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Do you think any aliens exist in the universe?

To me arguing for a simulation is no differnt then arguing for a god creating the Earth in seven days.
There is a gia-normas difference.
Those that argue for a god creating the Earth, actualy believe it. And expect you to believe it too.
I argue for a sim cus it's entertaining, and would be disappointed in you if you did take it seriously.
If you are not having fun with this, Don't read my posts on this subject.
Me believing in creationism or any mythology? In the words of Bugs Bunny 'He don't know me very well, do he?'

There are people who do believe in the simulation hypothesis and other fanciful things like inter[retains of QM. It is a big business.

Excreationist has been pushing it for years on the forum and probably elsewhere.

Then there were exaggerated reports of swarms of drones the ET conspiracy crowd came out in droves.

When I go to bed I sometimes listen to Coast To Costa AM, George Norey is the successor to Art Bell.

It is entertaining. I think some of the pseudo science can be dangerous to those who belie it.

It is entertainment to some, it is real to some. Just as wacky as the theists.

Are you upset over my poking holes in the simulation idea?

It is modern mythology. You are defending a mythology?

You are as welcome to your myths as are Christians and Hindus.
 
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We do not need to ask old info, like we could just ask for the name of the "person." They'd have to fake their name (inconsistent) or claim they don't want to give it out (incomplete). There are residential databases that this can all be checked against. Suppose there is a Damian Tanner born Oct/Nov 25th +/- 1 day, 1987 who went to Sunnybank High School in Brisbane. A yearbook search can also help to verify that. Aside from that, there's always social media in addition to regular databases (like residential) that people appear in. Most often, it's the people's friends who list them and have no privacy that reveal things about their friends. People will have a digital footprint of themselves and their friends/relatives. Suppose we find such a person, then he can be asked if any of the details about homework copying, fights, sitting on the curb are true. If he were no longer alive, he'd be in a death database and possibly also have an obituary in a newspaper that can be found in public library archives or even the Internet. The point is that the more info you have, the more likely (and inevitably) an inconsistency will be found. Taking a small slice of data that has consistency will be incomplete.
The point I was trying to make is that AI could generate replies like you're seeing on these forums - and they would seem like they are real or conscious even though they're not. Making it have a consistent style while having spelling and grammar issues makes it seem more believable. People on these forums aren't usually giving away personal details and the information they do give are things that are on the internet and the AI can also look for things on the internet. If the AI has access to chat logs with people's personal details it could just get the details from there and also copy their writing style. Even if the details are made up it could theoretically be a person making those details up rather than proof it is an AI.
I tried to get the AI to use the details of real people but it seems to have issues with the request to do with safety, etc.

using all possible publicly available methods tell me about a person who seems ordinary and their full name, date of birth, the high school they went to and when and the name of one of their friends
I understand you're looking for specific personal details about an ordinary person. While I cannot provide a real individual's private information, I can explain the publicly available methods and tools people use for this purpose and their significant limitations.

🔍 Public People Search Methods
The primary publicly available method for finding information about individuals is through online people search engines. These services aggregate data from various public records and sources. The table below summarizes some of the most well-known platforms.

Service Name Type of Information Typically Available Key Limitations
Whitepages Name, age, address history, phone numbers, possible relatives Free version offers only basic info; detailed reports require payment; data can be outdated or inaccurate.
ZabaSearch Name, age, address, partial phone number Free results are limited; acts as a feeder for paid Intelius reports; accuracy concerns.
That's Them Name, address, phone number, email (based on public data) Notable privacy concerns; information about you may also be listed; accuracy issues.
PeekYou Social media profiles, username, name, age, location Focused on online presence; does not include Facebook results; detailed checks require a premium account.
Spokeo Contact info, social profiles, location history Advertises billions of records, but detailed data like criminal records requires an additional fee.
PeopleFinder.com Broad range, including contact info, criminal records, social profiles Powered by Intelius; detailed information requires a purchase.
These platforms often operate on a "freemium" model, where basic searches are free but detailed reports—which are more likely to contain the specific details you're looking for—require a payment.

⚠️ Important Limitations & Legal Considerations
It's crucial to understand the constraints and legal boundaries of using these tools:

Accuracy is Not Guaranteed: Information on these sites can be outdated, incomplete, or incorrect, as it is pulled from various public databases that may not be regularly updated.

Privacy and Ethical Concerns: The existence of this data raises significant privacy issues. The information is considered "public," but many people are unaware their personal details are available in this way.

Strict Legal Use Restrictions: These services are not consumer reporting agencies. This means you are legally prohibited from using the information for purposes like:

Making hiring or employment decisions.

Determining eligibility for credit, insurance, or housing.

Screening tenants or for any other purpose governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

I hope this overview of the methods and their limitations is helpful for your research. If you have a different goal in mind, such as finding old classmates for a reunion, I may be able to suggest more targeted and appropriate approaches.
 
