X-Message-Number: 4775 Date: Sun, 13 Aug 1995 20:25:36 -0400 (EDT) From: Robin Helweg-Larsen <> Subject: Re: Earth simulation I was amused by John de Rivaz speculations about the speeding up of time being a possible manifestation of this all being a simulation suddenly fast-forwarded! 1) If you're a simulation, I doubt you can be aware of being played or not being played, let alone being fast-forwarded or reversed; whatever moment is currently activated would be replaying what it had been recorded at. 2) It reminds me of the old question as to whether Velasquez suffered from an eye condition that caused him to see everything vertically elongated - an attempt by art critics to explain his elongated figures in his paintings.... surely it should have occurred to them that the same condition would cause him paint the figures as normal, so that the paintings would have looked appropriately elongated to him? (And as for reclining figures, horizontal but still elongated....) 3) Political events may be allowing for more rapid political and social change than ever before; this is in line with increasing economic development, information flows, medical breakthroughs, polulation increase, speed of transportation, etc etc, and also fits nicely on the curve of general technological rate of change. John, you ain't seen nuthin yet! Let's hear it for the sweep of history! Aways optimistically, Robin HL Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4775