[UA] The Metal Eaters (was Steampunk)

[John Scott]

At 09:00 25/07/01 -0700, Bowman wrote:

>I've got my own theories, but I wonder why is that?
>Why would some people rather die than be a machine or
>a monster?

Because we (massive generalisation alert) are aware of life.  We know that 
it cycles.  We know that it has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

And we know that the end is final (for some definition of final - 
reincarnation, heaven, hell; they're all a change.)

So cheating that end is a big deal.  Some people would rather play fair by 
the universe.  Others will consider the change that becoming a 
vampire/mechanical involves to be too big a cost - is it really you that's 
going to emerge from the other side?  And worse, how would you know?  Will 
you have an itch somewhere you can't ever reach in your new life because, 
deep down, you know you've cheated the Universe, and as the Laws of Entropy 
so eloquently state: "You can't win, you can't break even, you can't get 
out of the game".

Is the payback going to be worth the extra years of life?

Some people will say yes to some / all of the above questions - others will 
say no.

It's a strength of UA - this whole debate is mirrored in the House of 
Renunciation and the Statosphere.

John
(who would say no - I can't even roleplay a vampire, let alone actually 
consider being one.)


_______________________________________________
UA mailing list
UA at lists.uchicago.edu
http://lists.uchicago.edu/mailman/listinfo/ua