Maybe reality is simulated.
And maybe the basis of this simulation is to allow the Designers to learn something about their own reality.
Or maybe the simulation was created for their entertainment, or for solving problems in their reality
Maybe resources would be limited. In order to reserve resources, maybe the Designers filled our world with NPCs, or non-playable characters. These hologram-like characters aren’t real, but rather an empty vessel - programmed to appear real and interact with real people.
NPCs are the basic level of intelligence in the simulation and operate at the lowest level of awareness. The NPCs are easy to spot.
They have no originality, no sense of self, and no illusion of free will. They are like robots following a script.
Here are the NPC criteria and their descriptions.
The NPC Criteria
A. Lacks the ability to see beyond one variable.
B. Values intentions more than the outcome.
C. Believes solutions must involve the problem.
D. Uses facts in place of reasons.
E. Embrace the “current thing” (h/t @ViridisLanterna).
F. Uses feelings to map their reality.
G. Personal experiences are all they are able to use to form opinions and solutions.
H. Possesses no sense of humor (h/t Scott Adams).
J. Binary thinker (can’t see nuance - only absolutes).
K. Attacks the person, not the point.
If you provide an NPC with a screenshot of the listed criteria and explain which one they are demonstrating, will they explode?
A. Lacks the ability to see beyond one variable.
The NPC sees the world through a 1-variable filter. You’ll notice that an NPC defaults to one variable in most situations. Consider the “gender pay gap”. This has been debunked by a lot of smart people. An NPC might see the “gender pay gap” as a gender inequality issue. They will claim that any gap in wages seen while comparing genders is a caused by gender discrimination. Gender is the 1-variable filter they use to view this issue. But talk to any behavioral psychologist and you’ll learn that there are certain personality traits and qualities people possess that make it more likely for them to have higher pay. It’s called science. But an NPC will be blind to these explanations and will only be able to see the issue through a 1-variable lens.
B. Values intentions more than the outcome.
NPCs are not designed to care about outcomes or unintended consequences, but instead to value intentions. This is because it is much easier to program a bot to identify intentions than outcomes, as outcomes can sometimes be random or multivariate. NPCs also do not have the capacity, experience or skill to think through the implications of a series of actions or a solution to a problem, and so cannot see the whole picture.
C. Believes solutions must involve the problem.
One of the best ways to identify an NPC is to observe how they handle a problem. One noticeable pattern in the NPC is that they will include the problem in every solution. Sometimes this is the most productive and efficient route. But many times it is the least productive, least efficient route. It often does not solve the problem, but wastes time, energy, and resources. Analogous thinking can be helpful here: suppose too many people are drowning in the ocean. The NPC would propose to drain the ocean instead of building boats or teaching people to swim. Go ahead, giggle. The NPC will can’t propose or support solutions that are not directly manipulating the problem. Many examples should be coming to mind for you here.
D. Uses facts in place of reasons.
Facts are not reasons. Facts are not logic. An NPC will use facts as a substitute for reasons and logic. Reasons are based on logic and facts are based on evidence. Facts are used in logic. But they are not logic.
You’ll never unsee this.
E. Embraces the “current thing” (h/t @viridislanterna)
NPCs could be used to move the public’s focus to certain topics or issues. They will embrace the current thing. If you notice someone embraces the “current thing”, like plant-based, green energy, BLM, etc., they might be an NPC.
F. Uses feelings to map their reality.
NPCs could be programmed with the ability to have feelings, or at least the illusion of feelings. The NPC forms strong opinions - often without reason - based on whatever triggers a strong emotional response. We all do this to some extent, but this is one of the few ways an NPC maps their world. This is why TikTok and short video clips are so powerful. They are able to trigger a strong emotional response in NPCs and, by extension, program their reality. This is a massive influence on our society.
G. Personal experiences are all that matter.
The lens we use to view reality is important because it helps us make sense of what we see, as well as help us predict what we can expect to see. Our experiences, genetics, personality, etc. are the factors that determine our reality lens. An NPC can’t see anything outside their own personal experiences. Therefore, they will place higher importance on their own interpretation, or group's interpretation, of events and experiences. They have no idea there are things they don’t or can’t know.
H. Possesses no sense of humor (h/t Scott Adams)
Humor can be seen as a type of entertainment that is based on making people laugh. Additionally, humor can also be used as a way to defuse tension or to make a situation seem less serious. It is a mechanism that helps humans interact.
What makes something funny can vary from person to person. However, in general, something is usually considered funny when it is unexpected or when it goes against expectations in some way. Things that are absurd or that make someone look foolish can also be seen as funny.
NPCs don’t have the ability to recognize or experience humor. This is why they struggle during human interactions and social events.
I. Binary thinker (can’t see nuance - only absolutes).
NPCs are not capable of seeing nuance. They are black and white thinkers. Consider masks and vaccines. The NPC will believe masks and vaccines work or don’t work. They don’t have the ability to see it any other way. They will hold to one of these absolutes and can’t consider any nuance. I don’t know if masks work, but I do know putting friction between someone with large viral load and someone with zero virus is good risk management.
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Not sure about this one, but attaching it nonetheless.
NPCs use the word should. So what? Well, we live in a world where all things are the product of thousands of variables. Everything is multivariate. Good solutions are those which address multiple variables, or take secondary effects into consideration. Should allows people to simplify the world and ignore variables. I find the word should is used as a mechanism to simplify the world, or reduce significance of variables. Likewise, should allows people to project the world they believe ought to exist. But the world that ought to exist is often beyond our capacity to create. The belief the world that ought to exist is attainable is a product of fantasy thinking. There is a great difference between what is and what ought to be. What ought to be can’t always be warped into what will be- unfortunately, a thing called human nature exists. NPCs can’t see this. Recently, an NBA player said “baby formula shouldn’t be harder to get than a gun”. Of course I agree, but this is an example of how holograms simplify the world. It is a way they conflate the world they believe ought to exist with the world that is.
@RiyanVirtanen
And can’t tell a story