01 [Video] [backdated to before port!]

[notrueking]

Let's see, now...

[There is some clear fiddling going on here. Which is to be expected, really, given how many people currently on the barge are from pre-computer settings. It flickers from audio to video a few times before finally settling on the latter, revealing a man whose expression is less "panicked about suddenly coming back from the dead" and more "mildly annoyed at the situation."]

Though this has some features I'm unfamiliar with... I'm assuming this is some sort of radio, so if whoever's responsible for my presence here is receiving this... I'm having some difficulty in determining what, exactly, you planned to achieve by recreating my room like this. Were you truly expecting me to believe that all of that was just some sort of dream? If so, then you weren't particularly competent in doing so, since there are a number of objects that appear to be missing.

Explain yourself.

Comments

[systmadmin.livejournal.com]

Yes. [Then there's a pause from him, as that's a bit complicated to explain to some Users.]

Are you familiar with computers?

[notrueking.livejournal.com]

...no, I don't believe that I am.

[systmadmin.livejournal.com]

Hm. Then it is a bit harder to explain. I came from the Grid, from inside a computer system.

[notrueking.livejournal.com]

Doesn't mean much to me, I'm afraid-though, if I were to hazard a guess... that's some sort of machine, isn't it?

Sorry if this gets posted multiple times, LJ is not working right tonight

[systmadmin.livejournal.com]

An electronic machine, yes. A computer [--Creator, how exactly to explain this--] processes and handles data, performs complex operations, receives and displays input/output from peripheral devices. It is electronic--similarly to your communicator, but much more complex.

Users experience computers differently than programs do. [Then, with a slight edge:] Than I used to.

My world, the Grid, existed within the system's digital space. [It's an honest effort, though he's not sure how much of it will stick. It's hard to imagine, for him, that someone could have no experience with computers.]

[notrueking.livejournal.com]

I... see. I must admit, that's a bit difficult to grasp, given that they don't seem to have been invented in my world yet. Still, that's quite impressive-in a sense, then... in your universe, there is artificial, intelligent life? How fascinating!

[systmadmin.livejournal.com]

Yes, there is, although the discovery that we--that sentient programs--existed as we did within computers was incidental. Prior to that, there was no interface between programs and Users beyond the I/O towers, no knowledge of our existence.

[notrueking.livejournal.com]

So, it was completely unintentional? That's quite fascinating. Did it happen naturally, then?

[systmadmin.livejournal.com]

The discovery was unintentional, yes. Before it, Users, in their world [then a quick correction]--in this world, encountered programs only as lines of code.

Program sentience is a natural occurrence. However, each program is still specifically created by a User and assigned a clearly defined purpose, a set of parameters to operate under within the system. [This is a point he wants to make clear, although there was another type of self-aware program that emerged naturally from the system, without being created and without purpose. He'd considered them defects.]

[notrueking.livejournal.com]

Interesting... so, even though you're self aware, you're stuck performing the task that was initially set for you upon your creation?

[FUCK THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR]

[systmadmin.livejournal.com]

Correct. And having that purpose, that task to perform, is always preferred--the certainty behind a set, defined directive promotes stability and predictability within a system. [He definitely enjoys having a clearly defined directive, even if its execution was also a major source of aggravation.]

Those that have no purpose [like the ISOs] threaten that.