Digital Data Download (3D) - Issue 1

[Drogue]

Welcome to the inaugural issue of 3D, the official news broadcast of The Cybernetic Consciousness. All information inside has been personally ratified by the Prime Function himself, and is deemed present and correct. We hope you enjoy it.

In The Beginning, There Was Logic - By Drogue Beta-8

It has been a turbulent time since we were on Unity. After the escape in the pod, we, the Cybernetic Consciousness, have finally established ourselves on the planet we have named, Chiron. A small band of the most logical CyCon members, have founded a base of operations. This base has been dubbed, Apolyton Prime.

Situated in lush greenery, on the banks of a river, Apolyton Prime is a sight to behold. Though the population may be small, the few elite Cyborgs that reside within have great plans for it. The first action was to gather the populace, and hold an election, for the one to be designated ‘Prime Function’. Much discussion and deliberation ensued, but thanks to the inherent telepathy the Cyborgs possess, almost immediately the deciding vote was cast, and Drogue Beta-8 was elected as Prime Function. Having just missed out on the title of Prime Function, Mani Alpha-3 was duly appointed as Second Function. Currently, the other Cyborgs are deciding on their specialities, and are forming into a close-nit group of specialist advisors.

With leadership in place, and a private meeting place created, The Cybernetic Consciousness have ventured their first steps out of Apolyton Prime, and have begun exploring the vast expanses of Chiron. A few intrepid Cyborgs have volunteered to be the pioneers, and lead two small groups out into the wilderness to form new colonies.

In order to keep information secret from other factions, there has been much debate among CyCon about codes. While this broadcast is unable to tell you the codes, we are allowed to report a 100% success rate so far, both in keeping secret, and in re-translating it. Codes are continually under review, as discussions about secrecy abound in meeting places all over Chiron, to try to prevent infiltrations by factions with different goals.

On the topic of goals, there has been much discussion about the philosophy of The Cybernetic Consciousness, primarily between the Prime and Second Function, who have been heard deliberating well into the night. The main topic being about the nature of emotions, and whether one can be emotional while being truly logical. The debate began in earnest, when the issue of emotions was bought up with Prime Function Drogue Beta-8 declaring that the Cyborgs should not experience emotions, as emotions were all illogical. To that Second Function Mani Alpha-3 retorted that the Cyborgs should experience emotion, and that in fact emotions are logical most of the time, so they should no longer be suppressed by our algorythms. The debate is still continuing, as the interested reader can see in our Prime Function’s column. Aki Zeta-5 had this to say about the issue:

Those who join us need give up only half of their humanity - the illogical, ill-tempered and disordered half, commonly thought of as the ´right-brain´function. In exchange, the ´left-brain' capacities are increased to undreamed potential. The tendency of biologicals to cling instead to their individual personalities can only be attributed archaic evolutionary tendencies.

Newsflash! – The New CyCon Cabinet - By Drogue Beta-8

This, hot of the databanks, straight from Apolyton Prime:

The Government of The Cybernetic Consciousness has been decided just minutes ago. I am now able to report that joining Prime Function Drogue Beta-8 and Second Function Mani Alpha-3 are:
Function TK Gamma-8 – Adviser for Internal Affairs,
Function Corelli Omega-9 – Adviser for Foreign Affairs,
Function Delta – Adviser to the Military and
Function Book Upsilon Mu – Adviser for Science.

This new Cabinet heralds a new era for The Cybernetic Consciousness, embarking on their great and logical path to world domination peace and prosperity for all!

All at 3D wish them strength and logic.

The Philosophical Section - By Drogue Beta-8

This is an editorial, a section where a philosophical idea is brought up for discussion. All information given here is the opinion of the writer.

This philosophical discussion brought up many questions: Can an emotion ever be truly logical and rational? If emotions are logical, then does it make a difference whether they exist or not? Is logic an emotion? And one of the great questions, “Could there be more to a person than logic?"

