Could a world government ever work in SL ?

I understand that governments aren't created to solve the differences in society--my point was that uniting the world can only benefit the whole, and breaking down barriers is a great starting point.

This quote:



Isn't completely accurate. We won't be coding anything...evolution and time will. Genetic code is constantly evolving--and inevitably along side it, we are evolving on a mental and spiritual level as well. So, in a sense, our 'code' will not be removed, but altered...and because evolution doesn't work backwards, our species will become stronger, not weaker (in both the physical and spiritual aspect).

Does that make sense?

Hey, evolution doesn't always work so great either:



I'm sorry, but I just don't think a "one world government" either in RL or SL, will do anything to break down social or spiritual barriers that doesn't include eliminating those of differing social or spiritual beliefs.

That's cool. Just give it time. Evolution is inevitable. We've gone from clubbing woman and dragging them in a cave to Pentium processors and three-piece suits...thousands of years in the future, the world will be dramatically different socially.

I'm banking on it going for the better...not worse.


ps. Evolution is about as methodical as it gets...it works on many levels...sometimes things are sacrificed for the greater good (us standing on two feet isn't good for our back, but it's great for control and manipulation), so that a species can be more effective and efficient.

I love Mother Nature.

Biologically humans haven't evolved measurably since the "clubbing women" stage.

Thus the "Ape" will still be in the equation for a very long time yet.

It makes sense but it is grossly mistaken.

Evolution doesn't care which "direction" it goes, it can't care. You are as evolved as the platypus which in turn is as evolved as a rhinovirus. A platypus is excellently formed to do platypussy things. Nothing evolves to be "stronger" or "weaker"; these concepts are human categorizations with only accidental correlation to reality.

So lay off the platypuses, please (or you might just get a poisoned foot spike in the shin).

But it does go up blind alleys - seen many 100ft reptiles lately?

Not true. Evolution does not get 'weaker' (for lack of better words)--it assimilates all data, and creates a species which is better suited to its environments and long-term needs. This, in a sense, can only be labeled as 'getting stronger', and not the other way around.

If a species has found a perfect simpatico relationship with its environment, evolution will slow to a near-halt (shark, cockroaches, etc)...but a species that is constantly changing environments, diet, and interaction (humans), will continue to evolve at a speed directly related to priority and needs.

I understand that nature doesn't 'care' which direction it takes...but that direction certainly isn't for the worse (unless of course the environment that species has evolved in dramatically changes). Evolution is to evolve...and that is connotative to strength...not weakness.

This is related to my post above. Blind alleys are not evolutions fault--they are simply an unknown agent or situation that dramatically changes the environment...evolution can not stop these events, but they certainly do cope with them.

I mean, take sentience into account--at what point did evolution see fit to give us these amazing sentient brains (spirits, souls)?

That alone was a massive leap in evolution. Will every species in time reach sentience? Regardless, what's to say the human species will not have another dramatic-leap in mind and spirit?

You guys have it all wrong. There is no evolution: The Flying Spaghetti Monster created all

Arrr, Mateys!

"Sentience" is more of a metaphysical condition than a biological one.

Human intelligence did all its measurable evolving during the "clubbing women" stage as you refer to it.

Yes, but we are constantly evolving...every biological entity is. I mean...the average height of a human male in the 1600s was 5'6...now it's closer to 6 foot. That's evolution right there. I'd say that's pretty measurable and pretty drastic for the time-frame, wouldn't you?

And with physical evolution, naturally comes mental evolution as well--the two are inherently linked.

Sentience may be considered metaphysical, but it is nonetheless measurable as well. We are completely unique to any other species because of this fact...it is the most profound evolutionary step we have mentally taken since our genesis...and the questions now remain: will it happen to another species, and also, will we take another giant leap in mentality and spirituality?

Wow, you need to do some reading before you pontificate on a subject where you "know" so many things that aren't so. The human genome hasn't changed in "height" in 400 years, the interaction of the genome with its environment (better nutrition, lesser parasite load) explains any difference in modal height.

Mental evolution linked with physical evolution? This statement is so ill founded as to preclude a response. The same goes for measurable sentience.

And yes, I have ARed myself for being off-topic.

Reading? I should go back to school? What's reading? You mean 'books?" I love how you had to throw the word 'pontificate' into your patronizing aggression. Classy.

You act as if what I say is ignorant and uniformed...let me explain.

