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I wonder whether we'll end up in a world where the military will advertise with permanent enhancements for recruitment. Peter Watts presents this concept in a p

by Thiez 7y ago

I wonder whether we'll end up in a world where the military will advertise with permanent enhancements for recruitment. Peter Watts presents this concept in a pretty interesting way [1] and it looks like this could become a reality in the next few decades. [1]: https://www.rifters.com/echopraxia/recruiter.htm https://www.rifters.com/echopraxia/recruiter.htm

ErikAugust 7y ago
One would have to believe that will come with frightening complications, side effects, and potential for all sorts of debilitation. Most people though, especially younger, do naively believe they are going to be the one egg in the dozen that doesn't break. At the same time all these mods are likely going to be commercialized but out of reach for most classes, so the whole thing will become similar to the pitch that "money for college" was back in the day. I suppose the government would also restrict the sale of certain classes of mods making it potentially more lucrative to enlist.
- nexuist 7y ago
  > One would have to believe that will come with frightening complications, side effects, and potential for all sorts of debilitation. But enough about the military :)
- teh_infallible 7y ago
  I find it ironic that genetic modifications like this, which are inherently risky, are described as some kind of privilege reserved for the wealthy. If the upper classes want to risk their health by doing genetic experiments on themselves, I’m fine with that. It is a “privilege” I will happily forego.
sli 7y ago
In Ghost in the Shell (not sure if it was in one of the films, or in Stand Alone Complex or Arise, sorry), a similar thing comes up, and the Major is reminded that Public Security Section 9 owns her prosthetic body, not her.
rscho 7y ago
Another fun take on this: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510196-old-man-s-war https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510196-old-man-s-war

by Thiez 7y ago

ErikAugust 7y ago

One would have to believe that will come with frightening complications, side effects, and potential for all sorts of debilitation. Most people though, especially younger, do naively believe they are going to be the one egg in the dozen that doesn't break. At the same time all these mods are likely going to be commercialized but out of reach for most classes, so the whole thing will become similar to the pitch that "money for college" was back in the day. I suppose the government would also restrict the sale of certain classes of mods making it potentially more lucrative to enlist.

nexuist 7y ago
> One would have to believe that will come with frightening complications, side effects, and potential for all sorts of debilitation. But enough about the military :)
teh_infallible 7y ago
I find it ironic that genetic modifications like this, which are inherently risky, are described as some kind of privilege reserved for the wealthy. If the upper classes want to risk their health by doing genetic experiments on themselves, I’m fine with that. It is a “privilege” I will happily forego.

sli 7y ago

In Ghost in the Shell (not sure if it was in one of the films, or in Stand Alone Complex or Arise, sorry), a similar thing comes up, and the Major is reminded that Public Security Section 9 owns her prosthetic body, not her.

rscho 7y ago

Another fun take on this: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510196-old-man-s-war https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510196-old-man-s-war