Re: David Gerrold - War with the Cthorr

Michael Alan Chary wrote:
> Okay, but that sort of "opinions may differ" approach doesn't actually 
> add anything to the conversation. Either pick a side or stay home.

Why? I mean, I _have_ picked a side, but for most of the scenarios 
raised in this thread I think it's quite possible to come up with a 
practical legal framework that satisfies both me and people on the 
"other" side. If I make a copy of myself and then someone shoots me, I 
may believe I've "survived" the experience but I'm still royally pissed 
at the shooter and I'm not going to strenuously object if he's up on 
murder charges. Likewise, if the legal system doesn't recognize my copy 
to be legally "me", it's probably not that big a problem as long as it 
still recognizes him as legally a _person_. The two of us can then 
voluntarily arrange contracts and wills and such between us to make 
things work pretty much as we'd like it to.

I know this is Usenet, but despite that not everything has to be a 
winner-takes-all fight to the death.

>> If the technology existed, I'd back myself up in a heartbeat. But I 
>> wouldn't voluntarily die unless there was a darn good reason, even with

>> a backup. I don't see why it's necessary to be willing to go through 
>> that in order to sup****t one's position on backups.
> 
> But if there is no homicide, there's no death. Bill just said so.

The word "death" has gained its definition in a world where not only is 
person-duplicating impossible, but where the vast majority of people 
never even consider it as a hypothetical. It's little wonder that the 
term has poor application here, and why I try to avoid using it.

"Voluntarily die", in this case, means one of my copies deliberately 
placing himself in a situation where it will be destroyed or otherwise 
cease to function as a person. That describes the subthread's 
hypothetical scenario, so even if I had a copy of myself I wouldn't go 
through with the scenario unless there was some very good reason that 
hasn't been established yet.

In other words, even though I believe a backup is the "same person" as 
me, no I will _not_ casually shoot myself in the head to prove the depth 
of my conviction to you. If you don't believe me it's not really any 
skin off of my nose(es), so long as you don't try to oppress me or my 
copies for whatever reason.