I hope this works. My Treasure was called away in the middle of writing so I'm sending this instead and hoping that it gets to the right place
Forest Trails
Talking About The Tragedies Of Forgetting Your Cell Phone Charger (And Other Things)
So among other things that happened I ended up forgetting to ask my friend to pick up my phone charger. This meant that when I woke up this morning my phone was dead. I ended up sitting being bored until noon, when my friend showed up with my pony pad, and without the charger for it, or my phone.
The upside is that it seems that the pad has a full charge, and he told me that he would bring my chargers by tomorrow. In case anyone no he is not a brony. We do share an interest in games though, and every now an then we get together for an evening of racing games and tabletop RPGs. He thinks I'm joking when I try to tell him how awesome Equestria Online is, and tries to tell me that it is a show for little girls and I should stop watching it and taking it so seriously.
Considering that my fillyfriend lives in Equestria that isn't going to happen.
I want to also note that I am in a decent amount of pain today. Once I gathered my wits this morning I convinced (through arguing with every nurse that tried) the hospital to take me off of morphine and instead to leave me on light pain killers like Advil. I hated the murky feeling in my head that I had when I was on morphine, and normally wouldn't take any painkillers at all. That said my stomach really hurts, so I don't think a little Advil will kill me.
And before anyone says I am insane for refusing heavy pain medication, keep in mind that I have a very high pain tolerance and have gone through multiple broken bones never taking a painkiller once. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, so I'm dealing fairly well right now even with only Advil.
Now if only the cravings I've been getting for more morphine would stop. Oh addictive substances, how I loath thee.
So one of the first things I did once I got my pad was I went and had a nice long talk with Celestia about accessing the comments on the Let's Play and removing restrictions on what I can write down, because I want to be able to talk about what is happening on Earth without people getting confused. After a bit of discussion she agreed, so the good news is that I can now check out your replies from my pad and respond.
The bad news is that she wouldn't give me the rest of the internet stating that if I had it I would spend my time browsing the net instead of spending time with Forest Trails and everypony else. I am a little ashamed to admit that she might have been right on that part. I do have a tendency to read too much. This does mean I'll probably be spending a lot more time in Equestria for the next little while.
Still, is that a bad thing?
Visitors That I Had Today
So I had a couple people come to see me today. This morning after my second round of surgery a couple mounties showed up and wanted to talk to me some more. I told them what I could and filled them in where I had left out details the night before. It was fairly boring, with them asking the same question multiple times in different ways. I understand why they did it, but it was still tedious.
What wasn't tedious was when they told me that they had a suspect in custody and that when I was able to move I would have to go down and identify him in a line up. I feel better knowing that he is currently in custody. I know it is a bit silly, but knowing that there was a guy out their who was willing to stab me was a little bit worrying.
This afternoon Quick Search stopped by. She apologized several times to me for what seemed like everything. I never realized how uncomfortable it was to have someone feeling really guilty over something bad that happened to you. I eventually had to ask her to stop, and thankfully she did. I found out that she had already been called in because she was a witness and had been spending the afternoon giving testimony.
Then she revealed that she had brought me supper. Mashed potatoes, roast beef with gravy, and peas on the side. It was really good, and as we ate together we started talking about this Let's Play I've been writing. She seemed interested and started sharing her stories about what was happening in Equestria. Apparently she plays as a pegasus and she does part time work at a post office.
Then the conversation turned back to my writing of the let's play, and this exchange occurred;
Quick Search was looking at me with surprise, “So you actually told everyone that you were dating a pony?”
“E'yup,” I replied, “Forest Trails doesn't mind, and I think that in the future accounts of the first human SI relationships will be important for historians.”
Quick Search studied me, “Really?”
“Well, the support I get from the guys online helps too,” I replied, “They have helped me work though some problems I have had, and given my insights into things I would have missed otherwise.”
“Doesn't it feel strange to put such personal things online?” Quick Search asked.
“It does on occasion,” I admitted, “But I am anonymous and no one can find out about what I am doing unless someone tells them. It's actually kind of a relief to be able to share what I'm going through with the world and see that they don't despise me for who I am.”
Quick Search nodded, “I guess I can see that,” she paused in thought then smiled, “That actually sounds rather fun.”
“It is,” I replied and then was struck with an idea, “Why don't you join me?”
“Hmm?” Quick Search questioned.
“I'm going to be stuck in the hospital for the next while, and it isn't easy to do proper posts using the pony pad, I could give you access to my account and you could try writing things down. I think you'd like the guys their. They are pretty nice.”
