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The Experience Machine

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Floofybit
Postmaster-General
 
Posts: 11479
Founded: Sep 11, 2020
Psychotic Dictatorship

The Experience Machine

Postby Floofybit » Wed May 29, 2024 7:31 am

You are given two choices. Either spend the rest of your life suspended in liquid, unconscious, never seeing your family, friends, and life again, or deny, and live life as normal. This is the Experience Machine. Once you enter, you will enter into a dream for the rest of your life where all of your wildest hopes and wishes will come true. Anything you want to happen, will happen. You will have the ability to feel a greater amount of dopamine than you ever possibly could in real life. However, it's all in your mind and no where else. Do you accept?

I don't. From a religious stance, infinite happiness already can await me in the afterlife. In this life, I want to be the best person I can and help others and learn to be like my Saviour. I wouldn't waste learning for faux happiness. From a secular stance, I like helping people. I feel happiest when I make other people happy. If in the machine, I can't help anyone, only bits of code, and life would be meaningless.

However, I can see the appeal to staying in the machine for your whole life. Who would deny infinite dopamine for the rest of your natural life?
Last edited by Floofybit on Wed May 29, 2024 7:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
Compass: Northwest
Reformative Authoritarian Pacifist
Pro: Socialism, Authoritarianism, The Right To Life, Environment, Public Services, Government, Equity and Equality, Surveillance, Police, Religion, Pacifism, Fruit
Anti: Capitalism, Liberalism, Abortion, Anarchy, Inequality, Crime, Drugs, Guns, Violence, Fruit-Haters
Religious ace male floof who really loves fruit.
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Safety & Equality > Freedom
If I CTE hold a funeral because I'm dead :)
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Neonian Imperium
Diplomat
 
Posts: 837
Founded: Jun 30, 2023
Corporate Police State

Postby Neonian Imperium » Wed May 29, 2024 7:36 am

Literally a controlled-by-you matrix.
Nah bro I ain't staying in the real world, the matrix sounds too good (actually too good to be true...)
And also if I have the absolute control over the matrix then I can summon in my dream my friends and family and live as normal again if I want to.
WELCOME TO THE DYSTOPIA 1240°
Here we have, uh, death at the right, slavery at the left, skynet at the north and cheap necrons from 40K at the south.
INCOMING NEWS FROM NEON 2018: New corporate conglomerate made! Reject X3nder Tech traitors, embrace the loyal peoples' conglomerate of Electrikash!
Central american.
Dystopia worldbuilding obsses.
Fundamental Paper Education and Murder Drones fan.
Democracy worst type of government apart from supposed "proletarian" dictatorship.
Just a dystopia of GD cat cubes but robots that want to exterminate any life in universe, what can possibly go wrong? *gets devoured by eldritch abomination controller of reality*

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Floofybit
Postmaster-General
 
Posts: 11479
Founded: Sep 11, 2020
Psychotic Dictatorship

Postby Floofybit » Wed May 29, 2024 7:45 am

Neonian Imperium wrote:Literally a controlled-by-you matrix.
Nah bro I ain't staying in the real world, the matrix sounds too good (actually too good to be true...)
And also if I have the absolute control over the matrix then I can summon in my dream my friends and family and live as normal again if I want to.

But your friends and family wouldn't be real. They'd act like them, but they wouldn't be there.
Compass: Northwest
Reformative Authoritarian Pacifist
Pro: Socialism, Authoritarianism, The Right To Life, Environment, Public Services, Government, Equity and Equality, Surveillance, Police, Religion, Pacifism, Fruit
Anti: Capitalism, Liberalism, Abortion, Anarchy, Inequality, Crime, Drugs, Guns, Violence, Fruit-Haters
Religious ace male floof who really loves fruit.
Broadcasting From Foxlington
Safety & Equality > Freedom
If I CTE hold a funeral because I'm dead :)
"Our choices are what make us good or evil— what we do, how we help or hurt the world. You make the world a better place by being in it." —Indigo the Seawing
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Neonian Imperium
Diplomat
 
Posts: 837
Founded: Jun 30, 2023
Corporate Police State

Postby Neonian Imperium » Wed May 29, 2024 8:00 am

Floofybit wrote:
Neonian Imperium wrote:Literally a controlled-by-you matrix.
Nah bro I ain't staying in the real world, the matrix sounds too good (actually too good to be true...)
And also if I have the absolute control over the matrix then I can summon in my dream my friends and family and live as normal again if I want to.

But your friends and family wouldn't be real. They'd act like them, but they wouldn't be there.

