Damn country of mine...

[DemolitionSquid]

This reminds me, I have a question about terms for you Sarov. If I'm referring to dark skinned people living in North America, they are African-Americans. If I'm refering to dark skinned people in Australia, they are Aborigines. But if I wanted to refer to all people of dark skin everywhere in the world, which word would you find most acceptable? Blacks? Negroes? In the same way that all people of light skin tone are "Caucasian" regardless of them being from North America, Europe, or Australia.

[phazonjunkie]

If I'm referring to dark skinned people living in North America, they are African-Americans. If I'm refering to dark skinned people in Australia, they are Aborigines. But if I wanted to refer to all people of dark skin everywhere in the world, which word would you find most acceptable? Blacks? Negroes? In the same way that all people of light skin tone are "Caucasian" regardless of them being from North America, Europe, or Australia.

That's actually a very good question. Especially when you consider that, strictly in terms of skin tone, many Indian, Mediterranean, Asian (especially South East Asian), and Pacific Islanders could, in all fairness be called 'black'.

However, I believe the term 'Negroid' or Negroes generally denotes someone who's origins stem from Sub-Saharan Africa.


I know you weren't talking to me but I just couldn't resist.

[Sarov]

I kinda resent that.

Which is kind of funny because anyone who knows me or has talked to me enough knows that I'm paranoid and have issues with trusting others.

They do the most repetitive and messy jobs you wouldn't want to contemplate, and they nearly work for free. People complain about them taking jobs, but nobody would be willing or able to take their place.

I resent that because it seems like you're comparing them to me as if I were a normal person. I'm not. I have GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) as well as major depression (aka major depressive disorder/clinical depression). Those two are a terrible combination. In fact, I would love to work at one of the nearby EB-Games if it weren't for those two problems - I don't even care if it's entry level.

This reminds me, I have a question about terms for you Sarov. If I'm referring to dark skinned people living in North America, they are African-Americans. If I'm refering to dark skinned people in Australia, they are Aborigines. But if I wanted to refer to all people of dark skin everywhere in the world, which word would you find most acceptable? Blacks? Negroes? In the same way that all people of light skin tone are "Caucasian" regardless of them being from North America, Europe, or Australia.

I prefer being called black over any other term.

The problem with "African-American"/"African-Canadian" is that not every black person has relatives within the last several generations to warrant the use of that word. In my case, I'm considered that because I'm half Somalian (father) and half Canadian (mother). But if you want to get technical, I'm also Barbadian (mother's side) and there is a possibility that I may also be Egyptian, Italian, British, and/or Russian (all on my father's side).

I also think of it this way: if you don't call someone who's part European (British, German, etc) a European-Canadian or someone from Quebec a French-Canadian, don't call me African-Canadian.

People should also realize why black people sometimes call their friends that "N" word but won't allow white people to call them that. Think of it this way: If they call each other that, the word loses its racist meaning. Sometimes it's a case of how close of a friend you are. Other times it's completely forbidden.

In fact, I find it amusing that the qualities that define me most - pessimistic outlook on life, sensitive, imaginative (in terms of lively, creative and inventive), crying but never in public, compassion, stubbornness, and even a mistrust of rational thought (I trust my emotions, common sense and natural intuition without hesitation) - are also qualities that are generally associated with Russians. Heck, my nickname - Sarov - was given to me by the Russian who also named me an "honorary Russian". I've been using it ever since.

[Maul]

I just call black people black, white people white and Asians Asians. I hate the term African-American too. Not to mention x-American. I've never called or heard anyone call someone Italian-Australian or African-Australian (admittedly there's not many black people aside from aborigines here). You're either Australian or a citizen of another country as far as I'm concerned. Background is irrelevant.

[JackhammerIV]

Well all this confusion is kind of why application forms nowadays have the option of "Other" or "Do not wish to say" under race. Eventually in a couple hundred years all the races will mix together. Everyone will be hybrids. And we shall call ourselves the "XelNaga". Then we shall experiment on alien lifeforms......and you know the rest of the story.:P

[senervo]

I kinda resent that.
Robots and machines are some of the hardest-working, most honest people you'll ever meet. They do the most repetitive and messy jobs you wouldn't want to contemplate, and they nearly work for free. People complain about them taking jobs, but nobody would be willing or able to take their place.