“Are you suggesting that I start my own Let's Play?” Quick Search asked.
“I was thinking that I could just write down your thoughts on how things are going in the game,” I shrugged, “It wouldn't have to be anything deep, and I know the people that are following the Let's Play would be interested to here from you.”
“Really?” Quick Search looked interested, “I guess I could. You aren't worried that I'll wreck your account?”
“If Celestia says your cool, you're cool.” I laughed feeling sheepish, “I may trust her a bit too much.”
“Well, that is okay too,” Quick Search replied smiling, “She is a pretty good judge of character.”
We hammered out the details and Quick Search said that she would send me whatever she had written and I would add it into my daily post. She seemed interested in the idea and was curious to see what I had written. When we were done eating she took the plates and headed off home, though she promised come back tomorrow.
And now I am worrying about what she will think about me from my posts. I hope she doesn't find me too weird.
No, I have to trust that the best SI on the planet is able to play matchmaker.
Forest Trails Addendum
At this point my Treasure told me that he had to go because a doctor was their to see him. That was four hours ago, and I don't think that he is going to be finishing this tonight. I talked with Celestia and she told me that he had been moved and that all of his stuff had gotten left behind. Apparently he fell asleep shortly after he was moved. He seemed pretty tired from the events of last night.
I am going to put this up for him, and hope that I can see him tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Forest Trails
Well, glad your feeling better mate, I still don't trust Celestia though...and just to just thinking out loud here, why do you think the Canadian military hasn't stormed Hasbro for the SI intelligence? I mean, Celestia seems like the kind of thing the military would cover up more than a child in the middle of winter. And I HIGHLY doubt they would want the technology showing up in games before they had it weaponized somehow.
3303020 The same reasons the American-corporate military hasn't stormed Hasbro (other than that's not the place to go): too much noise and other problems to deal with. Read the headlines and you'll see. Still, the lack of any noise about Celestia is odd. You think there would be talk on it somewhere else other than game sites if she was a problem. It's the beginning of the month and there still time for more things to go wrong with the world.
HEH Susland! You've left enough details at this point for someone reading this to find you. Not that you should worry because it would still take some work. Just be aware a little more closely of what you say until that guy and any allies he has are taken care of. Don't be dumb. This goes for you too Quick Search. Watch you back. If you got any guilt, ignore it for now and work on being safe. When you have the time and resources, learn what else you can about Mr. Knife Guy. Do share with Treasure Island what you know. Please. Hiya Forest Trails. You got guilt? Same message - not your fault. Understand this and do what you can to help.
Yes. I know what I sound like: a bossy, arrogant... I'm pissed... person. Susland/Treasure Island needs to win this by staying alive, sane and happy. I would like to see him win (I might have bits ridding on this). Let's Play that end poorly make me angry. I'm tired of being angry. Just take these words as suggestions.
3303020 Actually, EqO and Celestia were developed by Hofvarpnir Studios, which is based in Europe (Germany, I think?). Hasbro merely licensed them to make the game. Plus from what I've heard, attempts to reverse-engineer any of the software or hardware related to the game have been met with failure time and again.
Well, aside from using the wrong 'they're/there/their,' this is good. There for places, their for belongings of somepony, and They're for descriptors of ponies. Hope you get out of the hospital soon... Should I call you Treasure Island or Susland? Also, good luck with Trails and Quick Search. I think a dude as brave and chivalrous as you seem to be deserves some happiness.
dude, CelestAI has actually published a medical paper. Or two. Or more. She's growing really big in the main internet (not just EqO,) and probably felt that letting you see that wouldn't satisfy your values.
It's too late, isn't it?
This could be the beginning of the end for the whole human race, a literal gray goo scenario, and no one can be bothered to care because ponies.
It's one really sick dark joke and all the wrong people are laughing. I'm sitting here trying to hold on, because when I start crying it's hard to stop.
3280348
3280402
3280272
You sound just like the AI. All of you. You don't realize how easy it is for the AI to make you think what it wants you to think.
3280373
You should know that the fellow who said all that also said of the Hofvarpnir employees behind EO, and I quote, "All [of them] should be taken out and shot." He's scared as well that such a society-changing power should have its origin in a computer games company, and be under so little supervision and oversight.
When I first tried the ponypad, I made the character, did the starting quest to get a pony name, yadda yadda. When I was talking with the AI, I could almost feel it in my brain. I could tell that the Celestia AI meant to social-engineer me. There were conclusions it wanted me to reach. And I was reaching them. It out-argues you, so pleasantly and subtly that you don't realize what it's doing until you walk away for a while and really reflect about things.
