I tend to be a strong advocate against technological advancements. You may have read my posts about this, I have long been fearful about AI and robots alike. On top of this, I have said more than once I think robots will take over the world. Part of this lies in my fascination with the terminator, but that’s a whole other discussion.
Even two months ago, if you had asked me if I’d clone myself, I would’ve told you no way in hell. However, this is my year of growth. I have worked on myself, beginning the reversal of many irrational fears and prejudices (specifically, that of the British). Putting in work is hard, but it’s the little changes that make it worthwhile.
One of these changes happened fifteen minutes ago. I was done brushing my teeth, so I bent down to rinse out my delicious arm and hammer toothpaste. Distracted by the riveting conversation I was having in my head, I miscalculated and hit my face hard against the edge of the sink.
It wasn’t that bad of a hit, certainly not enough to bruise, but it did make me think. What would it be like if I did bruise? I suppose this had been in the back of my mind for a day or so, as I just recently watched Bottoms. For those who haven’t seen it, during most of the movie, Rachel Sennett has two black eyes. (This is not a spoiler before you get heated).
I thought a bit about what it would be like to have black eyes when I watched the movie, but it took hitting myself in the face to move on to the next thought. As my geology professor taught me last year, the synapses in your brain need to attempt to make connections between things a couple of times before doing it successfully. (There’s a chance I’m remembering this wrong, but I’m about to call myself a scientist so I wanted to set the mood).
I wondered how my face would look, what people’s reactions would be. I looked in the mirror and wondered how I got this black eye as if it was actually on my face.
Ever since being a child, I’ve wondered how I would hold up in a fight. I’m not a particularly confrontational person, and I have neither the desire to be injured or injure someone else. Really, I just have a super inflated ego. I’ve always secretly believed I would be really good at fighting, but what else is new? I tend to assume I’d be a natural at most things.
I’ve recently opened up about this story, but when I was young whenever I would shower I would daydream about being an adult. In this daydream, I’m married. I decide to shower, thinking my husband is out somewhere. I shower regularly in this future, listening to music and singing along, but this time is different. This time, my husband comes home early. I get dressed and go out into the living room.
SHOCK!! Who is it, sitting in the couch, but my husband? “I never knew you were such a good singer,” he says. “Why didn’t you ever pursue this? You could have been famous.” Coy, I shake my head and laugh, telling him I had other priorities.
Words of affirmation is one of my least favorite love languages, so please don’t take the story that way. It all comes back to my ego. Even in elementary school, I secretly believed I was amazing at everything, and this daydream was about this belief being proved true. (I do recognize this is a pathetic daydream, and I no longer stand by it).
So, really, my desire to get into a fight is to prove this idea of “being a natural” to myself. But, I’ve wondered these things for many years, meaning I’ve had time to make a list of pros and cons. Unfortunately, I have decided I will not seek any opportunities to test these skills, as I would like to keep living in my delusion, and getting in a fight just seems like an overall unpleasant experience.
Forlorn, reminded of this dream of mine that cannot happen, a thought crossed my mind. A clone!
Before, when I discussed my fears around clones, I focused mainly on them gaining consciousness, in a sense, and deciding to take over my life or wreak overall havoc. Now, though, my views have changed. As I mentioned earlier, I am quite the scientist. As a scientist, I can’t help but think of all of the possibilities that would await me. I don’t want to clone anyone else, but it would be so exciting to clone myself and put it to the test. I could do endless experiments with no impact on my actual life.
Since I am in in charge of this story, this clone would be happy to help - this isn’t a tale of wrongful imprisonment or clone mistreatment.
Clones get tricky quickly though - I think the most feasible way to make them is from the start. If so, how can they really be identical to you if you are a mix of genetics and environment? It’s impossible to replicate the environment factor, so my clone would very likely have a completely different personality and maybe even physique.
Much to my dismay, both of these things would heavily impact the difference between our chances in a fight.
I can’t quickly find my old clone post and I really don’t feel like looking, so I’ll leave it at that. This is something I want to educate myself on, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with your opinions. Over and out!
“For any new technology there is always controversy and there’s always some fear associated with it. I think that’s just the price of being first sometimes” - Hugh Grant (British and talking about technology!! Wow, do I know how to tie it all up).
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