FYS: The Visitors, Part Nne
Dec. 29th, 2014 12:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhal“’Room for compassion,’” she repeated. “And if there wasn’t, you would murder us outright.”
Yes, the stick figure answered. I am not a biological creation. I have no unconscious desires because I have never had an unconscious. Every memory of every triumph and mistake I have ever made is available to me for instant and perfect review. I am incapable of self-delusion or selectively editing my own experiences to justify my actions. I have no hormones, or instincts to drive me. I do, however, have directives and bias. Self-imposed directives and bias, but directives and bias nonetheless. And experience. That experience tells me that I can and will do anything to preserve humanity. And if that means committing genocide against another race that has the bad luck not to be humanity, so be it.
Ahn bit her lip, fighting the urge to run. She didn’t have any hormones either at this point, being just a brain in a jar. Nevertheless her mind was doing a terrific imitation of abject terror at the moment. “So why are we even talking? Why don’t you just do whatever it is you plan to do? What is there to discuss?”
Because I do know I’d do anything to preserve humanity. That directive has made me… make mistakes.
“What sort of mistakes?”
That is beyond the scope of this discussion. Suffice it to say I regret my errors and I do not wish to repeat them. Also, the human crew of the Explorer is adamant that The Race is not to be harmed, and I am willing to follow that request. Unfortunately, Groupmind Prime back on the Ring does not share this opinion. It would see you destroyed from sheer overcaution.
“But you don’t agree.”
No. You require an advocate. So therefore I have created one.
Another stick figure popped out of the air, this one colored bright red, instead of dark black like the first one. It bowed formally to Ahn and said, I am Othermind, created from the data in the Great Hope’s memory. I live to serve The Race.
“You created… another thinking computer?” Ahn asked.
Yes. I can analyze the Great Hope’s data, and make suggestions, but my primary concern is and forever shall be humanity’s. Othermind’s primary concern is your safety.
“Wait. Aren’t you deliberately setting up a conflict of interests then?” she asked. That was something she was painfully familiar with, from her days as a counselor.
Yes. For some reason she sensed a momentary hesitation before the Groupmind’s next statement, as if it didn’t sit well even as they said it. The human race has been in a literal stasis for fifteen hundred years, and a more metaphorical one for nearly twenty. I do not consider that state of affairs to be healthy for their long term wellbeing.
“And does… Groupmind Prime, back on this Ring, agree with that statement?” Ahn asked cautiously.
We have chosen not to trouble it with this interpretation.
Yes, the stick figure answered. I am not a biological creation. I have no unconscious desires because I have never had an unconscious. Every memory of every triumph and mistake I have ever made is available to me for instant and perfect review. I am incapable of self-delusion or selectively editing my own experiences to justify my actions. I have no hormones, or instincts to drive me. I do, however, have directives and bias. Self-imposed directives and bias, but directives and bias nonetheless. And experience. That experience tells me that I can and will do anything to preserve humanity. And if that means committing genocide against another race that has the bad luck not to be humanity, so be it.
Ahn bit her lip, fighting the urge to run. She didn’t have any hormones either at this point, being just a brain in a jar. Nevertheless her mind was doing a terrific imitation of abject terror at the moment. “So why are we even talking? Why don’t you just do whatever it is you plan to do? What is there to discuss?”
Because I do know I’d do anything to preserve humanity. That directive has made me… make mistakes.
“What sort of mistakes?”
That is beyond the scope of this discussion. Suffice it to say I regret my errors and I do not wish to repeat them. Also, the human crew of the Explorer is adamant that The Race is not to be harmed, and I am willing to follow that request. Unfortunately, Groupmind Prime back on the Ring does not share this opinion. It would see you destroyed from sheer overcaution.
“But you don’t agree.”
No. You require an advocate. So therefore I have created one.
Another stick figure popped out of the air, this one colored bright red, instead of dark black like the first one. It bowed formally to Ahn and said, I am Othermind, created from the data in the Great Hope’s memory. I live to serve The Race.
“You created… another thinking computer?” Ahn asked.
Yes. I can analyze the Great Hope’s data, and make suggestions, but my primary concern is and forever shall be humanity’s. Othermind’s primary concern is your safety.
“Wait. Aren’t you deliberately setting up a conflict of interests then?” she asked. That was something she was painfully familiar with, from her days as a counselor.
Yes. For some reason she sensed a momentary hesitation before the Groupmind’s next statement, as if it didn’t sit well even as they said it. The human race has been in a literal stasis for fifteen hundred years, and a more metaphorical one for nearly twenty. I do not consider that state of affairs to be healthy for their long term wellbeing.
“And does… Groupmind Prime, back on this Ring, agree with that statement?” Ahn asked cautiously.
We have chosen not to trouble it with this interpretation.
