336 réponses à ce sujet

[Xellith]

So let me get this right.. you think control is a trap.. You taking the place of the reapers is a trap.. however synthesis in which the catalyst is NOT destroyed or removed from power and so he retains control of the reapers is okay? How is you jumping to your death different than electrocuting yourself into oblivion?

The end result is the same. You give in to the reapers.

Besides Red doesnt destroy the geth. /shrug.

Speculations and whatnot.  I believe Indoctrination is occuring and the real ending is to be released.  Least thats what the last 18 hours of twitter feed scouring have suggested... at least in part.

Modifié par Xellith, 17 mai 2012 - 07:48 .

[Hadeedak]

Bill Casey wrote...

Gexora wrote...

You are doing what Saren wanted, as opposed to what Anderson wanted.
This makes me facepalm every single time. Saren wanted to live in submission. Shepard doesn't.

It's relevent, not because it's what Saren believed, but because it's what Saren was brainwashed to believe...
By the Reapers...

Shepard does not deserve to be rewarded for picking it...
The better Synthesis works out, the more it breaks the story...

Too bad. As stands, it works. He will get a message that breaks the fourth wall telling him his Shepard ended the threat of the Reapers, the Stargazer will say Shepard saved everyone, and EDI and Joker will have a hug, all after he swandives into the light. Those are the facts the game presents you with. The rest, including as to what it means, is our magical friend Mr. Speculation.


Edit: Oh, look, the first "Your opinion is invalid because IT" post right above me.

Modifié par Hadeedak, 17 mai 2012 - 07:50 .

[M Hedonist]

You simply don't know what you're doing. The Catalyst uses about 20 words to establish and explain Synthesis.
"[...] combine all synthetic and organic life into a new framework. A new DNA. [...] Synthesis is the final evolution of life."
This tells us literally nothing at all about what it actually does. Synthesis could potentially do anything. The only thing we do know is that the Reaper god really likes Synthesis. It might be indoctrination/brain washing on a genetic level. Even if you take what the Catalyst says as true, he never says that it doesn't do something like that. That's the problem with it, he barely tells you anything about it.
Picking Synthesis is playing god, it may be one of the best allegories for playing god in any video game yet. You do something that may potentially advance society/science, but you may also doom all life forever. Just like when scientists experiment with black holes and such in the real world. Don't you even understand what you're doing?

[dreman9999]

Gexora wrote...

dreman9999 wrote...

Gexora wrote...

dreman9999 wrote...

Gexora wrote...

Bill Casey wrote...

Sovereign said the Reapers are the pinnacle of evolution...
I guess they are a form of synthesis though...

A billion organic minds uploaded and conjoined within immortal machine bodies. A hybrid of organic and inorganic material. Genetically engineered sentient starships. Organic dreadnoughts...

This makes no sense at all. Because Husks are mindless... well, husks, and Reapers are one single mind created by setroying thousand of minds, while synthesis leaves every being intact , every mind still it's own (if we take the endings at face value, which is the premise behind my post)

You missing the point was never to make reapers. Making reapers was what they though way to apply their salution. 
The reapers goal is to combince organics with synthetics, how they do it is not important, It just that they do it. And saying that synthesis is different becuae you still havefree will miss a very important fact...How does synthesis solves the reapers problem?I f you not how thay can control organics eith implants...Then you can understand why synthesis is not the right choice.

synthesis doesn't solve the problem reaper present, which is fine by me because I don't believe this problem exist

They you missing the point even more. Why would the reapers offer this salution if it solves nothing.
Say that the crucible opens up the fact that there salution is in error is also loston the fact that they don't justleave on their own, that the system they have must be intact for them to leave.

I am sorry, I misinterpreted your post. 
Then again, you are going against my original premise, which is we take the endings at the face value, with Catalyst not lying (otherwise everyone would just choose destroy and be done with it) 

I am talking the ending in face value in this argument. He is tell his truth, but it doesn't make it right. In the end we are not open to the full picture which leave the star child more control. This is a race of machines that have a history of mind control, very much with implants...And you want to implant everyone and leave the reaper in control?

