GeekSpeak – what will the future world of robots and humans be like?

How will society change when every car, every bus stop, every toaster and every shop assistant is a robot?  At what point will we think that robots should have human rights?  When will it become illegal to shoot your toaster or leave your food too long in the fridge so that she looks bad and can’t marry your car?  If you make your car drive over a cliff will you be charged with murder because you killed an AI?

Will there be novels and soap operas about the emotional lives of robots?  Will there be new robot art forms?  Will humans enjoy the robot novels, soaps and art?  Or will we have 2 separate cultures, human and robotic?  Do you think you will ever have a robot friend?

Welcome to the coming years of confusion.  Come and discuss our destiny as only one of the dominant species on the planet.  Bring a towel.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for new subjects.

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Here is the GeekSpeak subject for Saturday October 22nd at 12pm SLT

GeekSpeak – the great ape project.  Should great apes be given human rights?

We accept that all humans should have certain rights simply because they are human.  Should those rights, or some of them, be given to members of other species?  We are not allowed to buy, sell or own humans. Is it acceptable to own chimpanzees or gorillas?  Killing a human being is murder.  Should people who kill chimpanzees be tried for murder?

Which species should be given rights?  Why should chimpanzees be given ‘human’ rights simply because they are very like us while other intelligent species, such as whales, elephants or octopi, have no rights?  If some animals are to be considered persons while other animals are objects, where should the line be drawn?

How would we deal with great apes that kill humans or other apes?  Should they be killed or put on trial?

What would the world be like if nonhuman species had human rights?  Or do you think that human rights should only be given to humans?
Join us at GeekSpeak to discuss animal/human rights. IM Kathen Ohtobide if you need a teleport.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/141/128/51

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