Interview With The Ambassador
Transcript of MOSH Radio 102.9 interview with Ambassador Bell.
NEW YORK
Ron Jones: It is our privilege to have with us today the honorable Justin Bell. Dr. Bell is the augmented community's official ambassador to natural humans. Ambassador Bell, it is a pleasure to have you with us today.
Ambassador Bell: It is an honor to be here.
Ron Jones: Augmented beings have been a reality for fifteen years. During that time demographics have shifted dramatically. During the first year the number of augmented beings was less than 100. Today they represent over half the human population.
Ambassador Bell: Yes.
Ron Jones: Will there continue to be a place for good old-fashioned humans in this world?
Ambassador Bell: Of course. Except for a few isolated incidents years ago, people have never been forced into augmentation. People should have the choice of living in whatever form they choose.
Ron Jones: But humans are no longer masters of the planet. In every field of endeavor natural humans trail the augmented.
Ambassador Bell: It is true that augmented beings are the cutting edge.
Ron Jones: But it's not just the cutting edge. Now even the most mundane activities seem to be done exclusively by augmented people.
Ambassador Bell: We try our best to never prevent natural people from obtaining employment.
Ron Jones: But if your people do it better, there is little reason for anyone else to do the job. Little reason to hire anyone else.
Ambassador Bell: This is a difficult social problem. It benefits no one for there to be jealousies and strife between our peoples. Legislation sponsored by both peoples has reserved certain occupations and certain geographic areas to natural humans.
Ron Jones: These occupations and geographic areas could be called backwaters – to be charitable.
Ambassador Bell: And if you were being uncharitable you would call this "intellectual apartite." But there are important differences between past systems of segregation and what has now developed. This system was developed at the request of those who now feel victimized by it. Also, please keep in mind that no effort is being made to keep natural humans out of mainstream society.
Ron Jones: You mean by becoming augmented.
Ambassador Bell: Yes.
Ron Jones: Some people would rather die than give up their natural human status.
Ambassador Bell: I am sympathetic to those who feel that way, but I find it an unfortunate attitude. Those of us who have lived both natural and augmented lives would attest that the augmented life is far richer. Nothing is lost, but so much is gained.
Ron Jones: And yet there are some of you that go back and forth between augmented and natural existence, even you.
Ambassador Bell: Especially me. In fact, fewer than 1% of the augmented population has ever returned to natural status, even for a short time. I find that my calling as "Ambassador to Natural Humans" is benefited greatly by time I spend in a simulated "natural" state.
Ron Jones: But what of reports we get of augmented people taking virtual vacations as natural humans or even as animals?
Ambassador Bell: We do that all the time by multitasking. We can do many things at once: explore the intricacies of physics, compose a document, paint a portrait, surf the web, watch a movie, all while enjoying an imaginary day as a natural human on the beach somewhere.
Ron Jones: In fact you are multitasking now, aren't you Ambassador?
Ambassador Bell: Yes I am.
Ron Jones: How much did you have to clock-down to talk to us today?
Ambassador Bell: Friends should meet on an even ground.
Ron Jones: Ever the diplomat. Let's change gears for just a minute. Natural humans look back over the last fifteen years as the most significant time in human history. Significant, but often sad. Looking back, how do augmented people view the past?
Ambassador Bell: These 15 years have seen the most important changes in recorded history. I think most of us will agree that some of these changes have caused problems and pain. I have lost contact with a brother who has chosen to remain a natural human. I love him and hope that some day we'll be friends again.
Would you like my impression of the days leading up to the singularity?
Ron Jones: Certainly.
To be continued…
Posted by Stephen Gordon at March 17, 2004 04:10 PM
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