Extending Aurini’s point, I think it is worth asking to what extent we have already integrated catpeople into our culture today. I think many of us would agree that the women featured in pornographic films are catwomen of a kind. What about pop stars, boy bands, etc.? What about mainstream fiction? On Firefly, Kaylee is beautiful, has an above-female-average sex drive, and falls in love with the introverted, socially awkward intellectual character—isn’t she exactly the sort of catgirl most male sci-fi fans would want?
It seems like the problems you’ve identified here don’t suddenly begin at the moment you switch on a fully convincing interactive simulation of a human being—there is a continuum, and as our technology progresses, we will naturally tend to move down it. Where shall those of us who look ahead and wish for a eudaemonic future dig our trenches and hold our ground?
(posting from a different homepage today—it seemed appropriate, given the topic)
That’s an excellent point. I think that we can learn a lesson from the way current “catgirl-like” things are treated in the present when thinking about catgirls in the future.
Generally, it is considered sad when a person in the present does not have any romantic relationships with other humans and instead spends their time with pornography, romance novels, and other “catgirl-like” things. However, it is not considered sad when a person is in a healthy romantic relationship, but occasionally consumes a little porn on the side (this is the exact sort of relationship I am in). Some people do object to their romantic partners consuming porn, but this is generally motivated by some type of jealousy, not by a feeling that that person is failing to live up to their human potential.
So it would be sad if the human race fissioned, as Eliezer described in the future. But I don’t think it would be at all bad if people continued to have normal relationships, but occasionally fooled around with a catgirl on the side.
Extending Aurini’s point, I think it is worth asking to what extent we have already integrated catpeople into our culture today. I think many of us would agree that the women featured in pornographic films are catwomen of a kind. What about pop stars, boy bands, etc.? What about mainstream fiction? On Firefly, Kaylee is beautiful, has an above-female-average sex drive, and falls in love with the introverted, socially awkward intellectual character—isn’t she exactly the sort of catgirl most male sci-fi fans would want?
It seems like the problems you’ve identified here don’t suddenly begin at the moment you switch on a fully convincing interactive simulation of a human being—there is a continuum, and as our technology progresses, we will naturally tend to move down it. Where shall those of us who look ahead and wish for a eudaemonic future dig our trenches and hold our ground?
(posting from a different homepage today—it seemed appropriate, given the topic)
That’s an excellent point. I think that we can learn a lesson from the way current “catgirl-like” things are treated in the present when thinking about catgirls in the future.
Generally, it is considered sad when a person in the present does not have any romantic relationships with other humans and instead spends their time with pornography, romance novels, and other “catgirl-like” things. However, it is not considered sad when a person is in a healthy romantic relationship, but occasionally consumes a little porn on the side (this is the exact sort of relationship I am in). Some people do object to their romantic partners consuming porn, but this is generally motivated by some type of jealousy, not by a feeling that that person is failing to live up to their human potential.
So it would be sad if the human race fissioned, as Eliezer described in the future. But I don’t think it would be at all bad if people continued to have normal relationships, but occasionally fooled around with a catgirl on the side.
Especially when it comes to non-mutual fetishes. Why should you bring down your own satisfaction if you don’t have to?