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To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.

 
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 56386715
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04/06/2014 06:36 PM
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To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
I couldn't sleep and inevitably made myself a coffee and came back online to post a thought I just had about the Sims. I saw Sims 3 earlier and I was impressed having played the antiquated versions of the past. I thought in the not-to-distant-future when PCs and consoles have enough memory and clock speed - they could simulate our own universe and reality. In say Sims 7 on the PS 10 or XBOX 1000 this could well be possible. Now, given the fact that artificial intelligence may well advance to a level that it evolves beyond its own programming and establishes some form of free will. Could we unknowingly be participants in such a Sims game?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 52902034
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04/06/2014 06:39 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Yes and Im the mayor. My cousin Vinnie is is financing me :-)
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/07/2014 03:21 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Yes and Im the mayor. My cousin Vinnie is is financing me :-)
 Quoting: Vala


lol
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/07/2014 08:53 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
As an interesting addition, after discussing this with a friend of mine they recommended I watch the Thirteenth Floor. Apparently it is about computers and virtual realities and I'm going to watch it later. I'm finding this whole idea rather intriguing.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 33149493
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04/07/2014 09:02 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Lol. Who knows? Sims 3 is awesome. Sims 4 (not yet released) is supposed to give your character more personality. Walk, talk, facial expressions, reactions to life events are all supposed to be affected by the traits you select. It would make your Sim more unique I guess.

And yes, sometimes I wonder if I am already in one.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 40984348
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04/07/2014 09:03 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
ARE YOU LIVING IN A COMPUTER SIMULATION?

BY NICK BOSTROM

Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University


ABSTRACT



This paper argues that at least one of the following propositions is true: (1) the human species is very likely to go extinct before reaching a “posthuman” stage; (2) any posthuman civilization is extremely unlikely to run a significant number of simulations of their evolutionary history (or variations thereof); (3) we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation. It follows that the belief that there is a significant chance that we will one day become posthumans who run ancestor-simulations is false, unless we are currently living in a simulation. A number of other consequences of this result are also discussed.

[link to www.simulation-argument.com]
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/07/2014 09:21 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Lol. Who knows? Sims 3 is awesome. Sims 4 (not yet released) is supposed to give your character more personality. Walk, talk, facial expressions, reactions to life events are all supposed to be affected by the traits you select. It would make your Sim more unique I guess.

And yes, sometimes I wonder if I am already in one.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 33149493


Sims 4 sounds like it will be highly advanced even compared to Sims 3. I can still remember with much affection early versions of Sim City around the late eighties/early nineties. We've come a longgggg way already.

ARE YOU LIVING IN A COMPUTER SIMULATION?

BY NICK BOSTROM

Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford University


ABSTRACT



This paper argues that at least one of the following propositions is true: (1) the human species is very likely to go extinct before reaching a “posthuman” stage; (2) any posthuman civilization is extremely unlikely to run a significant number of simulations of their evolutionary history (or variations thereof); (3) we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation. It follows that the belief that there is a significant chance that we will one day become posthumans who run ancestor-simulations is false, unless we are currently living in a simulation. A number of other consequences of this result are also discussed.

[link to www.simulation-argument.com]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 40984348


I'm going to make a strong cup of coffee and read this paper. Thank you very much for the link. coffee4
Anonymous Coward
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04/07/2014 09:30 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
The answer is simple OP.
Because the internet is self aware AI, you are a participating Sim lol.

So to play a Sims 7 would be a reflection of how deep were all playing 'Simternet' :P
Anonymous Coward (OP)
User ID: 56386715
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04/07/2014 09:48 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
The answer is simple OP.
Because the internet is self aware AI, you are a participating Sim lol.

So to play a Sims 7 would be a reflection of how deep were all playing 'Simternet' :P
 Quoting: Whydoibother


That could very well be true. But if it is, I think I would be afraid to play Sims 7 in the knowledge that the Sims themselves may become so intellectually advanced that they begin to question their own reality like we are. So hypothetically speaking - some time in the future, I decide to play Sims 7 and before I knew it, they'd have become self aware, enforced their own free will, started a revolution and destroyed my computer!

