Thread: Artificial Human Companions

Originally Posted by Stelionis Ignigenae

Sigh. Robots can't be used for porn? Robots can't be used to substitute for social skills? Robots can't be used to fulfill instincts that would normally be fulfilled by having children? About the only thing robots can't do is serve as food. It's a good argument, I just expected other people to be able to synthesize ideas. My mistake.

To be honest, no they can not. Where are your robot hookers? Methinks you have been watching too much A.I.

And thanks everybody else

Originally Posted by Stelionis Ignigenae

In The Devil's Notebook, Anton LaVey discusses Artificial Human Companions, their construction and the effect they will have on human society. The Japanese are already pioneering the way toward creating servitors which will be useful for labor, while here in America the Realdoll manufacturers are creating objects for sexual fulfillment. The benefits to society would be many, but with the benefits also come pitfalls. I of course do not mean terminator style kill bots run amok, but something more subtle. Consider this article:

Runaway Consumerism Explains the Fermi Paradox

In the light of this article, how might "fitness faking" technology undermine civilization, if at all? Or will this new technology clear the way for the elite among the human race to separate themselves from the masses, while simultaneously weeding out the weak who are easily distracted by artificial things?

Stelionis would the weak be the ones who will fall for this and succumb to what the scientist are doing. Is the elitist the ones who know what these new toys will actually do to the people who grab them up like candy. Yes they will buy them as it is something new a new fad and because Scientist say so to own one would be only for ones who can afford them and would this mean the one's that do not fall for this be in the elitist group?

Lets just Look at the basic demographics of the worlds population, and the percentage that the article is actually applicable to...maybe 5%? Its just a guess, but I doubt I'm off by much...hell, double my estimation if you want.

By far the bulk of the worlds population is still poor, relatively uneducated and very simple...living with conservative mindsets that haven't changed in decades. Whether we like it or not, it is this demographic that is breeding the fastest and will be a major cause to any collapse in civilization that might happen. The guy that makes the tea in the office here has 3 wives, 11 children and 5 grandchildren...he's 42. His youngest wife is 19.

Now it could be argued that the "elite" minority isn't doing enough about this situation because we are to busy staring at our belly buttons drooling..but I suspect that a lot of the poorer demographic are actually quite happy with their lot or it would take generations to change their way of looking at life even if the more affluent elite were to start trying to influence them.

I don't think apathy due to technical advancement is a major issue...its more like stopping the teaboy from getting wife number 4 that bothers me.

Three wives? Where are you?

I live in the East...3 wives is considered quite normal hereabouts. I personally think he, (and most men with more than 1 wife), are certifiably insane...but I'm an outsider looking in.

PS...I think he has a girlfriend to...

Oh my. I thought it was hard with one husband.

To add, you have to take perspective into account. If the human race is happy being served to, and busy being content on food and artificial sex, the want and need to further intelligent evolution is unwarranted.

Lets just Look at the basic demographics of the worlds population, and the percentage that the article is actually applicable to...maybe 5%? Its just a guess, but I doubt I'm off by much...hell, double my estimation if you want.

Its more like 2%. However, once we figure out how to make whatever you're talking about, there will be a way to mass produce it cheaply. Look at the One Laptop Per Child program. Basically its a non-profit organization that gives cheep, easy to assemble, heavy duty, easy to learn laptops across the world to children who would never have an opportunity otherwise. Its the same principle as the "servitor" aspect". If we can mass produce it cheaply and efficiently, we can afford to GIVE THEM AWAY.

Rapid consumerism is a catalyst to the eventual tech boom that will enable everyone in the world to live in their own personal utopia. This however is offset by natural resources. Land, water, food, and fuel; all are factors that are required to fulfill said utopia. Unless we discover a sustainable source of fuel that can be siphoned off of war and famine, there is going to be a distinct lack of any utopia at all, servitor or otherwise. Think to Idiocracy (2006). The future is so dumbed down, that even the average man of today is considered a genius. This could be the case of our future. We have become so dependent on technology already, that we have bred new social disorders, diseases, weapons and malice, all with technology.

Have you ever heard of an obsessive compulsive hand washer from the Renaissance? What about a weapon that can destroy an entire city from the stone age? Such things were either God's wrath or a curse from some wandering Roma. By the time that we develop the technology to mass produce prostitutes cheaply, we will be out of the information age, and into the age of pleasure. Its an example of ends justifying the means.

In Vir's example of consumerism benefiting humanity, I can only hope. Grand schemes such as Stelionis Ignigenae mentioned, can't be considered influential yet. Why? Because they don't exist. Robot hookers aren't prowling the streets, and whatever notion you have that they're just around the corner, is wrong.

Prostitutes in general is a Taboo subject.

Thats having sex with Humans. Having sex with robots would cause a media stir like no other. When it does happen, I'll consider if they can be used for porn, companionship, or whatever. So far, the most advanced robot in the world still can't recognize faces correctly. Its a LONG time off until we get to have sex with it. If you have any direct links or evidence besides blowup sex dolls, or low tech examples of robot prostitutes, I will gladly view those sources.

As for synthesizing ideas, all I can say to that is Ideas can be wrong. So can opinions. However it all comes back to perspective.

I'm going to use two people, myself and you ( in general, you is nonspecific in these examples)

In example: If my moral code is different from your moral code, unless you can convince me otherwise, you are wrong under my morals. If my perspective changes, then maybe your morals will have more sympathy.

In example: If I view a rock as a rock, and you view a rock as a rock, we both share the same view of a rock. If we take a step further; I view a rock of any size as just a rock, you view a rock of smaller size to be a pebble, and a rock of bigger size to be a boulder. They are both rocks, but under your perspective, merely claiming a boulder is a rock deems insufficiency.

Understanding ideas and getting others to believe them are two different things. The same could be said about servitors. 2% of the entire world can afford a mechanical prostitute. The African child can understand the idea of mechanical prostitutes. When he is older, he may even want one. He understands that he may never get one. Claiming that this man can afford it doesn't make that statement true. Being elite justifies importance to the rest of the world simply because its a habit. Once technology evolves, and we can mass produce this prostitute, the elite are no longer elite for having a mechanical prostitute. Any man can have a prostitute, the United Nations may even start shipping them out to poor countries in order to control STDs and world population.

HOWEVER:

This hasn't happened yet. Its a strict case of having to see to believe.

Percentages or not if the human race is content to have this happen there will be no human race. Technology is at the point where they are playing God again, like they did with the ancient races and they destroyed themselves. We will destroy our selves from within if it is allowed to continue.

Originally Posted by Lady Dunsany

Percentages or not if the human race is content to have this happen there will be no human race. Technology is at the point where they are playing God again, like they did with the ancient races and they destroyed themselves. We will destroy our selves from within if it is allowed to continue.

The invincible force meets the immovable object. Its a beast that can't be stopped.