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Is the doctor a real person?

Is the doctor a real person

  • Yes

    Votes: 28 57.1%
  • No

    Votes: 19 38.8%
  • I don't know, I'm confused, error

    Votes: 2 4.1%

  • Total voters
    49
Exactly!

But then, I like blue cheese.

If they wanted to save the dress to be worn by her daughter, how much does 27 years of contiguous refrigeration cost these days?
 
Blue cheese is great, especially roquefort because it is made with the milk of the superior milk giving animal in regards to cheese.

"Here, we saved you your mom's wedding dress, it is made of ancient dried out cheese!"

hmm..

Maybe I should talk now about my item that I have had in a jar for just over 30 years. I've been meaning to take an up to date photo of it. Last time I talked about it publically I was mocked, but I'm a stronger person now.
 
No. It is an apple.

It looked GREAT for about 25 years, totally filled the jar, went brown but still the exact same shape with just a slight dampness on the skin. I probably took it out of the closet and looked at it every 18 months. I moved with it about 8 times? Anyway it was seemingly eternal and very impressive until the summer it was 47 C, after that it shriveled up and is now a grey lump :(

Still, very sciency and cool.

I will collect my photos.
 
This is it in March 2011 after it had been in there for 26 years. It had already suffered the Summer. Prior to the Summer it filled the whole jar (it was a large apple).

5566478451_bfa6b75f3b_z.jpg



Here it is tonight, March 2015 after 30 years in the jar.

16058965114_929ddf8a23_z.jpg



Interesting that the metal lid is increasing in rust on the outside though it's been in a closet all this time.

I have thought about getting another one, but it takes so much emotional investment to engage in these multi-decade experiments. I don't think I'm up to it.
 
I feel like it would be wrong to clean the rust. At some point, after I'm dead maybe, the rust will eat through the metal and the apple will be free.
 
What's defining for me which could value the argument is The Doctor being self-aware, not just knowing what pain is but feeling what pain is. Feeling what love is, feeling what hate is. Frustration, and sorrow; elements a complex, sophisticated programming like the human brain could achieve.

How do we know that he's feeling these things and not just programmed to think he's feeling these things. Thats the dilemma.

When the computer or hologram, created to assist and do what humans are told what to do, stands his or her ground and says, "No, I'm not doing that." And states a reason or just being bull headed, it could no longer be considered just a complex program but an individual.

But again, how do I know he's really defying his programming. Isn't he just following his programming. Yes, they gave him greater leeway but he's still basically doing what programmers have allowed him to do. When he refuses to separate Tuvix, he's following programming (despite the fact that at first glance it looks as though he's standing up for what he believes) I mean heck, look what the Equinox crew made him do.....that alone showed that once you remove the ethical subroutines, he's as self aware as a piss covered cabbage in a dead baboons anus

Likewise his desire to help Zimermann. There may be something to the idea that he wants to specifically help his creator but it still isn't enough for me. In "message in a bottle" the mark 2 demonstrated a desire help defeat the Romulans plus other examples of sentient behaviour but as far as I'm aware, the Federation haven't given the mark 2 any rights. Zimermann mentions being treated by the mark 3 and mark 4. Presumably these models are even more sophisticated yet are they marching down the streets with placards demanding liberty

I say he's a sophisticated tool that imitates sapience very convincingly. I also say that the Federation agree with me. In "author author" they accept that the doctor has control over his own work but won't go any further than that (and I doubt they ever will) Then at the end, the EMH's in the mine discuss photons be free and say it's very provocative. This strongly suggests that they are capable of understanding the concept of slavery, emancipation and rights. They know what that are and demonstrate a certain degree of self awareness yet they are hammering walls like convicts designed to do a job.

The Federation has clearly made a judgement

Probably if you want to marry your sibling or your action figure you have to go to the Outer Rim.

I've often enjoyed the outer rim

Not easy finding girls who'll do it mind
 
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