[Gexora]

Bill Casey wrote...

Gexora wrote...

You are doing what Saren wanted, as opposed to what Anderson wanted.
This makes me facepalm every single time. Saren wanted to live in submission. Shepard doesn't.

It's relevent, not because it's what Saren believed, but because it's what Saren was brainwashed to believe...
By the Reapers...

Shepard does not deserve to be rewarded for picking it...
The better Synthesis works out, the more it breaks the story...

What Saren believed involved getting sunthetic enhancements, yes. However, the key part was that we should all be rewarded this enhancements for being slaves to the Reapers, much like Collectors.
I know that Synthesis is gamebreaking, however, we already have 4000 pages thread discussing how the ending sucked and about 1000 smaller ones.

[dreman9999]

Gexora wrote...

Bill Casey wrote...

Gexora wrote...

You are doing what Saren wanted, as opposed to what Anderson wanted.
This makes me facepalm every single time. Saren wanted to live in submission. Shepard doesn't.

It's relevent, not because it's what Saren believed, but because it's what Saren was brainwashed to believe...
By the Reapers...

Shepard does not deserve to be rewarded for picking it...
The better Synthesis works out, the more it breaks the story...

What Saren believed involved getting sunthetic enhancements, yes. However, the key part was that we should all be rewarded this enhancements for being slaves to the Reapers, much like Collectors.
I know that Synthesis is gamebreaking, however, we already have 4000 pages thread discussing how the ending sucked and about 1000 smaller ones.

The problem with synthesis is that we don't know if it's another form of inslavement. Think of it like awayto keep us happy so the reapers can rule us in peace, and you'll get why it's abad choice.

[Ieldra]

@Gexora:
Yes, my main Shepard chose Synthesis, too. And I think it does solve the organic/synthetic problem, because that problem was never as simplistic as the game makes it appear to be.

The problem is not that "synthetics will always be hostile to organics", because that is clearly wrong. The problem is that...

(1) Synthetics can self-evolve and surpass organics at a frightening speed. See how the geth came to be the most advanced civilization just 300 years after their creation, and how their linked minds increase their intelligence. What will happen when they finish their Dyson swarm and all geth will be able to link with each other?

(2) More intelligent life will tend to see less intelligent life as "lesser" and insignificant and habitually cause the extinction of that lesser life with no hostility or malice, just by expanding into its space. How humans behave on Earth is the best example. Sometimes, lesser life is literally below our notice - in some cases we've caused the extinction of species we didn't even know before their extinction.

The conclusion is that advanced synthetics will cause the extinction of organics at some point, with no malice or hostility, just by doing what all life does and expanding into organics' space. That's what the Catalyst is talking about, and the phrasing of the leaked script is a hint that this is actually intended but was just obfuscated and simplified so much that it didn't make sense anymore.

Now to the Synthesis: if Synthesis combines organics and synthetics (though not on a DNA-analogue level, that's just silly and a very bad metaphor), the only way this can be a solution to that problem is if post-Synthesis life will have the same ability to self-evolve that synthetics used to have. Thus, future synthetic life - the existence of which is impossible to prevent - won't be able to surpass the hybrid life so far that it can habitually cause its extinction.

Pertinent threads:
Why the Catalyst's logic is right by JShepppp
What is the Synthesis? by me
On the Nature of the Catalyst and the Reapers, and why Synthesis is an attractive option by me.

You'll find the leaked script version of the ending descriptions in the thread:
Did post-leak changes ruin the ending's exposition and the Control and Synthesis options?

Modifié par Ieldra2, 17 mai 2012 - 08:10 .

[Gexora]

Sauruz wrote...

