| From: | Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Cyber-psychosis |
| Date: | Thu, 15 Jun 1995 10:35:43 -0400 |
writes:
Marc> Up to this point I agree with you. Prosthetics etc. can
Marc> have a profound positive influence on people's lives. But
Marc> prosthetics aren't usually hardwired to your brain.
So what? If you have the knowledge to play a completely realistic
simulation of reality directly into the cortex (simsense), can graft
fully or superiorly functional cybernetic optics into the optic nerves,
if you can do all these things then you must know enough about the
neurochemical balances and workings of the brain and central nervous
system to be able treat any of the ailments that might arise from
man-made imbalances in the brain and CNS. If you don't have that
knowledge, then you cannot make the cybernetic graft work in the first
place; one requires the other.
Therefore, if grafting cybernetics into the nervous system causes
imbalances, and those imbalances are not treated then either a) the
cyberwear is deliberately flawed or b) the recipients aren't keeping up
on their treatment. With proper treatment, should it be necessary,
cyberpsychsis, assuming that it does exist in this form, can be easilly
cured (or at least treated). Since cure or treatment is a trivial
matter, "cyberpsychosis" becomes an element of character role-playing,
not a game mechanic.
[...]
Marc> To me, this is where cyberpsychosis comes into play, namely where
Marc> the brain is affected. I run it such that "cyberpsychosis" is the
Marc> result of neuro-chemical imbalances caused by the minute charges
Marc> and artificial magnetic fields caused by the implantation of
Marc> neural ware.
I can see the pop psychology in this one. Guess what? Weak magnetic
fields don't hurt you; the Earth's natural magnetic field is stronger
than any field generated by microelectronics today, and the fields
generated by nanotechnological implants are going to be even less. But
you don't see the average Joe on the street going on a psychotic rampage
for no readilly apparent reason. Even the RF energy generated by today's
hardware is something your body will happilly ignore (EM from your CRT
is another matter, though).
"Yet again I defenestrate fallacious support of 'cyberpsychosis'."
[...]
Marc> Keep in mind, however, that I'm not your typical proponent of
Marc> cyberpsychosis. To me, it's much more of a roleplaying thing. I
Marc> cringe everytime a newbie says "Cyberpsychosis?! You mean I get
Marc> to roll to see what derangement I have? Cool." Cyberpsychosis
Marc> should *never* come off a table. It should be something that is
Marc> intrinsic to the character and it should fit in with that
Marc> character's background, experiences, etc.
Then why base it off of some stat? Assuming that there is a reason for
someone to become psychotic (of which there are plenty in any cyberpunk
setting) then why does the ammount of cyberwear grafted to their body
have anything to do with it?
Marc> And finally, most people view cyberpsychosis as turning you into a
Marc> raving maniacal killing machine bent on the destruction of all
Marc> life. Not so. By far the most common symptom of cyberpsychosis in
Marc> my game is chronic depression,
Very good; someone who knows his psychoses :).
Marc> which, by the way, it hinted at in the description of Essence in
Marc> the basic book.
Well, that's mostly because they're ready to give up the ghost,
literally. The astral body/soul/whatever wants out because the physical
body is almost incapable of supporting it anymore (and vice-versa).
Depression is a reasonable state for someone on the verge of death when
their body and subconscious, and maybe conscious mind know it. This,
depression, however, is NOT a psychtic reaction, it's a psychosomatic
reaction; the causes are completely different even though they have
identical symptoms.
--
Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> | Caution: Happy Fun Ball may suddenly
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