I mean… he has the digital equivalent of a gun implanted into his brain. This isn’t him simply being badass, this is him having a metaphorical finger on the metaphorical trigger of a metaphorical gun that Virginia literally built for him.
Baron deserves whatever he gets at this point. Shame on him for trying to pull the mob boss ploy after realizing his bro is in genuine pain and Virginia’s in trouble!
Nick is, and has always been, a human brain. For a time, that brain was piloting a helicopter like a mecha suit, but he was never not human. Currently, the helicopter is even less connected to him – it’s a purely remotely controlled device.
To use Shadowrun parlance, Nick is a “Rigger” who “jacks in” to a robotic body when convenient using what essentially boils down to full immersion virtual reality.
He’s currently not connected to his helicopter peripheral, and is instead connected to Aimee’s server, which (if I recall correctly) is ultimately built on Lovelace’s plans. The only “machine” that is at all a part of him in this process is his neural implant, which is basically only operating as a wireless version of the VR helmets and trodenets that are ordinarily used to allow a biological entity to access things. Instead of a headset worn over his eyes, he’s got one built into his brain.
Arguably, this fact of reality should make the whole “time distortion” thing of the server non-workable, because that would imply his brain is operating at the incredibly high digital speeds of the server rather than normal biological speeds. We sort of have to of handwave that away with the idea of whatever tinkering Virginia did to his brain – maybe a co-processor in his neural implant somehow assisting his processing.
(Or perhaps more intriguingly… maybe his brain is in fact NOT operating at digital speeds, and such a theoretical co-processor is, in fact, actually doing all his thinking for him at the moment – effectively meaning that Nick himself isn’t the one jacked in, a digital “shadow” of him is, and he simply will have the memories of the experience transferred to his own brain after the fact, as if they were actually his, rather than the experiences of the neural chip acting on his behalf, using a copy of his thought patterns and personality a la Aimee. Of course, this is all MASSIVE conjecture and supposition, most of which has little concrete basis.)
You argue that Nick is not a machine, and then you write a small book describing how Nick is – in point of fact – a machine. The implants may not have been part of his organic body, but they are very much a part of who – and what – Nick is now.
You can also handwave that away by noting that *everyone* handwaves the whole time distortion / where-is-the-mind-really-operating part away, except perhaps Greg Egan (who never handwaves anything). Even Vernor Vinge’s _True Names_ brushed over that annoying little detail.
@D. Walker
You assume Nick is his brain and then use that assumption as proof that Nick is a human brain. You can’t do that.
If we black-box (or chinese-room) the exact hardware, we have no way of knowing if the Nick we are interacting with even uses that human brain at all, for all we know Nick could completely run on the various implants and robotic parts he is connected to. In that case the brain could either be deceased, or it is used as a personality template backup. Or maybe the brain is used purely as a sex toy. (hormones are fun!) My point is: We don’t know.
As to your assumption that the human brain operates at a lower speed than a server is comparing apples to oranges, a brain is not sufficiently similar to a server to make a speed comparison meaningful. Speed means something completely different. It’s akin to saying a money bank is superior to a river bank because of the content of it’s vaults: You’re ignoring the fish at your own peril.
Nick was very clear that he identifies as a sentient helicopter, not as a human brain piloting a helicopter. It’s why he was eligible for Skin Horse aid in the first place.
I just realized there’s only one mimosa sitting on the edge of the hot tub now. A nice subtle touch confirming Lovelace took one! Although it begs the question of whom was Baron expecting?
And the de-rez effect in panel 2 is so well done! Kudos to Pancha as well as Shaenon!
OK, in response to thedoctor55’s comment below I went looking for the strip where Baron left his resignation on Whimsy’s desk.
I couldn’t find it but every time I review past strips I gain a deeper appreciation of the artwork and coloring. It’s so nuanced!
Consider Dr. Lee’s confrontation with Artie and Tip. The background in panel 3 fades out like a melting watercolor then panel 4 has a painting on the wall in the background almost matching their previous location. Magical!
Just went back and checked, and I called it back on March 10th that Nick would start deleting Barons. Nice to know that once in a while I actually end up being right.
Nick doesn’t need guns to be badass.
(Alt comment: CAPSLOCK HARRY RETURNS!)
I mean… he has the digital equivalent of a gun implanted into his brain. This isn’t him simply being badass, this is him having a metaphorical finger on the metaphorical trigger of a metaphorical gun that Virginia literally built for him.
Then what’s your point? Marisa was right, he doesn’t need guns, he has an equivalent that’s not an -actual- gun. XD
Fabulous!
Baron deserves whatever he gets at this point. Shame on him for trying to pull the mob boss ploy after realizing his bro is in genuine pain and Virginia’s in trouble!
Nick is the machine, Baron. Did you forget that, even after all those years gaming with him?
While it’s true that he is the machine, I’m pretty sure that being this in tune with the system is new.
…except he is not, and never has been, a machine?
Nick is, and has always been, a human brain. For a time, that brain was piloting a helicopter like a mecha suit, but he was never not human. Currently, the helicopter is even less connected to him – it’s a purely remotely controlled device.
To use Shadowrun parlance, Nick is a “Rigger” who “jacks in” to a robotic body when convenient using what essentially boils down to full immersion virtual reality.