You simply don't know what you're doing. The Catalyst uses about 20 words to establish and explain Synthesis.
"[...] combine all synthetic and organic life into a new framework. A new DNA. [...] Synthesis is the final evolution of life."
This tells us literally nothing at all about what it actually does. Synthesis could potentially do anything. The only thing we do know is that the Reaper god really likes Synthesis. It might be indoctrination/brain washing on a genetic level. Even if you take what the Catalyst says as true, he never says that it doesn't do something like that. That's the problem with it, he barely tells you anything about it.
Picking Synthesis is playing god, it may be one of the best allegories for playing god in any video game yet. You do something that may potentially advance society/science, but you may also doom all life forever. Just like when scientists experiment with black holes and such in the real world. Don't you even understand what you're doing?

That's the problem with all endings. I don't know whether Synthesis is what Catalysts says it is, however, I also have no idea if Destroy is what it is. Think of it - this is the Reapers God telling you how to destroy the reapers (and it's considered the worst option, no less). Maybe he figured out I will want to do this and it really just destroys all our spaceships so Reapers can harvest us in peace? I have no way to find out either than shooting the pipe I magically know I have to shoot. 
Or walking into the beam of Light. 
Yes, it's playing God. Maybe Bioware intended it as playing Jesus - you die so everyone can be better. But at this point you are a god - the fate of the whole galaxy literally resides in your hands
Within the limits the spacef*ck allows you, of course. Like I said - My Shep can take the role of God. Probably because she is groggy from bloodloss at this point, but still

[Gexora]

Ieldra2 wrote...

@Gexora:
Yes, my main Shepard chose Synthesis, too. And I think it does solve the organic/synthetic problem, because that problem was never as simplistic as the game makes it appear to be.

The problem is not that "synthetics will always be hostile to organics", because that is clearly wrong. The problem is that...

(1) Synthetics can self-evolve and surpass organics at a frightening speed. See how the geth came to be the most advanced civilization just 300 years after their creation, and how their linked minds increase their intelligence. What will happen when they finish their Dyson swarm and all geth will be able to link with each other?

(2) More intelligent life will tend to see less intelligent life as "lesser" and insignificant and habitually cause the extinction of that lesser life with no hostility or malice, just by expanding into its space. How humans behave on Earth is the best example. Sometimes, lesser life is literally below our notice - in some cases we've caused the extinction of species we didn't even know before their extinction.

The conclusion is that advanced synthetics will cause the extinction of organics at some point, with no malice or hostility, just by doing what all life does and expanding into organics' space. That's what the Catalyst is talking about, and the phrasing of the leaked script is a hint that this is actually intended but was just obfuscated and simplified so much that it didn't make sense anymore.

Now to the Synthesis: if Synthesis combines organics and synthetics (though not on a DNA-analogue level, that's just silly and a very bad metaphor), the only way this can be a solution to that problem is if post-Synthesis life will have the same ability to self-evolve that synthetics used to have. Thus, future synthetic life - the existence of which is impossible to prevent - won't be able to surpass the hybrid life so far that it can habitually cause its extinction.

Pertinent threads:
Why the Catalyst's logic is right by JShepppp
What is the Synthesis? by me
On the Nature of the Catalyst and the Reapers, and why Synthesis is an attractive option by me.

You'll find the leaked script version of the ending descriptions in the thread:
Did post-leak changes ruin the ending's exposition and the Control and Synthesis options?

Nice to see someone actually taking the time to consider synthesis instead of hastily dismissing it as being SpaceHitlerous.
My idea was that synthetics and organics would always be naturally suspicious of each other because of being so different ("we don't like we what we don't understand... in fact it scares us... hum hum hum") and every little spark will be enough to start a war, but yours works even better. 
That said, given how nonsensic synthesis souns, how you het litterally no clarification on what are the consequences of your actions so you have to speculate and headcanon it all, and how "!00% paragon!!" are most of BSN gamers it is not surprising.
I think I will go and read the leaked script now. havent seen that one yet, thank you

[Gexora]

It's the same as Feros, really.
Paragon solution to Feros quest was simply stupid, but people have gone for it because it was labeled as paragon and thus good choice by Bioware, and look - everything worked out for the best

[Ieldra]

@Gexora:
Yeah....something's clearly wrong with an ending if even those who like the idea facepalm at the abysmally retarded description.

