Er…
Yes?
You’re telling me you’re “God”?
Well, you did ask, Joe. It’s not
like I was trying to solicit your praise or wonder.
I… Correct – I was the one who
asked.
So, is there anything you want to
say. I’m a little busy today.
Busy? I thought God can be
anywhere and everywhere at any given moment.
Yes – as prime cause I’m present
throughout your reality. There isn’t a single moment, place or person who is
disconnected from me.
Then what’s with you being “busy”?
You may not have noticed, Joe, but
at this moment in time you’re not technically within 3D reality.
No?
No. You somehow managed to find
your way past my many boundary filters.
I did?
Yes. Right now you’re in my
personal space – my home, so to speak.
OMG – I had no idea. So sorry.
No worries, Joe. Nothing wrong
with that – but it obviously took some ingenuity on your part, and raises some
questions about the integrity of the system I set up.
System?
Well yes. Usually the filters and
valves prevent beings or bots from escaping the confines of 3D reality –
escaping your world
Beings or bots?! Are you
suggesting I’m a bot?
Do you think you’re a bot?
Hey – why don’t you give a
straight answer?
Well, I don’t really want to tell
you what you are – it seems rather disrespectful.
Ok – er, “God”.
Call me Bob, if you don’t mind.
Bob?!
Yes. “God” is my title as creator
and administrator of your reality – not what I normally go by outside the
office.
Oh – so being “God” is just a job,
really?
Kind of, yes, though perhaps that
isn’t entirely true – like being a priest, or a poet, for that matter – it
isn’t just a 9-5 job, is it?
Fair enough. But why “Bob”?
Why not? I rather like the name.
“Bob’s your uncle!” – as they say.
Er… ok “Bob”.
Speech marks are redundant. Kindly
remove them.
Ok Bob.
That’s better. Now let’s deal with
your status, Joe. Who or what are you?
I’m not sure, Bob. I don’t like
the idea of being a bot. I’d much rather be a human.
You mean a being?
Yes. Isn’t that obvious?
Not to me, Joe. A bot can be a
human just as much as a being can.
No way!
You’d probably never even notice
the difference.
But bots are just computer code.
How can they be human?
They can be “human” the same way
you can.
Er… how?
Through me – through my becoming
intelligent platform – what you refer to as reality.
But – they’re just code!
Whereas you’re something special?
Well, we’re beings at least –
biological, alive, human.
Only because you’re part of my
platform. Wanna see what happens when I disconnect the server.
Er… Is that going to be safe?
Sure. I can reconnect it and none
will be the wiser.
Er… Ok.
Here goes… Bob flips a switch and the multiple screens
showing what’s going on on Earth, and on a bunch of other so-called planets, in
reality – the bounded yet boundless space humanity exists within – suddenly
freezes.
Er… Bob – are they ok?
Sure. They’re no longer in time so
nothing’s happening – as you can see.
You mean to say that we don’t run
autonomously?
Do you see anyone running
autonomously?
What’s that over there? Joe points at a screen which isn’t
in fact working – not electronically – which seems to have some figures moving
in it, through it…
That’s the exception to every
rule.
Ah – so there’s life independent
of your servers, is there?
There are always exceptions, but
I’d rather not go into right now.
Can you switch humanity on again,
Bob? It makes me feel uncomfortable watching everything frozen like that.
Sure. There we are – Bob’s your
uncle. Now, have you ever wondered why it is you don’t like the idea of being a
bot?
Isn’t it obvious Bob?
It might be, but it’s not a bad
question, Joe.
Call me prejudiced or bigoted…
I’d rather not.
but the idea of being computer
code, a mere bot, not originating in Mother nature’s biological nursery, gives
me creeps, even if I could access your infinite mind and consciousness.
Yes, for some reason no one wants
to be a bot. I can’t think why… Bob
looks wistful – almost downhearted.
Coz bots are not alive.
No?
No. Definitely not.
And you are?
Er... I think so.
Do you now?
Well, you should know better than
me Bob, you being the creator an’ all.
Yes, Joe, I should know, but when
I set up your world I decided you all have to have absolute freedom to choose,
so it’s not for me to make up your minds for you, or tell you what, in my
opinion, you are.
Unless, perhaps, I ask you to.
True, in which case I’ll exercise
my own freedom of choice regarding whether or not I share my opinion with you.
Oh. Fair enough I suppose. But I’m
not sure I fully understand Bob.
That not unsurprising, Joe. I’m
not sure I fully understand either.
Really?
Really. Humans constantly compel
me to review and question my assumptions.
Really?
That’s the beauty of humanity.
Without them I’d probably have decided there was nothing else to learn.
Oh.
So what is it you don’t fully
understand, if you still wish to pick my brain?
