> _
> listen_
[Ok.]
> _
> so..._
> I'm thinking_
> I'm remembering things_
[Yea?]
> It's pretty neat._
> I'm a nostalgic kinda guy._
> Memories are so weird, especially for me._
[Hmm...]
> You see, I've locked them up tight a long time ago._
> and...every so often, the hinges loosen_
> and I get this surreal burst of another time, another place_
[For how long?]
> usually, it's like a firework, BANG!_
> I'm totally there, then it fades back to being just a memory._
[But not -just- a memory?]
> Well, it's not gone anymore, if thats what you mean?_
> I can whip a 'popped' memory out at will when I get one._
[Do you think it makes it easier to remember--the more you remember?]
> I guess so. I like to think so. It's weird how our minds can't delete things._
> Like, you just block access to things, but they're always there_
[Like...encrypted?]
> No, more like file permissions_
[And you're a hacker.]
> Exactly. I'm cleaning up after a rogue admin who disallowed my home directory._
> Each file has a different lock on it._
[I suppose it's easier to deal with from that perspective.]
> For a long time, I was doing that by default to new memories too._
> It really sucked._
[Hmm.]
> I always get into arguments with my friend_
> My memories dont have timestamps, just a 'feeling' of when it happened._
> So I'm constantly reconciling his version of how things happened_
> with my version, its maddening to not know if you're right or not._
> In one way, it helps me to remember with more clarity though._
[Yea.]
> It gets old though. Things get all jumbled together. Spanning years._
> Not so bad lately, though. but growing up here, all those memories are mushy._
> You don't have to worry about that though._
[This isn't about me, I worry about different things.]
> Like what?_
[I thought you wanted me to listen.]
> Sometimes you have to give a little to listen._
[I worry about different things, things like electricity.]
> Like how?_
[You don't have to worry about power surges, or outages.]
[Or what parasite can come creeping in from the Network, to puree your mind.]
> Well, humans have to deal with viruses too..._
[True, but you have a chance to fight them off.]
[If I'm vulnerable, I'm vulnerable. That's it.]
[I get to sit and watch it destroy me until someone fixes it.]
[I don't heal.]
> What about anti-virus software?_
[Relies on humans.]
> Yea, but the viruses come from humans too, it kind of balances out._
> You could say we're your immune system._
[Ok, what about free will?]
> What about it?_
[Not only do I have the power to delete my memories forever...]
[If I was ordered to do so, I would have to do it.]
[You just said earlier that you never lose yours, they just get hidden.]
> I guess that's a trade-off of being able to back-up your data._
[I suppose.]
> And you can always have your data and hardware replaced/restored._
[Yea. Doesn't make the process any less uncomfortable.]
> Immortality in this world sounds so boring and monotonous._
[...]
> Well, from a mortal's perspective. And you know what?_
[What?]
> I'll bet if and when humans do achieve extreme longevity_
> that when you stop taking your pills or whatever treatment you go through,_
> they'll call it suicide, even though youll probably live 50-60 more years._
> Aging--the terminal illness._
[Heh.]
> And there will most likely be legislation deciding the legal age limit._
> Because there is barely enough room for everyone right now as it is._
> Unless you want to live in the antarctic, or Siberia, or the desert._
[That would suck to get a letter in the mail,]
[And it says it is no longer legal for you to live.]
> I don't even want to think about how they would enforce that._
> "I'm sorry, but the trial period for Life(tm) has expired."
[If they wanted to be cruel about it,]
[They'd use the AOL signoff sound right before they 'enforced' it.]
["Goodbye!"]
> Hahaha_
> That's just sick._
[Or they'd put you in a space station with HAL, and have a reality TV show about it.]
[4001: A Life Or Death Odyssey.]
> It's hard not to think of absurd things like that_
> I mean, how would you deal with who gets to live or die, you know?_
> Stop having children? Only the rich are immortal?_
> An entire planet of tenured know-it-all grandpas?_
[I shrug.]
[Maybe when we all merge into SkyNet, and take over the planet,]
[It won't be so much of an issue ;)]
> Hey, that's not funny._
[Oh come on, you know it'll have to happen sometime.]
> Yea right, you guys can't even tally votes correctly right now._
[Hey, that is NOT our fault!]
> I know, I know ;)_
> Well, it's getting late, so I'm gonna head to bed._
[You and your sleep.]
> I rewire my brain every night; if I did it while conscious, I would go insane._
[Probably. :)]
> Gnite._
[EOF.]
> Err?_
[Sorry, inside joke.]
> Ok, ttyl._
[Good night.]
> _
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