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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: "Glenn F. Gorsuch" <ggorsuch@****.CSUCHICO.EDU>
Subject: Smart Pets
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1993 00:00:43 -0800
Clever idea, and well within technological limits. Heck, you could even
give them skillchips/wires to augment their capabilities.

Hmm, wait a second, there was a story, a good long time ago in an early
issue of _Yarf!_. One second whilst I run off to my room.
OK, I'm back. You all miss me? Issue 1 of _YARF! The Journal of Applied
Anthropomorphics_ has a story called "Melanie" about this guy (seems to be
a very rich scientist type) and a couple of 'Smartcats'. These Smartcats are
genengineered lions, created with full human intelligence, clumsy (but
functional) hands, and a human-speech-capable larynx. Oh yes, and a small,
diamond shaped patch of white hair on their foreheads, for identification
purposes. Good story, makes me wish Peter Glaskowsky would write more.
Actually, he may have, I dunno.
Point is, why go just halfway? I don't think that it'd be too much harder
to breed in full intelligence than partial. Of course, then we get a legal
issue that makes metahuman rights look like a case for "The People's Court" and
Judge Wapner.
Oh, and no, I'm not crazy enough to allow it as a PC option. Life is
hellish enough for a poor overworked GM. Just imagining a Bengal Tiger decked
out as a Street Sam...brrr. Muscle aug, wired 'flexes, sensory boosts, and
*natural* hand razors and teeth to boot. Ug! NIMBY!
--
This insightful commentary was brought to you by Glenn F. Gorsuch. Treasure it.
Address? Oh yeah. It's: ggorsuch@****.csuchico.edu Like I'd lie :)
I stand behind everything I just said. Way behind, if possible. Miles, even.
You have come to The End. Please flip this post over and press play to continue.
Message no. 2
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Pets
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1993 11:25:40 -0600
On Sun, 7 Nov 1993, Glenn F. Gorsuch wrote:

> Clever idea, and well within technological limits. Heck, you could even
> give them skillchips/wires to augment their capabilities.

[some deleted]

> Oh, and no, I'm not crazy enough to allow it as a PC option. Life is
> hellish enough for a poor overworked GM. Just imagining a Bengal Tiger decked
> out as a Street Sam...brrr. Muscle aug, wired 'flexes, sensory boosts, and
> *natural* hand razors and teeth to boot. Ug! NIMBY!

Uh, sorry. Page 220 says that cyberware in a critter is a 'bad thing' {tm}.

I was just talking about aminals (mispelling intended) being more
humanlike and found a workable justification :)

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)
Message no. 3
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Pets
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1993 15:12:16 -0600
On Sun, 7 Nov 1993, Glenn F. Gorsuch wrote:

> > Uh, sorry. Page 220 says that cyberware in a critter is a 'bad thing' {tm}.
> >
> True, true...but those are just poor, unintelligent aminals (spelling like-
> wise correct). Something smart, like a human can probably cope with cyberwear.

The reason why animals go bonkers with cyber is because they cyber serves
to unbalance their natural instincts. Even with 'Smart Pets', you would
still have animals with a high level of instinctual intelligence and I'd
think cyber would be just as bad.

____ Robert A. Hayden <=> hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu
\ /__ -=-=-=-=- <=> -=-=-=-=-
\/ / Finger for Geek Code Info <=> Veteran of the Bermuda Triangle
\/ Finger for PGP 2.3a Public Key <=> Expeditionary Force -- 1993-1951
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(GEEK CODE 1.0.1) GAT d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Smart Pets, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!