As for Paragons, what I really don't get is how so many Paragons deceive themselves into believing Destroy is a Paragon choice. Regardless of its merits as a way to end the Reaper threat, it fits the definition of a Renegade choice to a point.

Don't agree about Feros, btw. Why do you think using the anti-Thorian grenades is silly?

[Gorkan86]

Gexora wrote...

You have been indoctrinated. 
Don't believe IT, don't care about IT, don't bring it into this discussion

No! What have you done! Ah, but it's too late ...

As you can see, if you say that you do not care about IT then immediately there will be people who want to prove you wrong. 

[Evolution13]

You poor Indoctrinated fool, you drank the Reaper Kool-Aid!

[Silpheed58]

Total Biscuit wrote...

Bill Casey wrote...

However, all her lifetime she believed that synthetics and organics can live peacefully, it was one of her main goals - to show that synthetics are people just like us and we can co-exist. To destroy them all just when they started to prove us right by helping the quarians would be destroying everything she fought her, nullify her biggest victory.

It's the only option that doesn't do that...
Even if the Geth and EDI die, which is bull****, Destroy defends the very right of synthetic life to exist...
Synthesis strips this fundamental right...

This. Synthesis at it's core is the idea that diversity is inherently dangerous and that peaceful coexistence is impossible between different racial groups.

It's abhorrent bigotry, and an appalling message to include in game, especially given that it's implied to be the 'ideal' ending from the leaked script, describing it as a reward for a 'perfect' playthrough.

Nevermind the fact that it's laughably impossible, and shows Walters and Hudson know literally nothing about how Evolution actually work. Plus it's still not going to prevent any future AIs being built, or war between anyone.

This overrides any reasons you gave to chose synthesis, Bill.  Atleast in Destroy, even from the Catlysts own mouth, the death of synthetic life is not permanent.  I wont touch control, to many questions there, but synthesis, there are no organics and synthetics any more.

[tufy1]

Why my Shepard will choose Synthesis

How dare YOU choose MY future and the future of BILLIONS of others? You're not a god, you're a mortal, you make mistakes. Therefore synthesis is your authocratic decision to impose your own will on every single being - nay, on every single thing in the galaxy without the slightest of their say in it.

Basically, it would be like some alien on the other side of the galaxy deciding that the galaxy is better off without Earth and blew it up. It doesn't matter whether he is right or wrong, he has no right whatsoever to make that decision for someone else.

[The Night Mammoth]

Ieldra2 wrote...

@Gexora:
Yes, my main Shepard chose Synthesis, too. And I think it does solve the organic/synthetic problem, because that problem was never as simplistic as the game makes it appear to be.

The problem is not that "synthetics will always be hostile to organics", because that is clearly wrong. The problem is that...

(1) Synthetics can self-evolve and surpass organics at a frightening speed. See how the geth came to be the most advanced civilization just 300 years after their creation, and how their linked minds increase their intelligence. What will happen when they finish their Dyson swarm and all geth will be able to link with each other?

Fine, other than the fact that I see no evidence for this anywhere. 

(2) More intelligent life will tend to see less intelligent life as "lesser" and insignificant and habitually cause the extinction of that lesser life with no hostility or malice, just by expanding into its space. How humans behave on Earth is the best example. Sometimes, lesser life is literally below our notice - in some cases we've caused the extinction of species we didn't even know before their extinction.

The conclusion is that advanced synthetics will cause the extinction of organics at some point, with no malice or hostility, just by doing what all life does and expanding into organics' space. That's what the Catalyst is talking about, and the phrasing of the leaked script is a hint that this is actually intended but was just obfuscated and simplified so much that it didn't make sense anymore.

I remember asking something similar a while back.

Why? 

Why will synthetic life ever do this? Why would they ever think this? How exactly do they ever get to the point where they eradicate every speck of organic matter? 

None of it makes any sense. It's complete imagination, there's no evidence or context for it. 