Firstly, we are constantly evolving both in mentality and in physical form--this can not be denied, and was the point I was trying to make. I didn't mean that physical and mental evolution are linked in any other sense of the word...although if you have read into the subject...the power of the mind most definitely does have the ability to change your physical body. Call it what you will, but the power of thought can manipulate more than just your thoughts...without sounding patronizing, I ask that you watch the film "What the Bleep Do We Know."

Also, the human genome has most certainly evolved. Diet doesn't make our body's change not evolution. I said previously that 'environment' and 'need' is what influences evolution--diet falls into the 'environment' category. If we change our diet--our bodies will modify to best utilize what's given to us. It's all still evolution.

Our diets do influence our body's stature--but this can not be disconnected from evolution. If a person is born into a family who's nutritional needs are met perfectly, they won't see an immediate change in height...only through several generations will a change take place--this is evolution in the works.

BTW--topics naturally trail off into sub-categories. It's the natural evolution of a conversation (wink wink).

Malachi gave the basics as to why, though from what I have read I think his 400 years number is off by a several thousand.

You seem to be confusing Physical Evolution with the changes due to nutrition and medical improvements.

Human intelligence can be influenced by nutrition as well.

Mainly though you seem to be confusing Mental Evolution with the influence of culture.




This sounds more like Star Trek Science.

Biologically I am not so sure there is a objective standard for "sentience" as humans adapted to become smarter .. they simply adapted to become smarter.

The metaphysical didn't somehow appear somewhere in the fossil record, in fact there is no scientific evidence you have a soul or a spirit, thus no proof that sentience exists as a separate thing from simple adapted intelligence.



----------------

To borrow on the Star Trek theme were you to clone a human using DNA from 10000 BC, and raise them in the modern environment, that person would not be measurably different than the range of humans today in terms of height or intelligence.

In other words you are not referring to the specific biologic concept of evolution,

But instead referring to progression of humanity including science and culture.

I can not argue with someone that wants me to find the soul for them...it's a red flag, and it only shows that someone is unwilling to discuss intelligently the theories embodied in metaphysics.

Some people think the mere word 'metaphysics' implies fantasy...it does not...it is the science of many things--a lot of which are measurable.

Mental and physical evolution takes into consideration all things--things seen and unseen. I do not confuse the two...but they are indeed linked.

Wow, this thread has veered so off course I feel like I'm in the Mutara Nebula

I'm referring to evolution for what it is--a constant change and adaptation to our surroundings. This includes ALL things tactile and intangible.

If evolution was not involved in dietary height changes, then we could eat healthy for a week and grow an inch. Or a not so dramatic example would be...just because my mother and father fed me well...my offspring will be 2 inches taller. It takes many generations to make a change like this...and 'evolution' encompasses it all.

Yes, it's veered a little--but the growth of government and evolution really aren't that alien to each other...wouldn't you agree?

lol.... i never eat my veggies and i'm the second tallest in my family (Tallest is my brother, 6'7" for him.. not saying my height lol)

Anyway.. this has got to be the most educational and intellectual discussion I've seen on these forums to date (Prolly not 'ever' though)

Mike's just honing his skills for a political career under the one world government.

Doesn't "governance by the residents" actually mean "Linden Labs wants no responsibility for anything at all?"

A government needs a means of enforcement to effectively govern. Linden Labs holds all of the means of enforcement. Thus residents cannot come together and figure out a way to govern, without the backing of Linden Labs.

In fact, many of the most effective means that residents may have to resolve disputes with their neighbors are banned by the TOS. Just from what I have read on the forums, it seems that if a landowner would torbit a griefer on her land, it is most probably that Linden Labs will punish the landowner and not the griefer.

Second Life isn't even an anarchy. There is a government- Linden Labs. It is a government that may not involve itself in the petty affairs of its subjects, but it will arbitrarily impose its will.

This is, by the way, why Second Life is not going to evolve to a serious business platform. Free trade still needs some sort of enforcement mechanism for the transactions that people may want to make. A contract that cannot be enforced is worthless.

Perhaps, but not in the context of this thread. *and it's not often that I complain of a thread being derailed*

wow

Nutrition doesn't work like that.

Take a set of identical twins.

Raise one with a typical poor Southern European Diet of 1400 AD,

Raise the other with a Modern European diet.

The child raised with the modern diet will be several inches taller.

There are dozens of works on the subject how nutrition influences human growth.

Well it definitly wont be a Geniocracy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geniocracy