’s life, but while maintaining our own perspective.The theme of Burning Man 2009 is evolution; perfect for the present situation we as humans have ourselves in, where progression and drastic change seem to be trends that no aspect of life escapes. Bodies, current issues, money, lifestyle, social interactions, and the definition of life all seem on the cusp of becoming completely reinvented, but what does that mean for us now? At the beginning of my adult life, I'm wondering how I am to predict and prepare for this future that can only be speculated about? This situation has been present throughout time. Everyone says that technology is changing the world, but all that I see people's constant need to be adults, struggle for financial stability, and breed. Like all the other generations, I think that my life will be different. Technology is my safety net to insure my "success" in life. If any mistakes are made, a robot will help me fix it. Medical advances are the most prevalent example of this, fixing me if an arm is broken or liver over stressed. Yet little evidence of this amazing future I expect exist. Robots are not a prevalent part of my life and to expect that they will be is naive. Technology isn't just going to appear, it will grow. From this, I know that I won't be saved by robots, but I feel a certain hope and comfort knowing that technology will and already has made my life easier. I'm just excited to reap more benefits. Which is what's so fascinating about the idea of robots. They give endlessly. All we have to do is make them and we will never stop receiving the benefits that they provide. Which goes against the rules of life that have been learned. That you have to work for what you have and money doesn't grow on trees and there is some form of karma that exists. Our entirely selfish use of something seems to fundamentally weaken morals. I feel like a defining feature of a jerk is someone who gets what they don't deserve and/or doesn't appreciate it. Everyone will possess this trait. I feel it now even with my laptop and min-fridge. This feeling of not deserving the privileges that technology provides. I in no way contributed to the making of these technologies. Perhaps in the future everyone will have jobs producing new robots and electronics and that lurking feeling of undeserving will vanish. But will our ignorance toward whether or not we deserve the help we will receive leak into other aspects of life? Will kindness no longer be necessary? Kindness is a tool to get what we want and what will be the point of social interaction if we have all that we desire? Also, in class we talked about the concept that what information and experience and stimulation is only useful if there is a self to apply it to.  I completely agree with this and believe that it will sculpt what we do with our opportunities to design ourselves in the future. We will want to live someone else’s life, but while maintaining our own perspective. And I won't live to find out if this is possible. 

Evolution has moved beyond humans. Surpassing natural evolution, we are entering a state of evoked evolution where control is in our hands (or whatever we replace them with). I remember the argument surrounding artificial intelligence discussing whether or not the power to control life is divine. I haven't come across this argument in over ten years. I am probably reading the wrong texts but it seems that the world has taken on a "why not?" stance about technology. If things can be made  better, there is no reason beyond a slight tinge of uncertainty in the back of our heads to continue on. But what does this mean for human life? My whole life is floating on extreme privilege. And I know the future. I am going to continue to live in extreme privilege, do some stupid self-exploring/ unnecessarily dramatic personal shit, buy stuff, probably punch a couple kids out, think that I'm happy, and die. If reality is so malleable, why does everyone end up doing this? Is it just a lingering trend? I am noticing that belief and religion are being regarded as irrational. However, my view of the world is so limited. Everyone's is. This is why we are so detached from the moment. Because we cannot know what is going on and in order to avoid facing this truth, we live in the past or in the future. Evolution will not save us from this. We will maintain our illusion of what reality is. Essentially, I don't believe that humans can change or evolve out of ignorance and inability to understand the truth. Perhaps we will create a reality that we finally can understand, but it will be reality that will have to change for  us.