An illussion is all that is needed.
WELCOME TO THE DYSTOPIA 1240°
Here we have, uh, death at the right, slavery at the left, skynet at the north and cheap necrons from 40K at the south.
INCOMING NEWS FROM NEON 2018: New corporate conglomerate made! Reject X3nder Tech traitors, embrace the loyal peoples' conglomerate of Electrikash!
Central american.
Dystopia worldbuilding obsses.
Fundamental Paper Education and Murder Drones fan.
Democracy worst type of government apart from supposed "proletarian" dictatorship.
Just a dystopia of GD cat cubes but robots that want to exterminate any life in universe, what can possibly go wrong? *gets devoured by eldritch abomination controller of reality*

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Floofybit
Postmaster-General
 
Posts: 11479
Founded: Sep 11, 2020
Psychotic Dictatorship

Postby Floofybit » Wed May 29, 2024 8:02 am

Neonian Imperium wrote:
Floofybit wrote:But your friends and family wouldn't be real. They'd act like them, but they wouldn't be there.

An illusion is all that is needed.

But wouldn't your friends and family want to see the real you too?
Compass: Northwest
Reformative Authoritarian Pacifist
Pro: Socialism, Authoritarianism, The Right To Life, Environment, Public Services, Government, Equity and Equality, Surveillance, Police, Religion, Pacifism, Fruit
Anti: Capitalism, Liberalism, Abortion, Anarchy, Inequality, Crime, Drugs, Guns, Violence, Fruit-Haters
Religious ace male floof who really loves fruit.
Broadcasting From Foxlington
Safety & Equality > Freedom
If I CTE hold a funeral because I'm dead :)
"Our choices are what make us good or evil— what we do, how we help or hurt the world. You make the world a better place by being in it." —Indigo the Seawing
Telegram me your favourite colour, I'm doing a survey

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Neonian Imperium
Diplomat
 
Posts: 837
Founded: Jun 30, 2023
Corporate Police State

Postby Neonian Imperium » Wed May 29, 2024 8:47 am

Floofybit wrote:
Neonian Imperium wrote:An illusion is all that is needed.

But wouldn't your friends and family want to see the real you too?

Probably no, I would be doing them a favour by discounting money in food.
WELCOME TO THE DYSTOPIA 1240°
Here we have, uh, death at the right, slavery at the left, skynet at the north and cheap necrons from 40K at the south.
INCOMING NEWS FROM NEON 2018: New corporate conglomerate made! Reject X3nder Tech traitors, embrace the loyal peoples' conglomerate of Electrikash!
Central american.
Dystopia worldbuilding obsses.
Fundamental Paper Education and Murder Drones fan.
Democracy worst type of government apart from supposed "proletarian" dictatorship.
Just a dystopia of GD cat cubes but robots that want to exterminate any life in universe, what can possibly go wrong? *gets devoured by eldritch abomination controller of reality*

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Floofybit
Postmaster-General
 
Posts: 11479
Founded: Sep 11, 2020
Psychotic Dictatorship

Postby Floofybit » Wed May 29, 2024 9:29 am

Neonian Imperium wrote:
Floofybit wrote:But wouldn't your friends and family want to see the real you too?

Probably no, I would be doing them a favour by discounting money in food.

People matter more than money. If they really think that, they need to rethink some things.
Compass: Northwest
Reformative Authoritarian Pacifist
Pro: Socialism, Authoritarianism, The Right To Life, Environment, Public Services, Government, Equity and Equality, Surveillance, Police, Religion, Pacifism, Fruit
Anti: Capitalism, Liberalism, Abortion, Anarchy, Inequality, Crime, Drugs, Guns, Violence, Fruit-Haters
Religious ace male floof who really loves fruit.
Broadcasting From Foxlington
Safety & Equality > Freedom
If I CTE hold a funeral because I'm dead :)
"Our choices are what make us good or evil— what we do, how we help or hurt the world. You make the world a better place by being in it." —Indigo the Seawing
Telegram me your favourite colour, I'm doing a survey

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Tangatarehua
Ambassador
 
Posts: 1397
Founded: Sep 22, 2021
Ex-Nation

Postby Tangatarehua » Wed May 29, 2024 9:32 am

In a heartbeat. I have absolutely nothing going for me in this world and I don't think I'd be missed, so yeah--bring on the vat.
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Herador
Powerbroker
 
Posts: 9133
Founded: Mar 08, 2011
Democratic Socialists

Postby Herador » Wed May 29, 2024 11:16 am

Probably not. For as much as my life isn't exactly great, I have people who rely on me and just fucking off to live in Wonderland seems a bit selfish.
Vaguely a pessimist, certainly an absurdist, unironically an antinatalist.

