SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Putting my psychology hat on, the popularity of the charming, respected and dangerous choice to the participants in this discussion are the reason why, whatever we pretend to the contrary, exploitative psychopaths will usually rise to the top in society. Then when the truth comes out we all pretend to be shocked.

(I've tried being like that myself but no one ever takes me seriously, I must fall into the other group, I'll add 'failed charming psychopath' to my resume)

Haha I am very glad that nothing in humanity is a binary, because this would make going out for ice cream or coffee a very tiresome.

Charming and dangerous, every time. Hanging out with jerks always seems to end in one of two ways. That would very quickly become tedious.

My best friend at work happens to be a total jerk, who's totally harmless (and secretly sweet. But only via text.) So I feel like that's apparently my preference.

But I would certainly rather read about Prince Charming McDangerous, as Diane called them.

Allison wrote: "Would you rather have a rendez-vous with a character who is charming and respected but dangerous, or one with a character who is a jerk and a joke but ultimately harmless?"
It's really gonna depend on what 'dangerous' means and what 'jerk' means. Are we talking hanging out with a serial killer, for whom you are a potential victim, or someone like James Bond who is arguably extremely dangerous, but not to me personally.

And with jerk, are we talking someone who is just kind of rude and speaks their mind, or someone who holds ideologies, like say the idea that not all people are human, and works to enact them in society but doesn't actually physically hurt people.

And I think, if I had to choose between "is this person going to potentially kill me" and "this person holds repellent beliefs but I will absolutely survive this encounter" I'll stick with the later. I choose to live and fight another day.

In your home right now, would you rather have a holodeck or a food replicator? It's self maintaing with unlimited energy powering it.

Food replicator, and not just now but always!

I'd rather have the holodeck. More fun, plus I could eat virtual junk food for flavor, then just veggies and protein in the real world for health.

If we’re talking a Star Trek style holodeck, then that’s the obvious answer because it includes replication technology. I’m pretty sure we’re flat-out told that at one point, plus I remember Captain Picard getting hit by a snowball from inside the holodeck while standing outside the holodeck thanks to Wesley. So I could go into the holodeck to replicate food as needed.

But if this is some disfunctional holodeck without a food replicator, I’d take the food replicator. I already have an Oculus Quest which is good enough for now, and right now I’m trying to limit grocery shopping to once every 3 weeks and they don’t always have everything I want, so it would be nice to be able to have whatever I want when I want it.

Food replicator. I don't want to have to make programs to enjoy simulations in the holodeck, and I don't trust other programmers because every time they release a new simulation it seems they forget to turn off the "NPCs escape and turn evil" option.

But I would absolutely love if the boring routine cooking could be handled by a machine.

Food Replicater but just because of these pandemic times

Definitely a food replicator.

Food replicator, for sure--especially if it would create any dish I wanted! I'm a charter member of Exotic Food Fandom, and there's lots of things I'd like to try...

I would rather have a holodeck. I love cosplay. Holodeck would fill that need.

I love cooking so a replicator would not suit me

I already have a holodeck, it's called a library. Gimme the replicator.

Would you rather learn that all technology had grown sentient or all animals had grown sapient?

Option 3: I'd rather that all humans learned about animal sapience :) (I don't want them finding out about me!)

Save the sapient virtual foxes!

animals hands down

Animals. 100%

Animals, definitely.

Idk, I'd have to liberate my cats and reconfigure my diet and probably go to SEVERAL hearings about the slander I've written regarding koalas, spiders, and chickens.

are spiders considered animals?

CBRetriever wrote: "are spiders considered animals?"

Of course they are. They're alive and they're not plants, fungi, or microorganisms.

As a lifelong animal lover, I'll certainly pick the sapient animals. Especially since I've always loved reading books about them!

then, no, I'll change my preference to sapient technology. Mosquitoes and other pests with intelligence is a bit scary.

Yeah. I'm going to have to go with technology. I'm a fairly unrepentant omnivore. I'd have to alter that a fair bit.

Though I am hoping that I have pampered my cats and snake enough that they would still like to live with me.

Kristin B. wrote: "Yeah. I'm going to have to go with technology. I'm a fairly unrepentant omnivore. I'd have to alter that a fair bit.

Though I am hoping that I have pampered my cats and snake enough that they wou..."