He’s currently not connected to his helicopter peripheral, and is instead connected to Aimee’s server, which (if I recall correctly) is ultimately built on Lovelace’s plans. The only “machine” that is at all a part of him in this process is his neural implant, which is basically only operating as a wireless version of the VR helmets and trodenets that are ordinarily used to allow a biological entity to access things. Instead of a headset worn over his eyes, he’s got one built into his brain.
Arguably, this fact of reality should make the whole “time distortion” thing of the server non-workable, because that would imply his brain is operating at the incredibly high digital speeds of the server rather than normal biological speeds. We sort of have to of handwave that away with the idea of whatever tinkering Virginia did to his brain – maybe a co-processor in his neural implant somehow assisting his processing.
(Or perhaps more intriguingly… maybe his brain is in fact NOT operating at digital speeds, and such a theoretical co-processor is, in fact, actually doing all his thinking for him at the moment – effectively meaning that Nick himself isn’t the one jacked in, a digital “shadow” of him is, and he simply will have the memories of the experience transferred to his own brain after the fact, as if they were actually his, rather than the experiences of the neural chip acting on his behalf, using a copy of his thought patterns and personality a la Aimee. Of course, this is all MASSIVE conjecture and supposition, most of which has little concrete basis.)
You argue that Nick is not a machine, and then you write a small book describing how Nick is – in point of fact – a machine. The implants may not have been part of his organic body, but they are very much a part of who – and what – Nick is now.
You can also handwave that away by noting that *everyone* handwaves the whole time distortion / where-is-the-mind-really-operating part away, except perhaps Greg Egan (who never handwaves anything). Even Vernor Vinge’s _True Names_ brushed over that annoying little detail.
IIRC, in some of Egan’s stories the uploaded minds are running much, much /slower/ than human brains, which is an interesting reversal.
Wordy.
@D. Walker
You assume Nick is his brain and then use that assumption as proof that Nick is a human brain. You can’t do that.
If we black-box (or chinese-room) the exact hardware, we have no way of knowing if the Nick we are interacting with even uses that human brain at all, for all we know Nick could completely run on the various implants and robotic parts he is connected to. In that case the brain could either be deceased, or it is used as a personality template backup. Or maybe the brain is used purely as a sex toy. (hormones are fun!) My point is: We don’t know.
As to your assumption that the human brain operates at a lower speed than a server is comparing apples to oranges, a brain is not sufficiently similar to a server to make a speed comparison meaningful. Speed means something completely different. It’s akin to saying a money bank is superior to a river bank because of the content of it’s vaults: You’re ignoring the fish at your own peril.
Nick was very clear that he identifies as a sentient helicopter, not as a human brain piloting a helicopter. It’s why he was eligible for Skin Horse aid in the first place.
Point of Order, @D. Walker : The helicopter is *not* the peripheral – the humanoid body is.
I thought whimsyworld ran on a separate server?
The concepts of “Baron” and “spawn” in the same idea puts icky spots in my mind.
I know, right?
But it’s respawn! Totally different!
that just means hes spawned before ohgod
I just realized there’s only one mimosa sitting on the edge of the hot tub now. A nice subtle touch confirming Lovelace took one! Although it begs the question of whom was Baron expecting?
And the de-rez effect in panel 2 is so well done! Kudos to Pancha as well as Shaenon!
OK, in response to thedoctor55’s comment below I went looking for the strip where Baron left his resignation on Whimsy’s desk.
I couldn’t find it but every time I review past strips I gain a deeper appreciation of the artwork and coloring. It’s so nuanced!
Consider Dr. Lee’s confrontation with Artie and Tip. The background in panel 3 fades out like a melting watercolor then panel 4 has a painting on the wall in the background almost matching their previous location. Magical!
This is as close as you get to seeing Baron’s resignation.
http://skin-horse.com/comic/move_along/
Thank you, awgiedawgie. That’s exactly what I was looking for.
As it happens, the strip just before that shows Baron zapping the Crown! So presumably his power is limited to inanimate objects.
Turns out Nick gets to be badass sometimes
I love this page.
Can the Baron soil himself in VR? Stay tuned to find out!
I see Nick is well and truly pissed off now. And with good reason.
Just wait until he catches up with Anasigma at the Boneyard…
poor baron, an old “computer” compared to Nick’s sleek 21st century computer brain XD
Mentioned it above, but Nick doesn’t have a computer brain – he has a human brain with a wireless transmitter implanted in it.
“He is the One.”
Agent Smith: Um … Can I have Emotionless Man back and not this furious Cyber Soldier?
Nick: NO!
“How you able to do that?” “Vitamins.” —“The Six Million Dollar Man.”
Of course their official name is “goons”, of course it is!
Somehelecopter is clearly on his last nerve. 🙂
Organic machine intelligence. I seem to recall Nick is/was a member of the Machine Union
You don’t threaten a gator while swimming in a bayou, and you don’t tick off Nick in VR.
“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit in the wind, you don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger, and you don’t mess around with Nick.”
Doesn’t rhyme, but love the reference.
Didn’t rhyme when Croce did it.
Nick’s awesomeness quotient just went up about 100 times!
It’s too bad Dr. Lee can’t see this. Nick would be getting SO much action, they’d need a pry bar to separate them.
I really like the various ways Nick is holding Baron here! they give the strip a really dynamic feeling!
Just went back and checked, and I called it back on March 10th that Nick would start deleting Barons. Nice to know that once in a while I actually end up being right.