3D Offices

[Maniac]

Funny. A few days I made the exact same search for cyborg images, with the same results. Anyway, judging from the pictures you selected, and judging from your comment that the last pic can't be a cyborg, it seems we don't even agree about the definition of what a cyborg is. I made some web searches for dictionary definitions for cyborg (which is an abbreviation for cybernetic organism (thus not robot)):

"an organism with a machine built into it with consequent modification of function"

"A person whose physical tolerances or capabilities are extended beyond normal human limitations by a machine or other external agency that modifies the body’s functioning: an integrated man-machine" (OED definition)

As you can see, unlike what you seemed to claim in the philosophy thread, cyborgs are still basically human, just with a few mechanical implants that give the human extra abilities.

[Drogue]

I've got an idea, what about having a Caption Competition? We put a pic at the bottom, and ask people to come up with a caption for it

Originally posted by Maniac
Oh yes, I see you still haven't deleted the fifth paragraph in your first article, which is the earlier version of the sixth paragraph. Don't forget to delete it before going to press.

What double paragraph?

[Drogue]

I think we do agree what a Cyborg is. I never said that last one wasn't a cyborg. I said "she is, apparently, a Cyborg".

Cyborgs can be basically human, as they said, it is a man-machine. Anything part man, part machine, is a cyborg. However that doesn't make any difference to the SMAX definition of a Cybernetic Consciousness Function.

[Method]

there's always this one:

[Drogue]

Here is a draft for 3D, issue 1:

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

[Method]

for the logo, i'd prefer this one, because the one you have there is just 101010101010 the whole time. that and it looks like it's written on paper, which is a nono

[Drogue]

Thanks TKG, have done

Ok, a couple of things. Has anyone got a good pic (or want to choose one we already have) for the caption competition? And should the Akizeta pic go there (by her quote) or somewhere else?

[Drogue]

Is there anything else to add, or any comments to make about it? If not, I shall post it up in a short time.

[Drogue]

Has been posted on the main forum here.

Hope you like it

[Method]

for the next edition, include something about function Mu Hammed Saeed al-Sigma-4 being appointed information minister

[Maniac]

Well an article should be included about the Unimatrix 001 experiment. I hope I'll have time one of the following evenings, between my exam studies.

[Corellion]

Attempted sabotage of the Cybernetic Consciousness

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cybernetic Consciousness, despite the lack of many foreign concerns to deal with, has, nonetheless, been efficiently utilising its time through various maintenance and research duties. In the process of some of these duties, however, a number of functions have discovered an insidious virus implanted in the Datalinks. Preliminary evidence suggests this virus was loaded into the system aboard the Unity, suggesting that a rival faction is to blame for this outbreak.

The virus functions by flooding our logic pathways with a constant stream of inane data. The logic pathways are unable to cope with the sheer volume of irrelevant and unexplainable data, overheating in the process and fusing. Three functions who were working on the maintenance were affected in such a manner, and have had to have their pathways replaced. Each will also require at least a month of treatment before they can walk properly again. Although the exact location of the virus is classified, it can be revealed that it was found as a number of video files, approximately thirty minutes in length each, in the directory whose label translates into ASCII characters as /entertainment/20thcentury/humour/MPflyingcircus/.

Whoever uploaded this virus, know that the outbreak has been contained, and the damage was minimal. The virus was obviously programmed by an amateur, as it contains no method for self-replication. This fact seems to eliminate Datajack Roze as a culprit, and the level of computer knowledge in Sister Miriam’s faction eliminates them as well.

The virus has been contained, and that the necessary changes have been made to all functions so that a recurrence of this event is no longer a possibility. The files, however, are still located in our Datalinks, and analysis is underway to determine the exact culprit. It is only a matter of time before the perpetrator is discovered, and the Cybernetic Consciousness does not look well upon such enemies.

Function Corelli Omega-9
Advisor on Foreign Affairs for the Cybernetic Consciousness
210X.358
*Change X to whatever year it is

[Cedayon]

You could put in something to taunt them about the new code, parodying the game's "They've installed high security interlocks" or something... I'm not sure I want to actually bait them about it, but I know I could win

edit - oh, and for another caption competition (the first one was quite funny) :

[Drogue]

Brilliant, we have our caption and first story

Anyone have anything to add? I'll write something about the new automated security system, a kind of offical report. Please, keep the stuff coming.

[Corellion]

I think we should start up an issuely quiz section on Chiron geography. We can call it "Where in the world is Colonel Santiago", or "Where on Chiron is Colonel Santiago", or something to that extent. Each issue we give a clue as to her location, and people PM one of us with their guess. One guess per person.

My vote for the first landmark is "Unity Wreckage"

[Cedayon]

Originally posted by Corellion
"Where in the world is Colonel Santiago"

That's great

edit - and, considering what happened to the Unity, wouldn't the answer be "scattered just about everywhere"?

[Drogue]

I thought we had scattering only at landing sites?

That would be a great idea but wouldn't that involve us knowing a little more of the map ourselves first? Or have I missed the point entirely?

[Method]

i think you did. there is a TV game show (or was) called "where in the world is carmen san diego" where children had to find clues to guess where carmen san diego (who always stole some valuable piece of world heritage, such as the statue of liberty, for example ) would go next. "i saw a suspicious person leaving in a car with a blue white and red flag"...hmm...aha! she's in FRANCE! WE HAVE TO GET TO FRANCE!

that sort of thing

[Drogue]

Ahhhh, sounds like a great idea. Someone write the first one and I will put i in

[Corellion]

Greetings young functions and adults from other factions who are receiving this broadcast; we now begin the first scheduled release of our educational gameshow, teaching children and extra-factional adults about Chironian geography.