[RavenEyry]

You make some very good points OP, but one anti-synthesis argument you do not mention is the fact that it doesn't do anything to stop there reapers killing everyone. A vague assurance that there will be peace is all we get.

[nlag]

What is the right word to express the fact that i will insert my DNA to someone else, without his consent? Let alone to the entire universe?

Morally, the choice of synthesis is wrong even if you think that there will be a happy ending because of it.

At least this is what I believe.

Modifié par nlag, 17 mai 2012 - 09:06 .

[Zolt51]

RoyalGambit wrote...
What ever floats your boat. I respectfully disagree though. Synthesis seems like what the Reapers wanted all along. To quote a great man: "it's a trap!".

To clarify: It's what they'd have wanted if they had know it was possible. I'm pretty sure the Reapers themselves are the result of a failed attempt at synthesis.

[Silpheed58]

Ieldra2 wrote...

@Gexora:
Yes, my main Shepard chose Synthesis, too. And I think it does solve the organic/synthetic problem, because that problem was never as simplistic as the game makes it appear to be.

The problem is not that "synthetics will always be hostile to organics", because that is clearly wrong. The problem is that...

(1) Synthetics can self-evolve and surpass organics at a frightening speed. See how the geth came to be the most advanced civilization just 300 years after their creation, and how their linked minds increase their intelligence. What will happen when they finish their Dyson swarm and all geth will be able to link with each other?

(2) More intelligent life will tend to see less intelligent life as "lesser" and insignificant and habitually cause the extinction of that lesser life with no hostility or malice, just by expanding into its space. How humans behave on Earth is the best example. Sometimes, lesser life is literally below our notice - in some cases we've caused the extinction of species we didn't even know before their extinction.

The conclusion is that advanced synthetics will cause the extinction of organics at some point, with no malice or hostility, just by doing what all life does and expanding into organics' space. That's what the Catalyst is talking about, and the phrasing of the leaked script is a hint that this is actually intended but was just obfuscated and simplified so much that it didn't make sense anymore.

Now to the Synthesis: if Synthesis combines organics and synthetics (though not on a DNA-analogue level, that's just silly and a very bad metaphor), the only way this can be a solution to that problem is if post-Synthesis life will have the same ability to self-evolve that synthetics used to have. Thus, future synthetic life - the existence of which is impossible to prevent - won't be able to surpass the hybrid life so far that it can habitually cause its extinction.

Pertinent threads:
Why the Catalyst's logic is right by JShepppp
What is the Synthesis? by me
On the Nature of the Catalyst and the Reapers, and why Synthesis is an attractive option by me.

You'll find the leaked script version of the ending descriptions in the thread:
Did post-leak changes ruin the ending's exposition and the Control and Synthesis options?

And this line of thought is what the biggest problem of this kind of sifi has.  Everyone thinks organic and synthetic life are going to interact on the save wave length as organic.organic.   Legion has touched on this over and over again, and no one listens their eyes are glossed over by fan love and lack of thought.

Synthetic life is software!  Those physical bodies are platforms used to interact with organics to gives us a familiar form to interact with.  EDI comments on that when she first takes Eva's body, Legion constantly calls himself a platform.  Those bodies are empty host bodies, if you watch Bleach the concept is the same as the empty shells some of the regular charaacters use in the human world.

The sad part is because we associate the shells with the software mind we get attached emotionally and don't think about how things really are.  Synthetic life will neccesarily interact with organic life on the same level organic life interacts with organic life.  Its already been stressed that synthetic life does not have the requirments organiccs do for life, hell they don't even need to live on planets.  

And before anyone jumps on the, well with reaper upgrades they can no longer copy themselves BS or leave their platforms, yatta yatta crap, think about this.  How are the Geth in the Quarian enviro suits helping them adapt?  Oh and the beloved EDI, how is it when she became an actual AI she transfered to Cerberus' computers while I destroyed her programming on the moon?

