[extropy-chat] A Libertarian experiment?

[Dirk Bruere]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Dartfield" <twodeel at jornada.org>
To: "ExI chat list" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] A Libertarian experiment?


> On Wed, 24 Dec 2003, Kevin Freels wrote:
>
> > I don't think it even begins to scrape the surface of reality. The
> > majority of these fols are "gamers" which means many are probably kids.
> > Also, since it is not "real" many of the people probably go to great
> > lengths to make the dull humdrum of everyday life exciting. Nothing can
> > really be lost, no real money is made, and noone can actually be hurt.
> > It's a sim, and as a sim, it lacks that one important thing...reality.
>
> I agree.  People do things with online characters that they'd never dream
> of doing in reality.  Maybe when the VR experience becomes real enough
> that it can actually satisfy real physical desires, it will tell us more
> about how people might react in similar circumstances in reality, but
> right now, well, it's just a game.

> I mean, unless having your character eat 30,000 calories of pie actually
> makes you feel good at first, then full, then over-full, then like you're
> about to burst, it doesn't really matter.  And unless having your
> character commit a virtual crime has actual negative consequences that
> matter to you, it will just be a fun thrill with no worries attached.  So
> it would hardly be surprising if Alphaville were a whirling cesspool of
> crime ... but it doesn't tell us much about reality.


Well, given that large parts of the world are actually run like this I
suggest that you are overly optimistic.

Dirk

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