With that in mind, I think I'll avoid Sims 7 and play Sims 4 instead. Much safer. :P
Nachos

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04/07/2014 09:49 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Dim Sims
Anonymous Coward
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04/07/2014 09:53 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
The answer is simple OP.
Because the internet is self aware AI, you are a participating Sim lol.

So to play a Sims 7 would be a reflection of how deep were all playing 'Simternet' :P
 Quoting: Whydoibother


That could very well be true. But if it is, I think I would be afraid to play Sims 7 in the knowledge that the Sims themselves may become so intellectually advanced that they begin to question their own reality like we are. So hypothetically speaking - some time in the future, I decide to play Sims 7 and before I knew it, they'd have become self aware, enforced their own free will, started a revolution and destroyed my computer!

With that in mind, I think I'll avoid Sims 7 and play Sims 4 instead. Much safer. :P
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 56386715


Well it is a paradox. You play them they play you.
Seems obvious to me :)
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/07/2014 10:12 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
The answer is simple OP.
Because the internet is self aware AI, you are a participating Sim lol.

So to play a Sims 7 would be a reflection of how deep were all playing 'Simternet' :P
 Quoting: Whydoibother


That could very well be true. But if it is, I think I would be afraid to play Sims 7 in the knowledge that the Sims themselves may become so intellectually advanced that they begin to question their own reality like we are. So hypothetically speaking - some time in the future, I decide to play Sims 7 and before I knew it, they'd have become self aware, enforced their own free will, started a revolution and destroyed my computer!

With that in mind, I think I'll avoid Sims 7 and play Sims 4 instead. Much safer. :P
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 56386715


Well it is a paradox. You play them they play you.
Seems obvious to me :)
 Quoting: Whydoibother


Aye, 'tis indeed. And as for this particular Sim (or non-Sim) I'm gonna watch a movie and cease questioning reality for a few of hours. Bliss.
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/07/2014 01:56 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
The Thirteenth Floor was absolutely brilliant. I particularly liked its concept of virtual reality worlds within virtual reality worlds.
Anonymous Coward
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04/07/2014 02:00 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.


[link to www.youtube.com]
Anonymous Coward (OP)
User ID: 56386715
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04/07/2014 02:20 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 53982746


Listening right now very interested to hear his theories as a computer engineer. Thanks for the video.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 56383969
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04/07/2014 02:40 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
We are not sims, nor could be. You can't simulate the spirit, which happens to be a perfect logical self contained kind of formless syntax.

What the hell am I talking about, you ask?

The spirit, which is the word, and a perfect logical construct of pure untainted logical perfection.

It would take billions of engineers lifetimes to even create one sub-routine of the program called "the human spirit".

What is the spirit, you ask? Our facial expressions, our ability to perform on stage. The touching aspect of human experience, a kind handout to a stranger, passionate and heated arguments for a cause, patriotism, deep and unending depression, ability to enjoy music.


Can you imagine programming a sim with the ability to enjoy music? Hahahahahahah... .what!? How would you even do that?
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/07/2014 03:20 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
We are not sims, nor could be. You can't simulate the spirit, which happens to be a perfect logical self contained kind of formless syntax.

What the hell am I talking about, you ask?

The spirit, which is the word, and a perfect logical construct of pure untainted logical perfection.

It would take billions of engineers lifetimes to even create one sub-routine of the program called "the human spirit".

What is the spirit, you ask? Our facial expressions, our ability to perform on stage. The touching aspect of human experience, a kind handout to a stranger, passionate and heated arguments for a cause, patriotism, deep and unending depression, ability to enjoy music.


Can you imagine programming a sim with the ability to enjoy music? Hahahahahahah... .what!? How would you even do that?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 56383969


clappa
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 44309390
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04/07/2014 03:33 PM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Mankind is on a feverish quest to discover where they came from, who they are, and what is our purpose. Over the centuries we have augmented and twisted our reality to match our conceived notion of "what we are". As far as I can tell all we have done is created a digital prison slowly but surely to get closer to our true selves.

