The Era of Technocracy

[StrawberryClock]

So after watching Blade Runner, I was pondering an idea. Society will continually become more and more robotized, with labor becoming more efficient with the rise of automatic processes.

Eventually, it will come to a point were the robots will be the only ones left, and only repairmen will be needed for menial labor. And eventually, robots will replace these repairmen.

And according to this thread (http://forums.darkfallonline.com/showthread.php?t=209077), the job of bean counting might even be replaced with robots, who through using programmed mathematics, may one day replace the job of traders and bankers.

The exponential growth of technology would have it to the point were robots and the robotic industry will continually accelerate at a great speed.

The most important people for the technology sector are the scientists and engineers who design and work on these robots.

I have an idea that they will eventually garner enough clout and power to take over society and establish themselves as the natural rulers through their robots. It is the technological scientists who command these vast robot armies of industry that a technocracy can be brought about.

A technocracy is a society run by scientists, engineers and those trained in technical aspects, as opposed to modern day society ruled by those in professional jobs.

With that being said, MIT will be the new JFK School of Government. So what are you thoughts and ideas on technocracies in general, and the possibility of technocracies being brought about?

I for one welcome this, as we will be able to lead a life full of great leisure, even if we have to sacrifice the position of ruling society to those kids we beat up and made fun of in high school.

[StainlessSteelRat]

It doesn't matter who is in charge, their power still needs to be checked or tyranny will result. All in all, I might prefer it to who is in charge right now.

Also, "robotized"? Who woulda thought that was a word..... It just doesn't sound right.

[Silverhandorder]

I think technology will permeate life to the point where everyone or a large portion of the population will be proficient in it. If today many people understand politics but still are forced to vote for some one to get their way the technocracy you describe will be destroyed by this.

Why should I care what rules some pos makes when I can design, program and build my own tech?

[StrawberryClock]

It doesn't matter who is in charge, their power still needs to be checked or tyranny will result. All in all, I might prefer it to who is in charge right now.

Also, "robotized"? Who woulda thought that was a word..... It just doesn't sound right.

Its now a coined word.

I think technology will permeate life to the point where everyone or a large portion of the population will be proficient in it. If today many people understand politics but still are forced to vote for some one to get their way the technocracy you describe will be destroyed by this.

Why should I care what rules some pos makes when I can design, program and build my own tech?

I was suggesting a ruling class of technocrats, not a democracy.

[Rimayven]

Exactly how would technocrats take over society?

[StrawberryClock]

Exactly how would technocrats take over society?

Had you read, through the use of technology to take over labor and some aspects of business. That is if all of them don't sell off everything every time they make something to idiot businessmen.

[Rimayven]

Oh all right, who does the technocrat work for then?

[StrawberryClock]

Oh all right, who does the technocrat work for then?

They'll establish themselves as the ruling class through the means of controlling these robots in the vein of medieval English nobility post-Magna Carta but with greater individual power.

That's how I like to see it as. Either that, or they'll carry significant enough power to persuade the government to do anything for them.

EDIT: Why do you have Skree's sigg?

[Pumpkin]

If robots ever got that smart they would repair and design themselves, completely eliminating any use for technocrats.

Instead we would all be ruled by Metrosexual Lady-Boys who make the most of their plentiful spare time.

[StrawberryClock]

If robots ever got that smart they would repair and design themselves, completely eliminating any use for technocrats.

Instead we would all be ruled by Metrosexual Lady-Boys who make the most of their plentiful spare time.

I'm talking about the time that directly precedes the end of humanity via the rise of robots. That may last for a good 20-25 years hopefully.

Also: pick it up people, lets get this sci-fi fantasy thread mixed in with reality going.

[Rimayven]

Are technocrats generally evil, mini Nazis,mini Stalins, or are their goals actually in society's best interests?

Besides, governments do not negotiate with terrorists.EDIT:Are you imagining a single evil scientist persecuting men and bending their wills to his whims?

[StrawberryClock]

Are technocrats generally evil, mini Nazis,mini Stalins, or are their goals actually in society's best interests?

Besides, governments do not negotiate with terrorists.EDIT:Are you imagining a single evil scientist persecuting men and bending their wills to his whims?