I and my Shepard find all arguments for synthessis to be irrelevent, sorry if I sound mena, cold, or an ass for saying that but thats my opinion.

Modifié par Silpheed58, 17 mai 2012 - 09:09 .

[Ieldra]

RavenEyry wrote...
You make some very good points OP, but one anti-synthesis argument you do not mention is the fact that it doesn't do anything to stop there reapers killing everyone. A vague assurance that there will be peace is all we get.

The Catalyst says "The cycle will end". You might not want to believe it, but if you don't, you might as well choose a random ending, because if the Catalyst lies, you have no information at all on which to make your decision.

All endings require that you believe the Catalyst about their consequences. If you don't, step back and get a "critical mission failure" (which I still hope the EC will extend to an on-screen "Reapers win" scenario where we see the yahg finding Liara's message some time in the future).

[The Night Mammoth]

Ieldra2 wrote...

RavenEyry wrote...
You make some very good points OP, but one anti-synthesis argument you do not mention is the fact that it doesn't do anything to stop there reapers killing everyone. A vague assurance that there will be peace is all we get.

The Catalyst says "The cycle will end". You might not want to believe it, but if you don't, you might as well choose a random ending, because if the Catalyst lies, you have no information at all on which to make your decision.

All endings require that you believe the Catalyst about their consequences. If you don't, step back and get a "critical mission failure" (which I still hope the EC will extend to an on-screen "Reapers win" scenario where we see the yahg finding Liara's message some time in the future).

Or use headcanon, since Mass Effect has no 'canon'. 

[RavenEyry]

Ieldra2 wrote...

RavenEyry wrote...
You make some very good points OP, but one anti-synthesis argument you do not mention is the fact that it doesn't do anything to stop there reapers killing everyone. A vague assurance that there will be peace is all we get.

The Catalyst says "The cycle will end". You might not want to believe it, but if you don't, you might as well choose a random ending, because if the Catalyst lies, you have no information at all on which to make your decision.

All endings require that you believe the Catalyst about their consequences. If you don't, step back and get a "critical mission failure" (which I still hope the EC will extend to an on-screen "Reapers win" scenario where we see the yahg finding Liara's message some time in the future).

My problem is he doesn't say how the cycle will end. Perhaps the reapers wanted to complete their evolution by by harvesting organic-synthetic beings and so they're gonna wipe out all life this time becauese they have no need for the cycle.

[Ieldra]

@Slipheed58:
Synthetics, however, still need resources to expand, to build their platforms. The premise is that this will eventually lead to conflict with organics who also need resources.

Yes, I agree we don't know enough and that it may be equally likely that organics and synthetics will never need to compete for resources, but that's the premise used in the story here. I can accept it as a plausible premise. Much easier to accept that than to accept the FTL technology used in the ME universe, the reasoning for which is completely bonkers.

[ardensia]

 Hooray! I get a cookie! 

Ieldra2 wrote...

@Gexora:
Yes, my main Shepard chose Synthesis, too. And I think it does solve the organic/synthetic problem, because that problem was never as simplistic as the game makes it appear to be.

The problem is not that "synthetics will always be hostile to organics", because that is clearly wrong. The problem is that...

(1) Synthetics can self-evolve and surpass organics at a frightening speed. See how the geth came to be the most advanced civilization just 300 years after their creation, and how their linked minds increase their intelligence. What will happen when they finish their Dyson swarm and all geth will be able to link with each other?

(2) More intelligent life will tend to see less intelligent life as "lesser" and insignificant and habitually cause the extinction of that lesser life with no hostility or malice, just by expanding into its space. How humans behave on Earth is the best example. Sometimes, lesser life is literally below our notice - in some cases we've caused the extinction of species we didn't even know before their extinction.

The conclusion is that advanced synthetics will cause the extinction of organics at some point, with no malice or hostility, just by doing what all life does and expanding into organics' space. That's what the Catalyst is talking about, and the phrasing of the leaked script is a hint that this is actually intended but was just obfuscated and simplified so much that it didn't make sense anymore.