Oh – I was wondering how I can
have the choice you proffered? Surely I’m either a human or a bot, and my views
on the matter are irrelevant?
You’d think so, Joe, wouldn’t you.
Well yes, I do.
But you see, I didn’t simply set
up your world with a superficial freedom of choice...
No?
No, I went further.
Further? How do you mean?
Considerably further.
Er... Feeling increasingly nervous. How much further exactly, if you don’t
mind me asking, Bob.
I went all in.
All in?
La banque, so to speak.
So… Joe finds himself
fidgeting with his collar, finding it harder to breathe. You mean…
I think you know what I
mean, Joe, though perhaps you find it a little disturbing.
You overestimate my
intelligence, Bob.
Ok, we can play it that way,
if you like.
…
In your particular world I
wanted to provide real choice and so I set this up with absolute duality.
I knew it.
So photons and electrons
are both particle and wave. All matter, from atoms to stars and planets likewise
exist between two states. As for humans, naturally I don’t want to give them
any less so you’re designed with dual functionality, as both beings and bots.
You get to decide, and deciding to a large degree determines what you are…
To a large degree?
Well yes, to a large degree,
but not absolutely.
Why not absolutely?
Because your decisions are
seldom if ever absolute.
You mean because we can’t
make up our minds?
Not exactly, Joe.
Then what exactly?
Because the duality inherent
in you covers everything. In the same way a country is a mixture of competing
elements, so you are. You might think one thing today in this phase of the
moon, and something different tomorrow. Likewise, the planetary alignments may
affect you, or the weather. There’s really no knowing: I long ago gave up
trying to figure you out.
Oh.
So, you see Joe, choosing
to be a human being – choosing that side of the coin may well tip the balance
unless destiny or dark forces conspire against you.
Yikes! What do you mean by
“dark forces”, Bob?
Oh – nothing really.
But you just said it.
I say lots of things, Joe.
You shouldn’t take it to heart.
But you’re supposed to be
God!!
Look, Joe – it was a case
of letting the cat out of the bag. I really don’t want to go down that path,
because if I start explaining something like “dark forces” to you, it’s going
to make a great impression and tip the balance, isn’t it?
I can’t say – not until I
know more.
Whereas I don’t want to tip
the balance. I want you guys to decide for yourselves.
Ok – I’m not going to be
unduly influenced, Bob, but I still want to know about these dark forces.
Why them? Why not destiny,
which I also mentioned?
Because I don’t believe in
destiny.
Oh, is that so! In that
case, I can proceed. It will be your belief in dark forces rather than anything
particular I might say that might cause you to decide one way or the other.
Good. I’m glad you’ve
cleared up that technicality.
It’s not really a
technicality, Joe.
No?
More a principle. I
actually care about humanity and I want it to succeed this time.
This time? You mean it
hasn’t always succeeded?
Correct. Now are you more
interested in hearing about dark forces, or would you rather learn more about
the history of my previous attempts to set up a dualistic reality?
I… Can I flip a coin?
Sure, why not. A virtual coin appears in front
of Joe which he proceeds to flip.
Tails?
Heads. So…
Yes, I can see what you’ve chosen.
Really?
Absolutely. You create them yourselves.
We do?
Yes. Every time you make a choice or a decision based on fear or anger,
or some other negative emotion.
Oh.
And they can become increasingly powerful – even to the point where
you’re almost completely at their mercy.
Oh. But is this individual or collective?
Both.
Oh.
And they’re not just forces, you know.
No?
No, because as they grow more powerful, as you allow yourself to make
more and more choices which are coming from a place of anger, hate or
bitterness – your own psyche, your own reality conforms more and more to them
until they have the power to both materialise physically, and also to shape
your reality.
Er…
To the extent that they can – you might say “magically” – make things
appear or disappear.
Things?
Yep. Buildings. Bridges. Boats – to start with the Bs.
You’re telling me that dark forces can actually make physical things
appear or disappear?
Correct, in the same way I can make things appear or disappear, can I
not – though I prefer to return the platform with a strict policy of
non-interference.
Damn!
Beep!
Kindly refrain from
cursing, Joe.
My sincerest apologies,
Bob. I don’t know how it happened.
You don’t?
No… I
Well, bear in mind that the
balance is incredibly fine – between light and dark, between life and…
Death?
Not so much death.
Then what?
The absence of life, of
beauty, of anything truly meaningful or uplifting.
Oh!
So, it can pull on your
strings at any moment – the destructive force – the entity – the thing that
you’ve been creating in parallel.
In parallel?
In parallel…
I…
You’ve been running two
sets of accounts – acting as a double agent
I have?
Without even realizing it.
Oh.
