h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There could be a problem with this - what happens if you become mentally unstable? Also, I wouldn't like to be messed about with by a computer virus!

Besides, you could install various stuff (like better IQ, or interactive stories, or memories) into yourself....
Get enough of these and you would end up more computer program than human....
Scary?

>There could be a problem with this - what happens if you
>become mentally unstable? Also, I wouldn't like to be
>messed about with by a computer virus!

How would that be any worse than being susceptable to a huge variety of bactaria and viruses that exist out here, on the Outside? Not to mention mental disorders, many (although certainly not all) of which are caused by some sort of physical problem with the brain, like neurotransmitter imbalances. At least when your pattern is encoded in a computer, you can be repaired, or replaced from a backup file if the damage is too bad.

>Besides, you could install various stuff (like better IQ,
>or interactive stories, or memories) into yourself....
>Get enough of these and you would end up more computer
>program than human....
>Scary?

Being human isn't all that hot anyway. I for one would welcome an improvement on it.

But then it would't really be you. It would be like making a clone. YOU wouldn't have endless consiousness. People who think exactly like you would. There is a difference between replication and actual transference of thought.