this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2024
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Worm's brain mapped and replicated digitally to control obstacle-avoiding robot.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Extremely old news, but still very cool.

We used to have one of these roaming around my college compaci lab, hooked up to a big red bluetooth button that would recompile the neurological structure when pressed. When we were feeling particularly nasty (or they were waxing particularly poetic), we used to challenge the humanities majors to push the button and 'kill' the worm.

I'm not particularly proud of the fact I made quite a few people break down completely with the implications of asking them to do that - or more sadistically, by repeatedly pressing the button and asking them why it mattered. I got punched in the face by a vegan for that one, which was fair enough tbh. Anyways, the reality of the project really isnt something most people are prepared to address.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (3 children)

I think it's good that you made some people come to solid conclusions regarding their views on the matter, but I'm sure it didn't win you many friends.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Trauma as a problem solving tool... hmm...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Never said it was the best* method lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

But you did seem to imply that it was a good method.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I hoped the not winning friends part would have prevented that

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't know why the person you're replying to causes me so much revulsion. Probably resonates with some people I'm not in touch. Anyways, live moves on and I decided to block that person.

Life's too short to tolerate asswholes

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Yeah tbh I was trying to find the bright side of the story but I don't think it came off that way.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I had a former summer camp kid come up and credit me with having given them their "first existential crisis" (for explaining that when you die, "you just cease") which I am proud of.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Damn dude, why you gotta do 'em like that? Hope someday he finds psychelics or something lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They were actually pretty grateful, feeling it had set them up for a lot of positive realizations down the line. We play D&D now and they're working on their masters, so I guess they weren't too badly scarred...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

How old were they at the time and how did the subject come up?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Not very satisfying answers I'm afraid, they were probably 8-10 and I have no idea how we got onto the topic since this was 15+ years ago.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

But why are you proud? Or was that more tongue-in-cheek?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I get the impression you don't think this was a good thing to have done, hence the interrogation?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't intentionally give a childhood a existential crisis, no, but I'm sure I could inadvertently. Didn't mean it to feel like an interrogation, sorry. Was just curious.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

thats a parents job!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Hmm seems odd to me. I personally would not have even thought anyone would have second guessed pressing the button.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Nope there is no actual worm in the box, only magic smoke.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

There are no actual worms in the universe, only bunch of atoms.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

But how the information was presented matters, especially when people are unfamiliar with the topic.