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[Nightwriter]

smudboy wrote...

The issue isn't permanent satisfaction.  The concept is an on switch for pleasure.  Feeling down?  Boom.  In pain?  Boom.  Endorphinus maximus.  I will never get tired of pleasure.  It's impact will be lessened as agonists eventually flood the synaptic clefts, but that won't change the impact, just the intensity.

That woman who has 200 orgasms is nothing compared to a switch I can flip in my brain for happy.

It doesn't matter if a "world" is whatever.  We're talking about pleasure, and pleasure and pain are real.  This is not about perception.

Also, Ghost Ships are hilarious and should be avoided. ME2 gave us a few.  Avoid it!

We're talking about whether we could be satisfied with a virtual world. What does that have to do with an on switch for pleasure?

[Skyblade012]

smudboy wrote...

Skyblade012 wrote...

Congratulations, you're now a wirehead.  So addicted to your pleasure sensation, what need have you for anything else?  Ever other sense you've ever felt, you can overwrite it with just intense, tremendous pleasure.  No reason to improve your life, no reason to do anything.  You won't grow, you won't even survive.  You'll die, a terrible, neglected wreck of a human being, but you will have your pleasure.

Not at all.  Being a hedonist says nothing of anything else.  In fact, Socrates would say all things that are good are pleasurable, and all things bad are painful.  What does having a switch to turn on the happy negate any other aspect of ones character?

One is not overwriting anything.  There is not classical conditioning toward...anything.  One merely has a switch to experience pleasure.  In pain?  Just flip the switch, it'll hurt less.

Also, ghostships should be avoided by all space faring vessels unless guided by autistic math savants hooked up to the Matrix of Happy.

If all things that are good are pleasurable, why is protecting innocents considered good?  It frequently hurts.  In fact, most things conventionally thought of as "good" are unpleasant.  Hedonism is one of the quickest paths to corruption.  If pleasure is the ultimate goal, then anything that helps that goal is a good thing.  Murder, rape, theft.  All good, as long as they make you enjoy them.

[smudboy]

Nightwriter wrote...

We're talking about whether we could be satisfied with a virtual world. What does that have to do with an on switch for pleasure?

Nyar?  I was talking about an on switch for pleasure, that is, stimulating a few centers of the brain.

In regards to a virtual world, I don't see why it wouldn't be satisfiable if the virtual quality has equal if not greater stimuli than the real one.  The same is said of lesser stimuli.  To state something over the other is relative and goes the way of categorizing everything.  It's like saying the creative endeavours of any artist are not of any value because he's working in his imagination, or their medium is digital and not clay or wood.

[smudboy]

Skyblade012 wrote...

If all things that are good are pleasurable, why is protecting innocents considered good?  It frequently hurts.  In fact, most things conventionally thought of as "good" are unpleasant.  Hedonism is one of the quickest paths to corruption.  If pleasure is the ultimate goal, then anything that helps that goal is a good thing.  Murder, rape, theft.  All good, as long as they make you enjoy them.

Situational ethics, epicurianism, the cardinal virtues (courage), etc. etc. etc.

[Lord Jaric]

If you negate your pain then you will never learn from it.

[jmood88]

Maybe it's just me but I have no desire to see this as DLC. I'm fine with just reading about it cause it's a really interesting story but not every interesting story in the Mass Effect universe needs to involve Shepard.

[Foolsfolly]

Zan51 wrote...

Breaking news tonight from the Citadel, where Ambassador Sygan, the
virtual alien inhabiting Dr. Jordan Detweiler’s body, called an
unscheduled press conference to issue the following statement: “Long
ago, our people lived in your universe of physical matter. When our sun
went supernova, we sought refuge in a virtual world free of needless
pain and suffering, climate disasters, disease, and many other ills
faced by creatures of solid flesh. Some now feel that remaining in this
world after the danger had passed was a mistake. We realize that
distress can sometimes provide a catalyst for evolution. We miss the
turmoil of physical existence. As such, I formally petition the Citadel
Council for asylum. I no longer wish to return to my former world.”

Oh my gawd.... So Detweiler's body is being held hostage by the virtual alien mind... With this much detail, I certainly sense a DLC on the way - soon!

I wonder if these alien minds in their virtual world could act as a virus if uploaded to the Reapers? Could they do battle? It would One Up the Independance Day ending for sure!

I have no idea how you'd make it into a DLC at this point, but I want this guy on my team. His advanced tech and his knowledge of multi-conscious systems could be really useful against the Reapers.