From: Ricardo Barreira (rbarreira@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Aug 29 2007 - 01:10:33 MDT
Do not discount the possibility that there is a hole/bug in the
simulation which allows us to see and/or affect the outside world, or
at least know that there is one. That's something that a FAI could
help us find.
On 8/29/07, P K <kpete1@hotmail.com> wrote:
> As you read this E-mail there might be a sentient, invisible, inaudible
> ghost dragon behind you watching your every move but there is no way for you
> to detect it(by definition). What should you do about the possibility of
> that dragon being there? What if that dragon has the power at any moment to
> become corporeal and bite your head off? Maybe you should pray to it to
> appease it. Maybe you should plead with it for your life. Maybe you should
> start freaking out right about now... or maybe this whole dragon stuff is
> nonsense.
>
> If dragon is there, things are they way they are now.
> If dragon is NOT there, things are the way they are now.
>
> Hmmm... you have no way of knowing if dragon is there but maybe you should
> somehow prepare for the dragon just in case he is there.
>
> ,----------------> pray to it ------> you
> live
> If dragon is there----------<
> '-----------------> do nothing ---> you
> die
>
> ,----------------> pray to it ------->you
> live and slightly inconvenienced
> If dragon is NOT there--<
> '----------------> do nothing -----> you
> live
>
> Wouldn't it be better to pray to the dragon and be slightly inconvenienced
> than to risk dying?
>
> Wait a minute... why did I assume that praying to the dragon would spare
> you? Maybe it's the kind of dragon that acts the opposite of how you would
> expect a dragon to act. Maybe he gets really pissed if you act like he is
> there and bites your head off but if you do nothing he leaves. It's not like
> I'm an expert on dragon psychology. This changes everything!
>
> ,----------------> pray to it ------> you
> die
> If dragon is there----------<
> '-----------------> do nothing ---> you
> live
>
> ,----------------> pray to it ------->you
> live and slightly inconvenienced
> If dragon is NOT there--<
> '----------------> do nothing -----> you
> live
>
> Well thats weird. The top part inverted itself. There is no reason to assume
> either of the scenarios is more likely. It's like the top part cancels out.
> All you are left with is the bottom part. Conclusion: do nothing.
>
> OK so there is nothing you can do about those undetectable dragons, giant
> squids or the Flying Spagheti Monster because by definition you don't know
> if they are there. You don't know which one is there. And you don't know
> anything about the one there. How can you know in which way you should act?
> For every situation beyond your senses there could be the opposite situation
> with the opposite effect of acting in a certain way. There is no point in
> assuming things are there without evidence. Might as well just go with the
> simplest explanations that still allows you to predict what will and won't
> happen.
>
> Wait a minute... what if we are all in a computer simulation? If we are in a
> simulation we have no reason to assume that any of the rules inside this
> simulation carry over to the outside world. We don't know anything about
> this outside world or even if it's there because by definition we cannot
> detect it. Maybe instead of the simulation there is an undetectable dragon
> that gets really pissed off at people who keep talking about that
> hypothetical simulation. It's a choice between "the universe is the way it
> is + undetectable simulation" and "the universe is the way it is". The
> second one is the simplest.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> A new home for Mom, no cleanup required. All starts here.
> http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us
>
>
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