My view is that they differ from the current politicians we have concerning morals(those in technical sectors more often approach things from a morally free perspective, while those from business and law more often approach things from a morally-corrupt/morally-righteous perspective) but it would naturally vary greatly.

They would of course serve the interests of what today's scientists' support, minus all that political teabaggery.

That evil scientist would have to fight a great war with other heroic technocrats in order to maintain rule.

It would isolate us from war even further so that we can happily eat our chips and watch it on TV.

[Rimayven]

Hahaha, exactly what I thought.

[Larocco]

robots cant replace bitches

[jakeoc]

Robot women will rock the dont bitch complain and do what u tell them to =D

[StrawberryClock]

Robot women will rock the dont bitch complain and do what u tell them to =D

You also don't even need protection.

This is so win-win aside from the fact that your fucking a lifeless machine and at the end of it feel like a complete loser.

[jakeoc]

you also don't even need protection.

This is so win-win aside from the fact that your fucking a lifeless machine and at the end of it feel like a complete loser.



orly???? Who will be the looser when i have 15 naked machines running around my house cooking cleaning and having sex hmmmm???

[StrawberryClock]

orly???? Who will be the looser when i have 15 naked machines running around my house cooking cleaning and having sex hmmmm???

Depends on one's definition of loser.

I consider someone who lacks an equal companion in life a loser. I'd rather have a real bitch who will watch the sunrise and discuss life then have rough sex including rimjobs afterward instead of a robot who's programmed to do it.

[Larocco]

ull need a cyborg if u want real pussy, regular robots cant be hookers.

[StrawberryClock]

ull need a cyborg if u want real pussy, regular robots cant be hookers.

Metal boobs and vaginas sound kinda raunchy.

[StrawberryClock]

I am however unopposed to robots adding variety to my polygamous tendencies. Its not really cheating and they can be deactivated for most of the day.

[Larocco]

fleshlight is better imo

[StrawberryClock]

Fleshlights kind of boring and masturbatory-like,

also, hooray for the derailment into man-robot sex.

[Dark Lily]

I hear autoblows are all the thing now.

[StrawberryClock]

I hear autoblows are all the thing now.

I bet that's what the boys say to you after a beejay.

[Dark Lily]

It makes me cry.

Anyway, I'm all for this robot age - they can do the work and the humans will live in a hedonistic paradise.

[Daestrro]

This whole concept makes me think of traditional Sparta on a grand scale.

Slaves do all the work, everyone else trains all day. Except instead of training, we'd just all be sitting around watching robot wars for entertainment.

[PirateGlen]

It makes me cry.

Anyway, I'm all for this robot age - they can do the work and the humans will live in a hedonistic paradise.

You sound like a communist.

[Dark Lily]

You sound like a communist.

Nah, I just sound lazy.

Although I think if you get the right job people enjoy having something to do, than wasting life away. If you remove people's self worth shit'll go down.

[PrimalSign]

Nah, I just sound lazy.

Same thing :p

Seriously though, I wonder how the Free Market system would deal with the drastic economic and social shift that would be caused by another technological revolution. When robots can do most of our work it seems to me that the whole system would break down as fewer and fewer jobs favor human presence.

The only marketable skills that I can see would be repairing machines, knowledge in one or more scientific fields, and entertainment talent. It would be a world of scientists, comedians, and prostitutes.

I thought about robot/business ownership but somehow I can't see a lot of people muscling in on business when only a few humans benefit from each business and asset control allows for further control of assets. Limited job opportunities provide less ways to enter the market as an owner and create a stifling bottleneck on upward mobility.

I think I'm turning commie :ninja:

What do the Free Market advocates here think about technology slowly rendering a capitalist economy obsolete and unfeasible?



Also (general social questions for all):

-If the AI required for higher jobs is advanced enough to match or surpass humans, how many here would be comfortable forcing them to work their entire existence?
-Would you find it objectionable if a machine intelligence was created (born?) to enjoy said work, would that be forcing them or would it be a part of their personality?
-If they could make choices about their programming to the same degree a human can rebel against its nature then should we tolerate forced robot labor because we make them or would it be in our best interest to protect their basic rights as we would our own?

If we don't respect thinking machines then we'll probably have the dreaded robot revolution -- Animatrix style -- on our hands.

It's fun to think about. The discovery of true AI will be like the Industrial Revolution on steroids.

