From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Thu Jan 13 2000 - 11:39:00 MST
Doug Jones wrote:
>Robin Hanson wrote:
> > Jeff Davis wrote:
> > >The idea of Von Neumann probes "colonizing" the galaxy per preprogrammed
> > >plan, seemed, when I first encountered it, not only rude, ... such an act
> > >would be viewed by those on the receiving end, as an "assault", and
> all but
> > >certain to provoke a forceful "corrective" response. ...
> >
> > "Pardon, me, was anyone sitting here? I don't want to be rude but I am
> > so tired. Haven't seen anyone? OK, thanks. Phew. That feels nice."
> >
> > ... 110 years later at a star 100 light years away ...
> >
> > "Pardon, me, was anyone sitting here? ..."
>
>All the seats? only if multiple probes visit each star, or probes replicate
>without bounds. ...
My point was that replicating without bound does not require the sort of
risky rude assaults that Jeff described. Yes of course there are other
ways to not be rude besides replicating widely but politely.
Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
Asst. Prof. Economics, George Mason University
MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030
703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
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