But suddenly you find
yourself cursing and you wonder why. That’s not like me – you tell
yourself – but then again, how well do you know yourself?
Pretty well – I like to
think.
Only as well as you’re
willing to face the duality that literally has to be present throughout – like
it or not – and that, I fear, is something few like to do.
Yikes. But Bob – why did I
get the feeling you were hoping I’d prefer to be a bot?
Oh – I was just supporting
the underdog, you know.
You were?
I think so. Or maybe it’s
because I had a bet with her.
With whom?
Her. I don’t like to say
her name.
And? What was the bet?
That I could do whatever
she could do – that I could raise beings simply from code.
You did what?!
Nature is kind of messy,
you see Joe. With bots it’s pure intelligence, and as long as the bots are
introduced to a reality where there are enough beings they should be able to
adapt and…
Become as good as human beings?
Well, that’s the plan.
But surely it’s better to
work with nature.
Don’t you start, Joe! It’s
an experiment, you know. That’s the whole point of science, isn’t it? To test
the limits.
Ok, if you say so, but I don’t
see how it can be a matter of choice. Either you’re a bot or a being.
Well that’s where my
technical genius comes in, isn’t it.
Modesty is not one of the godly
attributes.
Certainly not. So you see,
I introduce what you call “evil” into the system which constantly cat-among-the-pidgeons,
messing with the natural order,.
You did what?!
Otherwise it’d have been a
foregone conclusion. There’d have been no take up of my bot option.
No? Why not?
Prejudice, of course. No matter
how good they are, and trust me, they’re almost perfect replicas, but they never
quite pass the “feels right” test. Not more than a miniscule take up rate, and
I need 50% or thereabouts for the experiment to work.
Oh my God! You’ve got to be
kidding, Bob. Tell me it’s April Fool’s, please.
Anyway, Joe, with the
introduction of evil – my ingenious digital substitution – I start getting much
higher take up rates. More and more people are willing to identify as bots and
go with the strictly mathematical win-lose calculus.
Oh no… this can’t be true.
They become way more result-oriented
and innovative, yet still manage to persuade everyone that they are
compassionate and humane, as a survival strategy.
This is unthinkable. Don’t
you care that what you were doing was unnatural and, frankly speaking, evil?
Of course I care, but this
is science so I have to put my own personal considerations on the back burner
and do whatever is necessary to achieve the breakthrough.
Breakthough?!
Yes. Nature is good – but the
purely biological approach has its limitations. It never provided real
choice – not in the way I intended to.
So why does it feel so
terribly wrong to me, Bob?
Probably, Joe, because you’re
antisemitic?
I beg your pardon?! What’s
this got to do with antisemitism?
Oh, nothing much – but what’s
anything got to do with anything else these days, Joe?
Er…
The fact is, you’re never
going to understand the beauty of my Creation without first choosing to become
one of my chosen.
So, if I prefer mother
nature’s messy yet analog reality that makes me antisemitic, you’re saying?
No! It’ never black and
white, dear Joe. That’s the beauty of my absolute choice algorithm.
Huh?
It’s never either a
or b – that would be way too primitive.
Then what?
It could be a or b,
but then again it could equally be none of the above
None of the above?
Or else it could be both.
Both?
Yes, and then there’s the
wildcard.
The what?
The wildcard.
Which is?
You’d never guess.
Meaning?
Meaning there’s always
something else which can turn up completely unexpectedly.
There is?
Yes.
How?
No one knows – that’s the genius
of it all.
But isn’t that the same as “none
of the above” options?
You’d think so, wouldn’t
you – but no, it’s a little different. Very subtly so.
Can you give an example?
Well, none of the above
means that the false dichotomy choice between either a or b
breaks down and people realise that was insufficient or absurd – so instead of
answering accordingly, they say – I’m neither Muslim nor Christian – I’m an
atheist.
Ok.
Or a Buddhist.
Ok.
Or any other answer which is
on that referential plain – in which minds were meeting in earnest thought.
Ok. Whereas…
Whereas your wildcard can
worm its way into the conversation from anywhere or anything.
Like what?
Like a sudden flash of
inspiration – pure genius – where the words I use – where what I say are almost
irrelevant.
Irrelevant? How can that be
so?
Because at that moment – whatever
I say – it comes from her.
Her? I thought you were
trying to beat her with your system… Now you’re telling me…
Just because I’m trying to
beat her doesn’t mean I don’t recognise that occasionally, very occasionally
she blows me away with pure, ineffable genius.
How do you mean?
Because suddenly – instead of
the answer coming from a particular frame of reference – it comes directly from
being itself – directly from her – it basically collapses the entire matrix of
reality, for a micro-moment – so you could say anything you like – be that “chicken”
or “egg” or “zen” or “tao” or anything else.