[PirateGlen]

Nah, I just sound lazy.

Although I think if you get the right job people enjoy having something to do, than wasting life away. If you remove people's self worth shit'll go down.

Communists were lazy. They wanted robots to plant and harvest crops that everyone would be free to just go and pick up.

[Silverhandorder]

I was suggesting a ruling class of technocrats, not a democracy.

I am saying that is not possible under the conditions you give. If people do not have to worry about survival they are free to put their productive energies towards learning how to use the tech around them.

[Drool111]

Eventually we will ascend from our flesh bodies into robots.

[StrawberryClock]

I am saying that is not possible under the conditions you give. If people do not have to worry about survival they are free to put their productive energies towards learning how to use the tech around them.

Not if these robots make enough material goods to satisfy them. That's kinda my whole vision on it.

We'd be so fat and lazy.

[Silverhandorder]

Not if these robots make enough material goods to satisfy them. That's kinda my whole vision on it.

We'd be so fat and lazy.

Then you do not understand human nature.

[Serenius]

For some reason scientest, being as smart as they are, have always been the bitch of coorporations and other social institutions. They already control the knowledge of technology that society depends on and even if you cut out a load of industries in favor of robots there would still be some rich business guy at the head collecting money off of it and buying the rights to it.

I don't think a "technocrat" will ever really exist simply because their are several types of genius, and Scientist aren't the conquering type.

[Silverhandorder]

For some reason scientest, being as smart as they are, have always been the bitch of coorporations and other social institutions. They already control the knowledge of technology that society depends on and even if you cut out a load of industries in favor of robots there would still be some rich business guy at the head collecting money off of it and buying the rights to it.

I don't think a "technocrat" will ever really exist simply because their are several types of genius, and Scientist aren't the conquering type.

First the reason why scientists usually do not get involved past their research is because to be a scientist it is a very demanding job. If you have time to do other shit as a scientist you are not really worth your shit.

Plus we have technocrats now. What do you think all this bs where they put their programs above morals?

[RametepSeb]

Blade runner is a good movie

[Serenius]

First the reason why scientists usually do not get involved past their research is because to be a scientist it is a very demanding job. If you have time to do other shit as a scientist you are not really worth your shit.

Plus we have technocrats now. What do you think all this bs where they put their programs above morals?

By technocrat I'm assuming it means a scientist that is in control of the government? I don't know of any like that.

Scientist will never have the time it would take to do what the OP thinks will happen. Technology does not have an end, at least not one that we will reach.

[Silverhandorder]

I don't know about technocrat definition... I saw the term "technocrat" used somewhere recently referring to policies like society engineering. I probably shouldn't have said anything.

[RametepSeb]

bLaDeRuNnEr iz coo

[Serenius]

I don't know about technocrat definition... I saw the term "technocrat" used somewhere recently referring to policies like society engineering. I probably shouldn't have said anything.

Eh, I hadn't actually heard the term before this thread but the way he described it seemed to imply that they would be scientist who devise plots through their inventions to take over all the means of production, financial institutions, and pretty much every other aspect of human life including government. So, basically a scientist who the people come to depend upon as their leaders and providers.

At least that's how I see it.

[Silverhandorder]

Eh, I hadn't actually heard the term before this thread but the way he described it seemed to imply that they would be scientist who devise plots through their inventions to take over all the means of production, financial institutions, and pretty much every other aspect of human life making including government. So, basically a scientist who the people come to depend upon as their leaders and providers.

At least that's how I see it.

Well by that definition we can all agree that he is wrong :D.

[Rossco]

Eventually we will ascend from our flesh bodies into robots.

That's not very ambitious, considering our current biological composition in far more advanced than any alternative cybernetic/autonomic vessel we could probably ever hope to create anyway. It'd be far more realistic to transcend physical matter completely and exist as energy which can move on the fourth dimensional plane.

[Serenius]

That's not very ambitious, considering our current biological composition in far more advanced than any alternative cybernetic/autonomic vessel we could probably ever hope to create anyway. It'd be far more realistic to transcend physical matter completely and exist as energy which can move on the fourth dimensional plane.

Like that Star Trek episode?

[Rossco]

Like that Star Trek episode?

No. Star Trek always steals awesome ideas, though, and bifurcates them. I was being quite serious, I assure.