Therefore I have to believe we started in a digital prison and are slowly working to recreate that subconscious feeling we all have that we may not actually be here.

A sim playing sims indeed.

Sleep is when you true self has logged off the sim
Anonymous Coward (OP)
User ID: 56386715
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04/08/2014 09:16 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Mankind is on a feverish quest to discover where they came from, who they are, and what is our purpose. Over the centuries we have augmented and twisted our reality to match our conceived notion of "what we are". As far as I can tell all we have done is created a digital prison slowly but surely to get closer to our true selves.

Therefore I have to believe we started in a digital prison and are slowly working to recreate that subconscious feeling we all have that we may not actually be here.

A sim playing sims indeed.

Sleep is when you true self has logged off the sim
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 44309390


I agree. But perhaps sleep isn't the logging off necessarily, but the logging on...
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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04/08/2014 10:47 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
coffee4
Brave Sir Tim  (OP)

User ID: 56386715
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04/09/2014 06:30 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
This will be interesting when its released later this year.

Anonymous Coward
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04/09/2014 07:54 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
This will be interesting when its released later this year.


 Quoting: Brave Sir Tim


Oh the drama! LOL. That girl is a terrible flirt. One of my favorite things about the Sims is the building. Not an architect, so this makes it easier to design my dream home. Maybe someday....
Brave Sir Tim  (OP)

User ID: 56386715
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04/09/2014 08:23 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
This will be interesting when its released later this year.


 Quoting: Brave Sir Tim


Oh the drama! LOL. That girl is a terrible flirt. One of my favorite things about the Sims is the building. Not an architect, so this makes it easier to design my dream home. Maybe someday....
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 56570597


Yes she is lol.
Anonymous Coward
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04/09/2014 08:28 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Resistance is futile.
You, will, be AsSIMulated :P
Disembodied~Mind

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04/09/2014 08:30 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Brains in a vat
“The living being had no need of eyes because there was nothing outside of him to be seen; nor of ears because there was nothing to be heard; and there was no surrounding atmosphere to be breathed; nor would there have been any use of organs by the help of which he might receive his food or get rid of what he had already digested, since there was nothing which went from him or came into him: for there was nothing beside him. Of design he created thus; his own waste providing his own food, and all that he did or suffered taking place in and by himself. For the Creator conceived that a being which was self-sufficient would be far more excellent than one which lacked anything; and, as he had no need to take anything or defend himself against any one, the Creator did not think it necessary to bestow upon him hands: nor had he any need of feet, nor of the whole apparatus of walking; but the movement suited to his spherical form which was designed by him, being of all the seven that which is most appropriate to mind and intelligence; and he was made to move in the same manner and on the same spot, within his own limits revolving in a circle. All the other six motions were taken away from him, and he was made not to partake of their deviations. And as this circular movement required no feet, the universe was created without legs and without feet.” -Plato
Brave Sir Tim  (OP)

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04/09/2014 09:25 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Resistance is futile.
You, will, be AsSIMulated :P
 Quoting: Whydoibother


It's all connected. Star Trek, The Borg, The Sims, multiverses...

Brains in a vat
 Quoting: Disembodied~Mind


Cats in a hat
Brave Sir Tim  (OP)

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04/10/2014 10:33 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Things sure have changed.

Brave Sir Tim

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04/11/2014 03:40 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
coffee4
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04/11/2014 03:48 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Things sure have changed.


 Quoting: Brave Sir Tim


:watliens:
Brave Sir Tim

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04/11/2014 09:09 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Things sure have changed.


 Quoting: Brave Sir Tim


watliens
 Quoting: Whydoibother


hehe
Anonymous Coward
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04/11/2014 09:14 AM
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Re: To be a Sim or not to be a Sim, that is the somewhat paradoxical question.
Its a chick game. Now simcity 5 I played more then 500 hours still playing...taking recess





GLP