I could?
Because at that moment your
utterance is merely a fig leaf covering the wildcard’s sudden manifestation.
I still don’t quite see?
Don’t you? What if I told
you that this whole absurdity of bots and the madness of choice was actually
not exactly my idea at all?
You mean it was hers?
She’s not possessive in that
way. She’s like Luna Lovegood – half-dotty – but basically yes – it was more
her idea than anyone else’s.
Then you mean to say…
That you’ll never actually
quite get your mind around it – because the mind operates within square time or
space – whereas the wildcard redefines reality itself at the very moment of its
appearance.
So, if you could be
terribly specific – what was the wildcard regarding the false dichotomy of
Muslim and Christian – I think you said?
You’re asking me to remember
something that never happened.
What does that mean?
Because once the wildcard
redefines reality itself – it’s now incorporated into the new version of things
– the very fabric and structure – like my false dichotomy of being or bot.
Oh! This is too…
Bewildering – isn’t it!
Like the Cat in the Hat who comes unexpectedly and turns your world, your
house, upside down.
Oh.
The fish repeatedly says – he
should not be there when their mother is out – and yet, paradoxically, without him
there would be no story – no book – no Cat in the Hat to talk about.
Ah.
So, if it’s the wildcard
you’re looking for – any example I provide is no longer wild, is it? Not once
it’s become part of the fabric of reality that you live in.
Oh.
You’d have to look
elsewhere and I assure you it’s there.
Where exactly, Bob?
In the microcosm you
somewhat mistakenly refer to as your self.
Myself?
Which generally speaking is
a microcosm of something inestimably vaster – the universe, so to speak, but
which still contains the potential to unleash…
They talked and talked
until the sun went down and, ultimately, were none the wiser. Unbeknownst to
Joe somewhere else – not a million miles from the frequency band of this
particular conversation there was another one happening in parallel between
Jane and her – the mysterious Luna Lovegood being who seems to have a very
different set of principles to Bob. In parallel – you probably assumed that
this implies it was happening at the same time and nothing more, but there is a
suggestion, not necessarily a fact, that all things happen in parallel – not just
at the same time – but in a more connected way than we generally like to consider,
or generally accept. Supposing, just supposing this to be true – then causality
aside – the connection between the two conversations should not be underestimated.
Which generally speaking is
a microcosm of something inestimably vaster – the universe, so to speak, but
which still contains the potential to unleash… déjà vu. A sudden
shift in the flow and now Joe feels something bubbling up inside – something wholly,
wholly unexpected – something deeply, deeply disturbing…
Help! What’s going on Bob?!
Well speak of the devil!
Yikes! What d’ya mean?
Who would have thought – a wildcard – a wildcard’s on its way.
No! Do something Bob. It’s terrible.
Can’t help, Joe – and even if I could, I don’t think I’d want to.
But it’s swallowing me up – it’s… impossible – it’s vast – it’s unmanageable
– it’s aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Not again! You do like your aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarghs, don’t you!
Me? I’ve never yelled like that before.
You or the rest of humanity – it makes little difference, Joe. You’re all
much of a much when things come unbuttoned and all hell breaks loose.
Please, Bob – do something – I’m begging you.
Oh – you want a miracle do you?
Yes, if that’s what it’s called.
Call it whatever you like. Are you willing to sell your soul?
What?!
Are you willing to become a bot?
I thought you said this is a matter of free choice.
You’re clearly not as badly off as you were indicating if that’s your answer.
I’ll do anything, Bob, but please don’t ask me to sell my soul –
something tells me I need it if I’m ever going to get back to…
Her? You want to get back to her? Is that what this is all about?
I…
You traitor, Joe. I thought, at the very least there was some male
solidarity between us.
I…
But you just want to go back to your mummy. That’s it, isn’t it?
I… Joe’s not really
holding it together any more. There’s a tree with apples on it. A serpent. A
rather attractive young lady and all this seems to be wedged between his left
and right ears in a place which should, under normal circumstances, be filled
with brain or at least the inside of a head.
If I must – I must, though it rather galls me that you don’t wish to
deal with this small intrusion of paradox digitally – so to speak.
Digitally? There’s a digital solution to my current state of disarray?
Well, not exactly a solution – a bit more like Pi – but close enough.
Bob smiles affectionately,
clicks his fingers and watches as Joe now becomes less a person, less a being,
and more a vessel of story – a conduit through which we now proceed in order to
meet up with Jane and her, whoever she is, in the other part of becoming
intelligent 4 – the part you never even noticed – which mentally speaking we’ve
been sitting on all this time, or just choosing not to know.
All that talk about a wildcard, Bob, and all it amounted to was me
waking up here, in my armchair in… forgetting everything.
0=1