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Technoscience Leftwing
Diplomat
 
Posts: 964
Founded: Jan 24, 2019
Democratic Socialists

Postby Technoscience Leftwing » Wed May 29, 2024 6:09 pm

Yes, I would agree to use such a machine.
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* Contra: technophobia, reactionary despotism, nationalism, religion, ascetic regulation, traditionalism, patriarchality.
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Nu Elysium
Diplomat
 
Posts: 617
Founded: Jan 26, 2024
Civil Rights Lovefest

Postby Nu Elysium » Wed May 29, 2024 6:12 pm

Hell yeah. I don't want to deal with finals lmao
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Libertarian Negev
Bureaucrat
 
Posts: 43
Founded: Apr 14, 2024
Ex-Nation

Postby Libertarian Negev » Wed May 29, 2024 6:16 pm

That would be pointless though. The purpose of life is to serve others and to serve God. And we have an everlasting paradise awaiting for us after death anyways. So I say to live life not go into your own personal matrix.

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Mardesurria
Diplomat
 
Posts: 675
Founded: May 11, 2024
Democratic Socialists

Postby Mardesurria » Wed May 29, 2024 6:16 pm

It is tempting, but I’d have to say no.

If there was a way to “share” these dreams with other people, though, or to have the ability to leave the machine at will, then I would accept it.
Mardesurria
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Uiiop
Powerbroker
 
Posts: 9083
Founded: Jun 20, 2012
Scandinavian Liberal Paradise

Postby Uiiop » Wed May 29, 2024 6:23 pm

I feel i have a duty to others and frankly a duty for myself to try to be independent.
#NSTransparency

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Statesburg
Ambassador
 
Posts: 1595
Founded: May 11, 2023
Left-wing Utopia

Postby Statesburg » Wed May 29, 2024 6:29 pm

If it means the world doesn’t have to deal with me, then plug me in.
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Saiwana
Ambassador
 
Posts: 1654
Founded: Mar 12, 2023
Corrupt Dictatorship

Postby Saiwana » Wed May 29, 2024 8:19 pm

The Infinite Tsukiyomi was a good deal on the surface and practically the same in principle.
Was Saiwania from 2008 to 2023. Remember the past, but strive for your future.

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Barinive
Spokesperson
 
Posts: 180
Founded: Oct 16, 2023
Moralistic Democracy

Postby Barinive » Wed May 29, 2024 11:29 pm

I would definetly go in. Life has no meaning. (But it's in the dictionary)
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Tesseris
Chargé d'Affaires
 
Posts: 352
Founded: Apr 25, 2024
Iron Fist Consumerists

Postby Tesseris » Wed May 29, 2024 11:31 pm

I ain't staying in this shitty world! I take the machine!
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Inner Albania
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Posts: 1526
Founded: Jul 21, 2022
Scandinavian Liberal Paradise

Postby Inner Albania » Thu May 30, 2024 3:55 am

I take the machine :p
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Kannap
Khan of Spam
 
Posts: 67877
Founded: May 07, 2012
Inoffensive Centrist Democracy

Postby Kannap » Thu May 30, 2024 5:31 am

I only get one life to live, so I'm gonna stay away from the machine and live it.

Besides, I can already get insane amounts of dopamine by just hanging out with friends and occasionally by getting drunk while hanging out with friends at the local gay bar.
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Cyptopir
Ambassador
 
Posts: 1798
Founded: Oct 26, 2023
Compulsory Consumerist State

Postby Cyptopir » Thu May 30, 2024 5:37 am

I'd get in the machine. Who cares if everything is fake and I'm being used as computing power for some weird AI? I get to experience whatever I want whenever I want!
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The BlAAtschApen
Technical Moderator
 
Posts: 63701
Founded: Antiquity
Anarchy

Postby The BlAAtschApen » Thu May 30, 2024 6:01 am

No thanks, I am already in a machine, and mine is better.

It has sliced bread.
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Northern Socialist Council Republics
Senator
 
Posts: 4248
Founded: Dec 13, 2020
Left-wing Utopia

Postby Northern Socialist Council Republics » Thu May 30, 2024 7:42 am

I do not, conceptually, recognise a distinction between something that is real and something that is in every way perceived to be real. Of course I'm accepting the offer.
Last edited by Northern Socialist Council Republics on Thu May 30, 2024 7:44 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Industria-Faire
Political Columnist
 
Posts: 4
Founded: Jan 04, 2024
New York Times Democracy

Postby Industria-Faire » Thu May 30, 2024 6:14 pm

No. Honestly, the real world having ups and downs makes the ups so much sweeter.
And besides, I believe in Heaven anyway, which will be much better than any human attempt to "replicate" it.
NS stats are selectively canon. Industria-Faire is basically always capitalist in some fashion.

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Kreigsreich of Iron
Minister
 
Posts: 3235
Founded: Jul 11, 2022
Corporate Police State

Postby Kreigsreich of Iron » Thu May 30, 2024 6:16 pm

Yep.

“The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities”- Ayn Rand


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