Now to the Synthesis: if Synthesis combines organics and synthetics (though not on a DNA-analogue level, that's just silly and a very bad metaphor), the only way this can be a solution to that problem is if post-Synthesis life will have the same ability to self-evolve that synthetics used to have. Thus, future synthetic life - the existence of which is impossible to prevent - won't be able to surpass the hybrid life so far that it can habitually cause its extinction.

Pertinent threads:
Why the Catalyst's logic is right by JShepppp
What is the Synthesis? by me
On the Nature of the Catalyst and the Reapers, and why Synthesis is an attractive option by me.

You'll find the leaked script version of the ending descriptions in the thread:
Did post-leak changes ruin the ending's exposition and the Control and Synthesis options?

 

^^This. I really wish it had been more clearly stated in the ending, since apparently a lot of people missed it/don't buy it.

The reason Shepard makes that horrible and amusing face when EDI suggests she forgets to recycle the Normandy's oxygen is because of this. Yeah, it's funny to us when she says it, becaues EDI is a loyal squadmate and all, but the truth is this is an actual possible threat, and should EDI decide to do this (or open all the airlocks, or several other things that would make life for organics miserable while onboard the Normandy), there's a very real possibility that no one would be able to stop her... or, at least, not without sustaining heavy casualties first.

As things stand in the game before you get to the ending, EDI is loyal originally because she is shackled. She is loyal after that because of her attraction to Joker and to Shepard. But what happens when Joker and Shepard are out of the picture? What happens when she's outlived half a dozen Jokers and Shepards? The lifespans of organics become to her what the lifespans of dogs and cats are to humans. Then they become like the lifespans of gerbils and hamsters to humans. And so on.

Eventually, an effectively immortal artificial intelligence has to come to the conclusion that organic life isn't worth the emotional investment any more than we would invest ourselves emotionally in the life of a single ant. While the continued cycles of the colony might hold some intrigue, the distinction of the individuals gets lost and muddled, and is ultimately seen as largely unimportant. Even the queens of the colony can and will be replaced without much upset to the colony's overall functioning.

Someone asked me in another thread if I could imagine a situation where Shepard wouldn't argue with the Catalyst's logic, and while I didn't answer there ('cause I'm lazy about keeping up with most threads and the thread got away from me before I could reply), the answer is yes prettymuch because of this. As fond as I was of EDI and Legion, and as much effort as I put into bringing synthetic life and organic life to an understanding throughout the entire series, I just couldn't get over this. The best I could hope for was that as synthetic life continued to surpass us in efficiency there would still be a large enough number of them dedicated to preserving our kind.

Oh, wait. That's what the Reapers are already doing. And as Garrus (or maybe it was Victus, can't remember) pointed out, the Reapers are VERY efficient at what they do.

So, if I'm meeting with the Catalyst, which controls the Reapers, and it says a new possibility has been created that will solve this problem, it is in my Shepard's best interest to take that possibility, even if it's just a vaguely explained hope and filled with space magic (which I, personally, was pretty sure existed in ME from the point in time when I read the first codex entry on biotics... but that's just me, apparently, and not quite the issue here).

Destroy, as has been said, banks on the possibility that when the next form of true AI life comes about we are able to strike a comparable peace to the tentative one we struck between the geth and the quarians. Control... I don't know if it's a trap, but especially if you run with the leaked script bit about Shepard basically becoming the Catalyst means there's a distinct possibility that, given time, Shepard will reach the same conclusion the Catalyst did (see above human versus ant lifespan reference), and the cycles will start anew... if the technological singularity isn't reached first.

Yes, it is playing God. All options are, including doing nothing. But sometimes we must play God to the lives of others, whether or not we want to, whether or not it's fair, and whether or not they have any say in it whatsoever, just as parents play God to their young children.

I like the tattoo metaphor. That's more or less how I saw it. Of course, given the vagueness surrounding the ending, that interpretation falls under the category of speculations... but then again, so does every other interpretation of what exactly synthesis does.