PRAVDA SPECIAL EDITION #6 - 3rd June 2003 - A NEW CONSTITUTION !

[Googlie]

This excerpt was from The Spartan Chronicles - my attempt then to describe nervestapling .....

Kurt moved round in front of him.

Bert's glassy eyes showed the recognition - and wonder. His vocal chords were paralyzed, so he could not utter a word.

Kurt took his backpack from his shoulders, and opened it. He pulled out the contents piece by piece, and showed them to Bert as he arrayed them on the floor beside him.

Bert's eyes were wide with horror as he recognized the items.

Kurt found the power source, and plugged in the base unit. He connected the nodes to their receptacles, then placed the plasteel cap on Bert's head. He connected the sensor filaments, and moistened the pads and placed them on Bert's temples and at the base of his skull.

He connected the filament probes, then looked at the set up. Satisfied, he turned a dial and the equipment hummed to life.

The filaments snaked out and met the sensor pads, penetrating the neural cortex rapidly and easily. They searched for the interstices where the synapses joined and separated, and each time they encountered the join the current surged and the synapse fused. After a few seconds it was done.

Kurt removed the apparatus, and stowed the equipment back into his backpack.

He drew his shredder pistol, set to flame, and turned to the Vidtrance equipment. One burst was enough to incinerate the tape that Bert had somehow manufactured from the dream sequence. The image of Lisa faded from the screen. "I hope you find another man worthy of you" he whispered to the blank screen.

He turned to Bert.

"You've no idea what I'm saying to you, but in case there are recorders operating, note this:

"The nerve prod will weaken in about one hour.

"This attack was not random. It is in revenge for the Hive nuking of the Spartan Command Center through this operative

"I am a Believer"

He padded out and closed the door on the nervestapled Bert.

[Rokossovky]

See! No lasting effects! Perfectly harmless fun for the entire family!!

- Rokossovky

[Vev]

Scientific results shows that nerve stapling does not cause addiction. (WARNING: Nerve stapling may cause submissiveness).

Authorised by "Lucky Strike: Nerve Staples"

[Hercules]

It 's hard to beat a good 'keel haul' first thing in the morning.

[Jamski]

So Drogue, did you vote for the Ayn Rand option? And who was the other one who did?

And Drug, I thought you hated our friend Rand because she's so anti-environmental (You being a green kinda person)

-Jam

[DeathByTheSword]

i must say i always love to read the Pravda....and that for a cyborg with no emotions.......great work......

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by Jamski
So Drogue, did you vote for the Ayn Rand option? And who was the other one who did?

I voted for the "Ayn Rand" option as well.

But now there are three, so I wonder who the other other one who did is?

[Drogue]

I didn't vote at all, I never do on PRAVDA business. It would be an inefficient waste of time for a CyCon to be meddling in the ptty affairs of the Hive. And Jam, that's exactly right, I don't like her for the anti-green, but I do think she has a few points, such as the selfish nature of humans, that should be looked at.

[Cedayon]

The self-interest thing is worth thinking about. I don't think we can completely free ourselves from self-interest in our natural condition... it would be illogical/insane to not care at least somewhat for one's own benefit. The whole matter of self-interest vs. "altruism" is even more of a mess out in the world.

I was taken aback somewhat recently when I realized that I really no longer cared about what happened to me because the only thing I really want is God's will to be done, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else, at any cost. I didn't get to that point of selflessness on my own power; however, so I don't really have much advice to those struggling with self-interest, beyond the obvious.

Anyway, I won't bore you all with more of that, I just thought Ayn Rand would probably have a fit if she had to choose between self-interest and accepting God.

[Drogue]

Cedayon: But is not the reason that you want to do God's will because that is what you want to do. Not only are their the everlasting benefits from an eternity in heaven, but because you believe that that is what is best for the world, and the reward of that "feel good" feeling. You don't have to choose, it is in your self-interest to accept God. If it wasn't, you would not do it.

Take the example of giving to charity. If you give to charity, the feeling you get of doing a good deed, of helping someone who needs that help, is worth more to you than that money does. If it didn't, then you would not give to charity.

[Maniac]

The whole matter of self-interest vs. "altruism" is even more of a mess out in the world.

Well many sociologists would say altruism is just another form of self-interest, since it is in the advantage of the individual to cooperate and be part of a group. So I see no contradiction between self-interest and altruism.

the only thing I really want is God's will to be done... at any cost

Wow. This sentence kind of surprised me I must say. And the "at any cost" kinda scares me. What is God's will according to you, and how did you get to know that will? Just curious: I don't want to start some debate about the probability of some Supreme Sentience's existence or the existence of absolute truths. I guess we both know each other's opinion about that from previous posts on the matter.

[Static Universe]

Interesting that the CyCon are finally outting themselves as Ayn Rand apologists and religious fundamentalists.

Way more ironic than questioning the communist credentials of Hive members.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Drogue
Cedayon: But is not the reason that you want to do God's will because that is what you want to do.

Well I didn't want to say it so blunt in his face (I was starting with some introductionary Socratic questions ), but that was my first thought too when I read his post. IMHO there is no such thing as "pure altruism".

@ Static Universe:

Edit: Oh btw, what is an "apologist"? I've read that word many times already, but I never really understood the exact meaning. I assume it has little to do with "apologize"?
Edit2: Thanks SU!

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by Maniac

Edit: Oh btw, what is an "apologist"? I've read that word many times already, but I never really understood the exact meaning. I assume it has little to do with "apologize"?

An apologist is someone who defends or justifies a particular idea or creed. There is also a derogatory meaning "to make excuses for".

From dictionary.com:

An apology, in the original sense of the word, was a pleading off from some charge or imputation, by explaining and defending one's principles or conduct. It therefore amounted to a vindication. One who offers an apology, admits himself to have been, at least apparently, in the wrong, but brings forward some palliating circumstance, or tenders a frank acknowledgment, by way of reparation.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Static Universe
Interesting that the CyCon are finally outting themselves as Ayn Rand apologists and religious fundamentalists.

No, we are finally showing that we believe in freedom of opinion and speech, and that people with radically different views can co-exist peacefully and efficiently. I am no Rand Apologist, I don't like her at all. However I don't dismiss everything someone says because I don't agree with their overall opinion. I am a staunch Atheist, but there are many things written in the Bible regarding how people should behave towards other people that I agree with.

Originally posted by Static Universe
Way more ironic than questioning the communist credentials of Hive members.

Especially considering those that did were PEACE members, not CyCon

However I question quite a bit about a Police State that tries to look Democratic