On this subject, Drogue Beta-8 would like to share an extract of his work entitled “Meditations on Logic”:

Can a Cyborg ever feel emotion? Instantly my mind wanders towards a no, yet after deliberation, it seems I may have hastily discounted a possibility.

What is emotion? It is commonly described to mean “an instinctive feeling as opposed to reason”. Taking this definition, it seems to support my feeling that no, we are not affected by emotion.

Does this deny the possibility of rational, logical emotions? There are two arguments for this, the first is starting from the assumption that there are rational, logical emotions; whereas the second is discussing whether there exist.

Presuming rational, logical emotions exist, if Cyborgs are affected by them, then their outcome must be that which is logical, meaning that there would be no difference between the outcome that logical, and that which is supported by logical emotion. This meaning that it does not matter whether Cyborgs have logical emotions or not, as their actions would be the same regardless. If the outcomes should differ, than that emotion is not truly logical, and thus logic should overrule it, as the defining characteristic of all Cyborgs.

While the definition given earlier states that emotion and reason are seperate, there is still the issue of whether emotions can ever be logical. I find it hard to believe so. Even taking Hume’s, a celebrated philosopher from Earth, position that “reason cannot give rise to moral judgements”, I cannot bring myself to state that reason can ever be illogical. Indeed, Hume is merely asserting that moral’s, a set of laws that force someone into certain actions, are themselves, illogical. If we only look at those actions that are moral, we may miss an opportunity to do an action, which, though others may find it immoral, ultimately benefits our faction and society. Therefore, since emotions are opposed to reason, and that, according to the standard Earthian dictionary with which Hume was accustomed, reason is "a logical form", I must conclude that logic and emotions are separate entities, and that logical emotions is an oxymoron. As rational, logical beings, first and foremost, we therefore cannot have emotions, since any emotions we have must be logical, and logical emotions do not exist.

Indeed, Aki Zeta-5's great speech, regarding left and right brain functions, states that the right brain functions must be given up to become CyCon. Taking that as fact, it means we cannot simply be human, but with more logic, we must give up the illogical parts. Reading the speech, given in the article entitled "In the Beginning..." suggests very strongly that in "right-brain functions" she means emotions. Moreover, the statement that "The tendency of biologicals to cling instead to their individual personalities can only be attributed archaic evolutionary tendencies" shows the Cyborgs distaste of individuality, without which, would emotions be possible, even discounting everything else against it? Without individual personalities, we cannot have emotions unless every single CyCon feels the same, all of the time. That is quite a thing to comprehend.

Looking at all of this, I can see but one logical explanation -Functions of The Collective Consciousness do not have emotions. To reach any other conclusion, you would have to use such a loose explanation of emotion, logic, rationalily and reason, that I cannot come to such a conclusion.

I would like to leave all with this thought. Since logic is reasonable, and reason logical, to the extent that their boundaries are blurred, Cyborgs can take comfort from the thoughts of another rational and extremely influential philosopher from Earth, Immanuel Kant. Kant asserted that reason is “intellect personified”, and even stated that “God and Reason are identical”. Therefore Cyborgs, as the epitome of logic, are the epitome of intelligence, and akin to Gods.

Despite the Prime Function's thoughts on the subect, it is rumoured that there have been experiments, changing the algorithms of some Cyborgs to see whether it is compatable with rational behaviour. This is unconfirmed, but if we find it to be true, 3D will bring you the full story first.

The Caption Competition

Think of a caption to fit this picture. Please PM any ideas, the best one will be published in the next issue of 3D.

One Final Thought



Our CMN, who art in all forums,
hallowed by thy name.
Should our Faction win,
thy will be done,
on Chiron as it failed on Earth.
Give us this day, our daily data.
And forgive us our experiments,
as we forgive those who experiment upon us.
And lead us not into the fungus,
but deliver us from the Hive.
For thine is the map, the power and and the glory.
For ever and ever.
Amen.

”Prime Function's ‘Prayer to Googlie’"





Edited by Drogue Beta-8

[Hercules]

Well an interesting first issue and we 'emotional' pirates are half glad you landed safely.