As for turning on humans, isn't that just as stereotypical as "Latinos are coming over so they can take over the Southwestern United States and return it to Mexico"? We're assuming that one of them WILL achieve?

i don't fear them turning on humans, actually...
i'd rather like that by now... (especially knowing that people can ignite puppies on fire without remorse.......i say murder those humans....)

but what i hate that they're trying to do with robots are the acts of trying to give them emotions and souls...

virtual emotions, often seen in video games and the likes are one thing...
but humans actually suceeded in creating artificial life after true soul and thinking... that would be a disaster...
and it would only remind us once more why humans, beyond all their capabilities, are the biggest fools in the universe...
(this is speaking from a person that actually does see some good in people... that said, 1 out of a couple of billion people...)

[senervo]

Which is kind of funny because anyone who knows me or has talked to me enough knows that I'm paranoid and have issues with trusting others.



I resent that because it seems like you're comparing them to me as if I were a normal person. I'm not. I have GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) as well as major depression (aka major depressive disorder/clinical depression). Those two are a terrible combination. In fact, I would love to work at one of the nearby EB-Games if it weren't for those two problems - I don't even care if it's entry level.



I prefer being called black over any other term.

The problem with "African-American"/"African-Canadian" is that not every black person has relatives within the last several generations to warrant the use of that word. In my case, I'm considered that because I'm half Somalian (father) and half Canadian (mother). But if you want to get technical, I'm also Barbadian (mother's side) and there is a possibility that I may also be Egyptian, Italian, British, and/or Russian (all on my father's side).

hehe, i'm both american and scottish...
but what do people call me?
...''fucking scary'' that's what....


damn double post...

[DemolitionSquid]

Eventually in a couple hundred years all the races will mix together. Everyone will be hybrids.

Actually that's the least likely scenario. Yes, there will be interbreeding, but life prefers to diversify, not combine. As humanity expands its genetic code through globalization, more new forms will emerge. And if we avoid blowing ourselves up long enough, we'll start to colonize other planets, and then the diversity will really boom as we adapt to different environments. Humanity will likely even separate into new species which cannot even interbreed anymore. Of course, as with all evolution, it will take millions of years to reach that point.

[JackhammerIV]

Actually that's the least likely scenario. Yes, there will be interbreeding, but life prefers to diversify, not combine. As humanity expands its genetic code through globalization, more new forms will emerge. And if we avoid blowing ourselves up long enough, we'll start to colonize other planets, and then the diversity will really boom as we adapt to different environments. Humanity will likely even separate into new species which cannot even interbreed anymore. Of course, as with all evolution, it will take millions of years to reach that point.

I think you misunderstood me. They won't be a single "race" but due to all the mixing, no one remains as a pure 100% from one race kind of idea. There is still a lot of diversity with people having genes from multiple races. I think this is pretty likely. Slowly more and more people are 10% Italian or 1/4 Nigerian and so on. Of course it is impossible for everyone in the world to be of mixed racial descent cos of racism and the like.

[Norfindel]

i don't fear them turning on humans, actually...
i'd rather like that by now... (especially knowing that people can ignite puppies on fire without remorse.......i say murder those humans....)

but what i hate that they're trying to do with robots are the acts of trying to give them emotions and souls...

virtual emotions, often seen in video games and the likes are one thing...
but humans actually suceeded in creating artificial life after true soul and thinking... that would be a disaster...
and it would only remind us once more why humans, beyond all their capabilities, are the biggest fools in the universe...
(this is speaking from a person that actually does see some good in people... that said, 1 out of a couple of billion people...)

I think we are so far from that situation, that there's no need to fear. A serious mistake is more likely, for example: some miscalculation in unmanned war stuff and the like.

Replicating a brain is no easy job, as it's incredibly complex. If someone suceeds at that in the future, it will be highly controversial, and subject to close scrutiny. It's very difficult for it to be allowed to be mass produced, unless there's absolutely no doubt there's no risk (somehow).

Normal robots depend on a microprocessor that just execute instructions. There's 0 chance for it to be self-aware.