You are a young soldier in the Cybernetic Consciousness Dangerous Offenders Security Collective (CyCon DOSC). As a DOSC agent, it is your duty to hunt down dangerous offenders who threaten the security of our faction. You have just arrived for your first day of duty, when your superior contacts you, beckoning you into his alcove.

Greetings Function. As you know, you graduated from your training academy with top honours... the highest, in fact, in recent memory. Given the aptitude you have shown in this field, we have come to the collective decision to assign you to a very important case. You will be working with a team of our best DOSC agents in this task, so use your expertise to help them in this mission.

You well know what happened in the Unity disaster at the beginning of this century, and the personalities who managed to escape the carnage. The followers of the Human Hive, the Lord's Believers, the Data Angels, the Free Drones, the Planet University of Technology, PEACE, and, of course, the Cybernetic Consciousness all managed to safely arrive upon Planet. However, rumour had it that one more escape pod managed to flee the Unity before it broke up. Originally, we believed this to be just another fable that the less logical factions are so quick to indulge in, however one of our scouts has reported sighting someone whom we did not suspect had survived. Due to her absence of any followers, she is considered desperate and extremely dangerous. It is your job to help track her down and take her into custody. However, in order to do so, you must first figure out...

Where in the World is Colonel Santiago?

The last our agents saw of her she was escaping into the Xenofungus with a machete, but she did not seem to have many travel rations with her.

Good luck on your mission.


Although ultimately Santiago will be hiding in specific tiles, and even particular features within these tiles, Chironian geography is currently limited to orbital scans taken before the exodus from the Unity. A DOSC agent's only hope at this point in time is to find the general location of Santiago, and conduct intensive searches to locate any trace of her presence.

Transmit (PM) one's solutions (only one per individual) directly to CISCO. The correct solution shall be posted in each subsequent broadcast.

[Corellion]

If you have any suggestions for edits then go ahead. Also, if any of you know of an effective way we can change the original theme song (or the theme song for the new show, which would probably be easier), then it would be very helpful.

[Maniac]

I have never seen that TV show you guys are talking about. But more than five - or even ten - years ago I watched one of my older brother playing a game where he had to search for Carmen San Diego over the entire galaxy. I recall very little of that though; only a few images. So I'm wondering: what would be the end goal of this game? Indicating one square on the standard Planet map where Santiago is located? Indicating a base facility in a certain base on Planet where Santiago would reside?? (We'd need an already base-crowded game map for that.) And would Santiago be able to move??? All questions I don't know the answer of because I have never seen the show. Is there perhaps some site where I can read more about the rules of the Carmen San Diego game?

[Cedayon]

There were a number of computer games, one of them being "where in space is Carmen Sandiego?", which is the one you're talking about it (I played the stuffing out of that thing).

There were "where in the world", "where in the US", "where in Europe", "where in Space" ... etc ... a friend of mine once joked that the logical progression was "Where in Hell is Carmen Sandiego!?!"

As for the rules... well, quite simple, but I'll let someone else explain them since I don't have much time (heading off to a final shortly).

[Corellion]

Well, since nobody knows much about the map so far, we'd start off by giving general clues (Santiago can move) to general areas. Each time you discover where she last was, she's moved already, and you have to follow her (or her henchmen, who leave clues too) to another area, where you get another clue. Eventually, we'd have somebody catch her, but I predict this will be in a long while. For now we give general features that could be detected from orbit, while later on we choose more specific landmarks (bases, resources, and ultimately individual tiles). This is mostly meant as a fun thing though... initially developed as a joke to use the title "Where in the world is Colonel Santiago". I wouldn't mind doing a new update each issue, though.

[Corellion]

Should we post an article stating that our research has allowed us to create implants that give use incredibly powerful postcognitive abilities?

[Corellion]

Also... not to be rude, but do you have an estimate as to when the next issue of 3D will come out? I'm looking forward to the next "Meditations on Logic".

[Googlie]

Or, as all of the Planetary features are present in the game, have her at the Borehole Cluster, then the Manifold Nexus, the Uranium Flats, etc etc, with appropriate clues (a shoe stuck in some solidified planetcore magma, or a note "235 clicks to the rendezvous", etc etc)

And given that a faction or two is likely to have stumbled on one or two of these, create paranoia, perhaps, that you've sen their map somehow?

G.

[Drogue]

Sounds great Googlie

Corellion: I am sorry for the delay, due to exams I will not be able to write anything more for it until the weekend. If I have a couple of articles (who's doing Colonel Santiago?) then I will publish then. I want to have a few articles first.

[Corellion]

No problem... I myself am in exams, so I was just curious.

As for the Colonel Santiago thing, I'll gladly do that... I've posted the first article already.

And Googlie... that's what I'm doing so far. I won't tell you what it is, but let you guess here. Do you all think that CyCons should be excluded from winning?

[Maniac]

I really like the idea, but I think, if we will use our own world map to play this game and not a custom one, we should wait with the Santiago search party until all factions know a large portion of the world map. Otherwise several 3D issues will just include meaningless hints like "She has run into the fungus", "She has been seen in a Data Angel base." while no one knows where on Chiron these places could be. That makes it impossible for people to guess her location, so I fail to see the fun of that.

Oh yes, I'm sorry I haven't written an article yet, but exams exams! I can't promise any article the next two weeks.