Farspeech stones

[forwearemany]

(It's an abrupt decision to voice the question that has been plaguing their thoughts over the stones.)

How is synthetic life treated in your universe of origin?

Comments

[crosslaced]

Hm.

[A pause.]

Do you understand self-interest?

[forwearemany]

Yes.

(At least, Legion thinks they do.)

[crosslaced]

Then it follows naturally. The fulfilment of our own needs or interests is such a priority, you might even call it a preoccupation. The state of other beings is secondary in a generous human.

[The state of other beings is a nonissue, in a less generous human.]

[forwearemany]

(To something as communal as a Geth, that's horrifying! But more importantly...)

We do not understand: if the state of other beings is of lesser importance, why expend resources on ensuring their unhappiness and/or destruction?

(For a self interested being, that seems unnecessary.)

[crosslaced]

[sorry organics suck, Legion.]


Hm.

[He’s silent for another while.]

There are theoretical reasons- if one wants something another has, killing them eliminates possibilities of retaliation. Destruction is the easiest solution to removing resistance, generally. And there might be psychological factors- a desire for retaliation. Fear for one’s own safety. When a village is founded they go through the forests and kill every wolf in the area.

But humans are also creatures of habit. Keep a practice for long enough and it becomes doctrine. I suppose after a while people get stuck in the idea of who their enemies are.

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

Though this explains the desire for the destruction of other beings, the cruelty and suffering often involved are ... unnecessary.

(Perhaps, were it the most efficient method of destruction, Legion would understand. But it is not.)

[crosslaced]

....

....such as?

[forwearemany]

We study organic history; it is rife with examples of abuse and torture. The utility of such practices is limited, and they often consume greater resources than simple termination.

[crosslaced]

[Oh, right. He's from one of those Questionable periods himself, sometimes he forgets that other people have no contact with war or dubious human rights abuses outside of history texts.]

......suppose I should say that humans are selfish and cruel. We are irrational. We believe that slights against us ought to be repaid by the suffering of others.

[As recent as Ai’tuoh, people were willing to burn down the city because someone had gone after their own.]

Humans are poor managers of anything. That's all.

[forwearemany]

(Well they have contact with war and dubious robot rights abuses ... )

This is inefficient. It does not stop others from committing slights against you; it merely encourages their own retaliation.

[crosslaced]

[high five!!]

Yes. You're right. But stating this doesn't do shit because men are stupid.

That's possibly why machine abuses continue. Men have the rationality of a pig and don't know what's good for them.

So long as we beat anyone who tries it here we could establish something, though. Are synthetics treated poorly here?

[forwearemany]

Women and nonhuman sophonts have also engaged in these activities.

(There is life on other words, and it is all equally asinine.)

We have not experienced poor treatment.