@rey.solo

[forcevisions]

i made a mistake


-------

ETA
Riverstone is interested in cooperating with the Displaced to learn more about the people who brought us here. They figured out who I was when I put in the paperwork to change my name back. Apparently, I'm still on the UN's most wanted list, but someone prevented the UN from acting to bring me into custody. 

I don't know who, and neither does Riverstone — in fact, they asked me about it.

But they know that I'm one of the Displaced, which actually explains a few things. I've been working for Riverstone for months. After I went to Everest, I was gone a bit longer than the rest of us, well beyond El's coverage. They gave me back my job anyway. I don't think this was news to them. If you ask me, that's a sign they're not out to get us, but I realize not everyone will agree there.

Now they want to talk to all of us, or as many of us as are interested. Riverstone is offering to pay travel expenses in New Beijing for one week for anyone who wants to undergo observation and testing of their power, and who's willing to answer some questions. I know that sounds scary. I know scary. The UNA had me in custody for some time, running "tests." But Riverstone claims that what they're offering is different, that we'll preview everything first.

Before you decide, I should mention ... they think they might know something about who's been dropping us off. In return for our cooperation, they're willing to exchange that information. 

I'm not telling anyone what to do, and no one else should try to do that either. But if follow (this) link, you can register your information with the Riverstone employees in charge of this, and they'll reach out to you to arrange the trip.

Comments

[impede]

A hypothetical situation I've helped initiate and construct many times myself. Not so difficult once you know you hold all the cards.

As for leverage, I believe their tactic would be to wait until we have a false sense of security. By then, they would also have achieved plausible deniability.

[wittingly]

If the strategy is to begin drumming up legal representation now and providing it as a requirement before testing, what good would waiting do them if that's where we draw the line?

If this hypothetical means waiting until they have an excuse to black-bag us and test us without our consent, we have far bigger issues. So long as they're entertaining the notion of doing everything above board, so can we.

[impede]

They have an investment in keeping themselves clean. That much I'll agree with.

Which means we need to consider that their aim here is beyond us.

[wittingly]

That's definitely one of the topics of conversation happening elsewhere in this post. There are a lot of theories.

[impede]

I do believe that what they have to gain on us would be useful in some way, but we have to believe it's not their top priority. At least, it's not for now.

[wittingly]

Definitely not top, no. Just one they've got some significant interest in.

[impede]

So why play their hand now?

I want to backtrack a moment and make a point: Riverstone had a hand in seeing artificial intelligence as a threat before they ever lashed out. Would you argue that the AI aren't sentient people with rights? Apparently this world thought differently, but I believe their case is one we might want to look to moving forward, at least with considering what freedom and protections we have.

People have been playing a game that's been beyond us for quite some time.

Though it would benefit us to get a version of their pitch from someone who isn't, well.

This idiot.

[wittingly]

I couldn't begin to guess in any manner that isn't conjecture.

I did mention just a few comments ago that I believe all sentient beings deserve rights. If I'm understanding your point, it's that the legal system here disagrees with that sentiment — specifically where AI is concerned. We do have the benefit of being human over them, so it's a bias we fortunately aren't challenged with overcoming.



I'm curious why it is you're calling her an idiot, and why you feel like it's alright to do that? It seems unnecessarily hurtful.

[impede]

With regards to Rey, it's calling a spade a spade. I've walked her through many of the mistakes she made that led her to this decision in the past. And yet, she thought it would simply be fine. This all comes down to her repeated confusion of a weapon for a weapon.

As for the rest:

If they hope to paint us as less than human, they can and will. Add indiscretions in there like helping to free Judas, which I'm certain they're well aware of, and we certainly add some complications to the mix.

[wittingly]

Insulting somebody like that can give you a bad brand. It might lessen the weight or the value of your opinion in the eyes of other people. It's incredibly easy to sabotage your stance that way. It's not cool, man. I believe you can be better than that.

Personally speaking, I am actually human. I don't think there's any real proving otherwise, that's my species.

In any case, this is putting the cart well before the horse. Maybe that's a series of problems we should focus on if and when they come to pass, and instead try to take what actions we can now, even if there's a chance they won't pan out in the long run.

[impede]

I'm not interested in your spiel about "doing better."

As it is, you may actually be human but how you define yourself and how someone defines you are two different things. Given where you came from before, I'd think you well aware of that. Or perhaps clinging to that helped you survive.

[wittingly]

I'd rather not bring the end of my planet or what I did to survive into this. It's a personal and complicated subject. I think this is really about as far as we can get with each other. Have a good one, man.