Yeah, but then you basically have kids who won't ever leave and who can inform you of EVERY THOUGHT THEY HAVE. I'm not sure what yours would say but I think my boy cat would whine cooooonstantly. He already tries, but he doesn't have the understanding to make it more than temporarily annoying/adorable.

Allison wrote: "Yeah, but then you basically have kids who won't ever leave and who can inform you of EVERY THOUGHT THEY HAVE. I'm not sure what yours would say but I think my boy cat would whine cooooonstantly. He already tries, but he doesn't have the understanding to make it more than temporarily annoying/adorable. ..."

I mean I already have a 12 year old and a husband. They whine pretty consistently. And have a MUCH longer life span. (Assuming I don't switch to reading murder mystery novels and start getting ideas.)

At least the cats and the snake would maybe be appreciative of me taking care of them. Especially since they don't have thumbs.

hahaha fair!

I choose technology. I'd be the guy making friends with every ATM.

I wouldn't assume that acknowledging all animals are sapient would make humans vegetarian. They could moralise their way into cannibalism instead.

My life is waiting for all technology to grow sentient so...

CBRetriever wrote: "then, no, I'll change my preference to sapient technology. Mosquitoes and other pests with intelligence is a bit scary."

My first thought was animals too and then I remember cockroaches and flies and creepy crawlies. Nope.

Would you rather have a face that never aged (after the point of maturity) or a memory that never faded?

Face for me! I'm used to a horrible memory since forever, but I can't get used to the aging face that looks back at me from the mirror. ^^'

Memory! Less degenerative stuff when I am old.

There are ways in which an unfading memory could be a two-edged sword, but I'd still pick that. My face has never been my fortune to begin with, and aging hasn't hurt it particularly IMO.

I think that depends on the quality of the face ... and the memory.

I would pick face, even if it would look funny to have a young face in an old body, just to avoid having to remember all the negative feels!

(This question brought to you by my delight and consternation with Tim Blake Nelson who I don't think has changed in 20 years, and myself, who gets fuzzy on details within 12 hours)

I'll take memory. What's the point of being young looking if you don't remember why you want to look young? The real question is if I'd prefer my physical body stay decent and my mind go, or if my mind is sharp and my body breaks down. I've thought of that many times and can't stay consistent with my memory.

Memory. My memory is shite and I kinda hate it.

I would pick memories as well. Both the good and the bad! The good memories to treasure and revisit, and the bad for the learning experiences and, hopefully, the wisdom they bring.

I'll take the memories. There are already so many things I have forgotten that I wish I could recall. I can tell you my kid's first full sentence, but for the life of me I can't remember what his first word was.

And I like my laugh lines. :)

I would definitely take memory.

I don't understand everyone! If I could only remember things I choose to remember, then absolutely! But having to remember in clear detail every single horrible thing that ever happened? No thanks! I've worked hard to move past those things, I don't need to remember them.

Not that looking young is something I care about, it's just that I definitely want to avoid the remembering. I've dreamed since my childhood about some sort of surgical procedure that could remove memories from my brain, but so far I haven't found it. Maybe this is an anxiety brain vs. typical brain thing? Who wants to spend more time every day thinking of horrible shit?!

Sorry, rant over :D I'm just terrified by the mere idea!

lol i'm with you, Anna! there's a lot i'm glad to have forgotten, and mote i'm really excited about forgetting

I know there’s a story about removing bad memories. Something by Ray Bradbury? Someone well-known.

Sorry Anna and Allison, I am extremely lucky in that I have not had many bad things happen to me and certainly nothing actually traumatic. I’m also not prone to anxiety, so the idea of keeping all my memories is quite attractive, because, actually, my memory sucks.

Hey, maybe I’ve just forgotten all the bad things?

Do not be sorry! I am so glad that there are people with different brains and experiences than mine! This is not a pity thing, just a chemistry thing, for the most part.

Also? I am the older sister and I L-O-V-E when we meet people and they ask who's older. Behold my gleaming skin and youthful countenance!

Okay, so also she's a bit taller than me which I think people wrongly associate with chronological superiority--err...that is with the gravitas of maturity.

Would face include keeping what's left of my hair? If so I'd have to go with the face option.

haha! Well if Tim Blake Nelson is our guide, you grow more of it the longer you live, apparently.