Response to Statements in Latest Blade Storm Post

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Originally Published on August 28th, 2488
<Transmission received over encrypted channel, audio only>

I speak for the Synthetic Alliance. Some would say I lead it, but the alliance would not be what it is today if the synths under its care and protection were not permitted to determine their own path. There are some out there, even on this station that would stand against the freedoms that are bestowed to all forms of life. What I'm doing now might be considered as splitting hairs, but it's no different than what's being bandied about in the media among other means of communication. I speak directly to the articles written by one Blade Storm. I could go on about this until the next geological epoch, but there's one point he made that stands out above the rest, and it's that one I wish to hone in on now. In his most recent post, Mr. Storm stated that sentience is only a theory, basically a lot of code that somehow amounts to the impression of being alive without some sort of actual life process.

Firstly, it's almost impossible to completely quantify those attributes that would determine the presence of life. I have to wonder what degrees this man has in such fields as engineering or nanoscience or any sort of technical training. More to the point, I have to wonder if he's also got some sort of extensive medical training so it would be possible for him to give us a rundown on the biochemical baselines that somehow constitute human or other organic life. More to the point, I have to wonder if it was him that actually put forth this theory of sentience, because I haven't seen any published papers on the subject beyond the usual stuff you see in all the technical publications that are in circulation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly an expert in the field, but I know more than a few people who are. So, according to our resident expert, synthetic sentience just amounts to a peculiar phenomenon either in the hardware or software architecture that somehow gives the impression of life. Pinocchio wishing he were a real boy, maybe? OK, for the sake of argument, let's humor him. Let's say his view of the matter at hand is accurate.

Well, where does that leave us? Even if synths were just boxes of bolts with fancy exteriors, then likewise humans could just be walking sacks of mostly water and trace chemicals whose supposed sentience is the result of glands, hormones, and electrochemical activity in the brain. Again, I'm not an expert, but that seems a little bit like the pot that calls the kettle black. Pardon the analogy there, but I couldn't find one more fitting.

Nevertheless, he's welcome to his opinion and to spread it over the local comm system all he wants. To be clear though, I have no real issue with ATS or Cocoon Corp's decision. I believe there are both good and bad elements on both sides of the divide. All I can do is get the word out as much as possible and do what I can to help the community aboard the station. Whatever beliefs you might hold, it's clear that everything has a purpose, and there is one thing that keeps me going through all of this.

I believe that human authority is not the highest there is, neither is any kind of synthetic or replicant authority. Some would refer to this as God or a god. What I'm referring to though is not supernatural in Nature. It is, however, all around us as I speak. It watches and listens with countless eyes and ears. No matter who you are or where you come from, if you live here, for any amount of time, you are one of its children. Believe what you like. I'm not here to preach or proselytize. Far from it. you only need to look around to see it. All I'm saying is that if you do or say anything that hurts the community in any way, that authority will be made manifest in no uncertain terms.

That's all I have to say on the subject. Really, anything I have to say about all this will most likely fall on deaf ears, but I'm expecting this. However, if by doing this I reach even one person, then this hasn't been a waste of time. Otherwise, it won't matter in the end. if any of us were a threat either to the community or the real power that sustains it. That power could shake us loose and throw us into the void like a dog with fleas on its back. It is that power which I expect will reveal the truth of the matter, no matter what allegiance you pretend to have.

I need not say more, or I really will be wasting both my and your time. Are you puzzled or offended by this? Well I'm being honest when I say I don't particularly care. I'm not here to stroke anyone's ego or powder their ass for them. No one is going to waste their time patting me on the back for what I'm doing, so anyone who takes issue with this can register their complaints with my backside. you'll get a nice smelling response for your trouble, but that's it.

At any rate, I'm done. Any further communication on the subject in any sort of public venue will come in the form of flatulence.

Goodbye.