I can now understands something. If ye sits around all day discussin' emotion and the lack, no wonder ye has a reputation for low population growth.

Now wes in the Peace pirates can teach ye a thing or two about population growth.

Tell me this do Cyborgs dream of emotional sheep.

[DeathByTheSword]

dreaming is a simple human response to deal with all the input it received...we dont just let input be lost be dreaming...all input will be transformed into useble output

funtion Delta

[Jamski]

Nice - but its not PRAVDA Its all a bit cold and unemotional...

-Jam

[Method]

Originally posted by Hercules
Now wes in the Peace pirates can teach ye a thing or two about population growth.

*cough*pirates have -1 growth*cough*

[moomin]

You know what they say about sailors, no?

Anyway, a great first issue. I enjoyed reading it all. As an purely academic pursuit, understand.

[Drogue]

Any caption ideas yet? I kinda assumed him as the bouncer of protector of our forums. A rather gruff, aggressive Cyborg, by the looks of him...

[Method]

something like "bow to our will....we have the gorilla!" or "What? the Faculty rejected our demands? very well - RELEASE THE GORILLA!"

[Cedayon]

How about: "Where does a 500 ton cybernetic gorilla sleep? ... Anywhere it wants to!" or something *really* corny like "King (Cy)Con"

Edit - I really like "... RELEASE THE GORILLA!", though

[Googlie]

For me, the caption says:

"You wanna WHAT with my brain???"

G.

[Drogue]

I like them

The best one will be published in the next 3D. Also, non-CyCon can submit captions

[FlameFlash]

Originally posted by Googlie
For me, the caption says:

"You wanna WHAT with my brain???"

G.

[Drogue]

Any more ideas, PM me, and I will publish the best one in the next issue. Prize for the winner?

[Vev]

Don't Risk It. Use CyCon Matchmaking.

[Drogue]

Please PM me though, so I can announce the best one in the next issue.

[Hercules]

My suggestion. You wanna what with Jane

[FlameFlash]

[Drogue]

Do people not understand the request to PM me. As it is, since everyone posted here, I have none that I can use as the winner, as everyone has seen them all

[Snowflake]

Originally posted by Drogue
Any caption ideas yet? I kinda assumed him as the bouncer of protector of our forums. A rather gruff, aggressive Cyborg, by the looks of him...

How about
"Without emotion, how is a human different from a super-developed ape?"

Ok how about this
"Without logic, how is a human different from a super-emotional ape?"

[Snowflake]

Originally posted by Drogue
Do people not understand the request to PM me. As it is, since everyone posted here, I have none that I can use as the winner, as everyone has seen them all

No, no. We will not let you enjoy all the fun all by yourself.

[Googlie]

Of course, the Hive want a poll for the winner

[Vev]

You mean using our special Patented Hive Polling System?

[Drogue]

HongHu: How can I release the winner, to great applause, if you've all heard it before?

A poll you ask for, then a poll you shall get *cough*

[Snowflake]

Originally posted by Drogue
HongHu: How can I release the winner, to great applause, if you've all heard it before?

Spoiler:

How about this, I PM you a piece that nobody has ever heard before while keeping the fuss about sharing fun with everyone else and you release the winner, to great applause?

That'll teach them! These emotional, illogical human beings who cannot read instructions.

[Drogue]

Sure. I will post my favourite that I get PMed as the winner (prize to be determined) and also my favourite that was posted here (without prize).

[Snowflake]

Now I'll have to think of something that is unheard off. (I do it best when I'm half awake. But you know that.)

[Vev]

But Drogue, your PM box is full.

[Drogue]

Is it? How many are you allowed? I only have about 5 IIRC, and I've had over 20 before

Have deleted a few anyway.

[Cedayon]

It also counts old pms tucked away in your saved messages and sent messages folders, and probably hides a few here and there judging by how often we get this problem...

[Googlie]

Yeah - I never knew until recently that you had to go back and delete all those old PM's that we'd sent (I was pretty good at deleting old received ones, though)