I love how many *sprinkledonuts* on this planet think abuse is acceptable so long as you can make the other guy temporarily ignore or enjoy it. So long as you don’t call it torture, it’s not. Call theft and cheating “maximizing profits” and you’re golden. If you remove the word, the concept of freedom from language, if it can’t be expressed, the undesirables can’t want it.
Problem freakin’ solved.
Mind control is illegal and abhorrent, unless you’re good at it. It is a profound transgression to deny someone their free will. It’s fine if people happen to reliably choose what you want.
Your reply has shattered all my illusions about WhimsyCorp, which before your post I believed was surely wonderful and all flowers and rainbows and happy little hoppy bunnies and not up to no good at *all*.
Lucky for you, you know so much about how people influence each other. Not many people are smart enough to learn about psychology, let alone astute enough to leverage it to ensure their own happiness and the comfort and security of their own family.
If he wasn’t such an annoying asshole, i wouldn’t be opposed. But given he’s an automaton who doesn’t even have an excretory system, i honestly wonder why would he want to, or how to do it.
Meanwhile, Google (and Amazon) claim that by analyzing all the data you leave around by searching, liking/sharing/emoji-ing, commenting on comic strips, etc., they will anticipate your questions and desires, and provide answers and products before you search or shop. Makes mind control seem almost… quaint.
Which only points up the fact that we need an update on the wording of the 4th Amendment.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Because one’s every secret can be inferred by one’s wake in reality.
How could that possibly be a problem. After all, the computer is your friend. Trust the computer.
Both Google and Amazon are currently using this computer-controlled telepathy for the purpose of choosing which advertisements you will see on the screen. Bah. The real test is when they figure out how to control which ads you CAN see…
I think the point was that the real test will be when they figure out how to control which ads they can prevent you from seeing (and figure out how to not get caught doing it).
That is pretty terrifying and also a huge invasion of Nick’s privacy. Bad Whimsy Corp.
Yeah, but not really, since it’s subtle, like a kind of temporary hypnosis, I mean he only noticed it when he was reminded of it.
So inside the simulation, it just makes you forget swears exist.
It’s not terrifying mind control if you don’t notice it’s there!
(“Don’t notice it’s there” is one of the things you can make people do with terrifying mind control.)
“Friend Computer says this giant pink polkadot Uber-tank is invisible. You do not see the tank. Have a nice day.”
An Uber-tank is a tank you call on your phone when you don’t have a tank but need one for an hour?
matt w: You can have an Uber-tank when you don’t need one for cheap, but if you really need one then it’s going to be extra.
And if it’s above your clearance level, you’ve got to figure out how to use it while pretending you don’t know it’s there…
That what secret mutant abilities are for.
I love how many *sprinkledonuts* on this planet think abuse is acceptable so long as you can make the other guy temporarily ignore or enjoy it. So long as you don’t call it torture, it’s not. Call theft and cheating “maximizing profits” and you’re golden. If you remove the word, the concept of freedom from language, if it can’t be expressed, the undesirables can’t want it.
Problem freakin’ solved.
Welcome to the world post-1984.
Double-plus good.
“Yeah, but not really, since it’s subtle, like a kind of temporary hypnosis”
That’s what makes it so terrifying. Haven’t you ever read A Clockwork Orange?
Mind control is illegal and abhorrent, unless you’re good at it. It is a profound transgression to deny someone their free will. It’s fine if people happen to reliably choose what you want.
… as Daibhid C said before I refreshed.
Your reply has shattered all my illusions about WhimsyCorp, which before your post I believed was surely wonderful and all flowers and rainbows and happy little hoppy bunnies and not up to no good at *all*.
Lucky for you, you know so much about how people influence each other. Not many people are smart enough to learn about psychology, let alone astute enough to leverage it to ensure their own happiness and the comfort and security of their own family.
Buy my seminar! 😀
Yes, this works much like Sam Vimes’ observation in Jingo, that some crimes are so big they can’t be punished. (The example at hand being war.)
Terrified by the mind control, or the idea that somewhere out there there’s someone who might want to do Baron Mistycorn…
Yes.
Well… Rule 36. It’s kinda inevitable.
“It’s not a prediction, it’s permission.”
Rule 34. They are out there and they are waiting. Fear for humanity.
If he wasn’t such an annoying asshole, i wouldn’t be opposed. But given he’s an automaton who doesn’t even have an excretory system, i honestly wonder why would he want to, or how to do it.
It’s the horn.
What?
http://skin-horse.com/comic/or-when/
Now your filter stops you cold.
Makes no difference what you’re told.
Not a filthy word or thought
Will come from you.
Since your language makes us squirm,
Whimsey mind control is firm.
So now your filter stops you cold,
It’s quite a coup.
Tech is great.
It puts you in our thrall,
It winds up ending all
Your Sturm-und-Drang-ing.
As your words tend towards the blue,
Whimsey Corp. has caught the clue.
Now your filter stops you cold—
Our dream come true!
—from “When You Wish Upon a Star,” Jiminy Cricket.
*claps*
Pretty sure Nick’s profanity filter is Anasigma’s IP. I hope she has a good lawyer available.
No problem, I’m sure half the WhimsyCorp staff consists of lawyers. Although they’d probably be more evil than good.
Evil? Good? They’re the ones with the mind control.
Lawyers have ethics, not morals. At least while they are on billable time. Good and evil are secondary concerns to the interests of the client.
Most importantly, they are not mutually exclusive.
The Whimsy Fairy did not actually say that it was Nick’s wish they were making come true….
By and by and in sure this is the wrong comic to comment this on but I need a vr nick plushy
The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father…
Meanwhile, Google (and Amazon) claim that by analyzing all the data you leave around by searching, liking/sharing/emoji-ing, commenting on comic strips, etc., they will anticipate your questions and desires, and provide answers and products before you search or shop. Makes mind control seem almost… quaint.
Which only points up the fact that we need an update on the wording of the 4th Amendment.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Because one’s every secret can be inferred by one’s wake in reality.
There’s no more expectation of privacy on an unsecured server than there is on an unsecured phone line.
How could that possibly be a problem. After all, the computer is your friend. Trust the computer.
Both Google and Amazon are currently using this computer-controlled telepathy for the purpose of choosing which advertisements you will see on the screen. Bah. The real test is when they figure out how to control which ads you CAN see…
They figured that out years ago.
I think the point was that the real test will be when they figure out how to control which ads they can prevent you from seeing (and figure out how to not get caught doing it).
OK, i was wrong. This is in some ways creepier than the “sneaking off with his body” thing last time he did VR: this is sneaking off with his _mind_.
So, yeah, my attitude towards Whimsy has just been promoted from “vague unease” to “KILL IT WITH FIRE“.
Nuke ’em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Okay I take it back Whimsey isn’t actually respectful at all.