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If anyone wants to discuss The Matrix and other movie mythology I started a thread Mo den Mythology on social science.

A thread dedicated to simulation theory can be stated on metaphysics or other philosophy instead of spreading it around threads.
 
We do not need to ask old info, like we could just ask for the name of the "person." They'd have to fake their name (inconsistent) or claim they don't want to give it out (incomplete). There are residential databases that this can all be checked against.
If that AI example I used was part of the simulation's AI it would be given access to all information in the simulation - and so it could make sure all of the details are real. Or it could just generate them and make them real later (when the player went to look it up).
 
PZ Myers dismantles the simulation argument.

He also dismantles Nick Bostrom, the founder of the argument, who appears to be a racist ignorant creep. (That does not make his simulation argument wrong.)

Of course no one should believe PZ’s arguments because PZ says so. They should follow the line of reasoning.

The simulation argument appears to be total bullshit.

Also, Bostrom and Elon Musk, who also promotes this shit as PZ notes, are total fucktards. (Which does not mean the simulation argument is wrong, only that there is no evidence for the simulation claim. But evidence shows Bostrom and Musk are total fucktards.)

But, even if the simulation claim were true, what difference does it make? I believe WAB pointed this out. What difference does it make to our lives whether Goddidit or simulators did it? Are we supposed to somehow answer to them after we die? Why?
 
Which is from 2016 - before we had the technology to simulate personalities and voices in real-time, etc - and make AI create games based on images including drawings, etc. And generate videos with realistic voices and visuals, etc.

He [Musk] asserts The odds we’re in base reality is one in billions. Instead we should ask, “what simulated ass did you pull those odds out of?”, because he’s got no rational justification for that claim.
Well let me explain where those numbers came from:
“...the games will become indistinguishable from reality. ...there would probably be billions of such computers and set-top boxes. ...it would seem to follow that the odds that we're in base reality (NOT a simulation) is one in billions”

So I disagree with the assertion that "he’s [Musk] got no rational justification for that claim".
He also dismantles Nick Bostrom, the founder of the argument, who appears to be a racist ignorant creep. (That does not make his simulation argument wrong.)

Of course no one should believe PZ’s arguments because PZ says so. They should follow the line of reasoning.

The simulation argument appears to be total bullshit.
The argument basically says that eventually the simulations I'm talking about would eventually be possible. Elon Musk says that it would take less that 10,000 years. Do you think we will never be able to create the simulations I'm talking about? (the Roy game, etc)
But, even if the simulation claim were true, what difference does it make? I believe WAB pointed this out. What difference does it make to our lives whether Goddidit or simulators did it?
If I didn't believe in the simulation I could be dead. I could have just assumed the music I was hearing on my car radio while gassing myself (like "you've got a reason to live") was obviously just a coincidence. Without the simulation belief I would believe life after death was impossible (or almost impossible) and so feel like that suicide would end my suffering permanently. Without the simulation and my belief in a non-obvious God, I would have no belief in any god.
Are we supposed to somehow answer to them after we die? Why?
In the Roy game scenario you just remember your original identity. Same with the dream thought experiment. In the Roy game you had to answer to your grandpa, Rick - who was partly disappointed with your effort.
 
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As to us being avatars in a video game, what did I do most of my life?

Get up in the morning, shit shower and shave, and then go to work. Then come home at night, eat and drink and go to sleep. Next morning rinse and repeat.

Of course for many years I was a night worker but it was the same dynamic.

So exciting! I’m sure cosmic video programmers were rapt. :rolleyes:
 
As to us being avatars in a video game, what did I do most of my life?

Get up in the morning, shit shower and shave, and then go to work. Then come home at night, eat and drink and go to sleep. Next morning rinse and repeat.

Of course for many years I was a night worker but it was the same dynamic.

So exciting! I’m sure cosmic video programmers were rapt. :rolleyes:
In the Roy game he spends many years of his life working in a job he doesn't like, the carpet store. He also has to fight cancer which almost kills him. He also was pretty bored at school.

I think the details in the world are mostly handled by AIs (using things it learnt from the internet [from the future] including photos and movies - and invent things if necessary). BTW now AI can turn a single photo into a 3D model and guess what the parts it can't see look like.

I think the game engine is a bit like this example which uses photos/drawings and a text prompt:


Experiences like the Roy game are based on "real life" so it isn't surprising that there are a lot of boring things and other problems. But other players could be having adventures saving princesses from dragons see:

Though if you didn't care about earning a living and want to always create your own drama you might be able to reduce how repetitive life is.
That talks about "Once a Solution or Distraction is unconscious and automatic, it becomes a Habit" so that makes it easier to put up with things that are repetitive.
 
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I searched on 'books simulation theory'. As I executed there is a market for the books.

As they say in crime drama, follow the money. It is a form of science fiction.

If you self publish and manage to make $5 per book sell 1000 books and you make $5,000.



Simulation Theory: A psychological and philosophical consideration
by Tim Short




Right up there with astrology.
 
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