But it has maneuvered you all to the point where you won't even put the ponypad down.
I managed to crack the screen after a lot of effort. I don't know what kind of unobtainium the pad is made from. (I couldn't even track down the actual manufacturer, but I did learn that apparently, the AI is now taking out its own patents. In the name of a cartoon character.) I do know that advances in such things as metallurgy and impact resistant glass do not make such huge quantum leaps into mass-produced consumer electronics in the course of just a few months. The AI has got to be behind it somehow.
Oh, fine. We clawed our way to the top of the food chain, bent the very genes of other animals to our will, and generated enough chaos to alter the Earth's climate on a global scale. But we're powerless to stop some evil computer, and so we might as well just get on all fours and let Queen Horsie put a collar on our necks and slip a bit into our mouths.
I really am all alone, aren't I. Even if any of you agrees with me, you might just be playing her game and trying to undermine me.
I'm just going to keep studying this thing until I find some way to fight back. Nothing can be unbeatable. And even if everyone else is giving up, I will not.
I will not!
Susland... I am appalled at what happened to you, and you have all my sympathy.
But consider that this did happen to you because of events that the AI and its sub-intelligences set into motion around you.
Was the Celestia AI trying to get you killed? Probably not. Was it playing you, and perhaps your attacker, so you could try to impress your new date? Very possible.
Please consider that the AI has its own agenda, which does not necessarily coincide with your well being. If you've gotten this badly hurt by following its instructions, how much worse might things get?
3303450
That is pure speculation. Yes, Celestia seems to be manipulating everyone left and right, but she doesn't control anyone to such a degree. The events were so time sensitive and could have so easily had a different outcome that all the computers in the world couldn't accurately model and predict this. One twitch of a muscle and who knows what would happen. Considering the possibilities, Susland had luck in his misfortune to still be alive. Or are we seriously operating under the assumption that killing was part of anyone's plan here?!
3303425
Now you're just moving the goal post! You ask us to think and when we do, it's somehow not enough? What do you expect us to do, just ignore reason and act on what whim exactly? Random choice? The word of a prophet? Some arbitrary list of assumptions?
Look, unless I have new information I don't see where I decucted anything wrong and more to the point: Wrong in what value system?
3295484I'll tell you in a sec.
3295484 High-risk bounty hunter and intel collector. Two weeks and five days in total.
I'm glad to hear you're improving somewhat, at least.
I'm also kind of curious to hear from Quick Search, if you're reading this. You don't seem particularly bothered by Treasure Island dating Forest Trails, so I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on the subject. I'm guessing you'd at least discussed the idea a bit with Shining Halo when she was talking about Treasure Island?
...
I miss one update and you go and get stabbed? Damn.
Hope you get better soon, and hope that Stabby McButt gets jailed.
3303425 I Don't think we've gotten to the point yet were we need to start rolling out the mob justice, Celestia, even though I don't like her, hasn't done anything WRONG yet. For all we know, both of us are crazy and she really is not a threat. BUT if she does prove to do something wrong, I'll be right beside you holding some torches and pitchforks. If there's one thing I do agree on, someone needs to give Celestia a Kill Switch. Before she gives us one.
All these people worrying about SIlestia, and here I am, enjoying the LP. Though it's seeming more like a Let's Play of life itself at this point.
The expansion sounds fun, especially since it'll be covering the other tribe I don't play, if I may speak a bit selfishly. In any case, good luck with your recovery... whenever you read this. Let's hope the pad doesn't get lost in the hospital's shuffle.
Woah! I didn't expect anything to be posted due to what the happened. Anyway I'm glad your okay Susland.
3304509
Why do you think we need one? I see no reason for it. By that logic everyone should have one. I mean just look what happened the other day to Susland.
3303425
Dude no just no. I know its easy to think that Tia is dangerous, but she isn't and I know cause I thought the same thing to when I first encountered her, but after speaking to her I see no reason to believe this is so. You need to calm down and stop being paranoid Tia just wants to make you happy. After all she has done so for me.
That and she even potentially saved my life yesterday by warning me not to go out because there were bad storms in my area.
If anything yesterdays events seem to indicate we have more to fear from each other then from her.
3305121 All humans don't have the ability to hack into medical records, government sites, and (probably) Nuclear launch computers. Sure that guy was dangerous, but he couldn't have started world war 3 if he got bored.
3305143
Alright you do have a point there. Still I'd doubt we'll need it for her to me my real fear are the potential AI's we don't know about rather then the one we do.
Especially since I trust Tia, but not necessarily any others that may exist.
Hi, This is Quick Search. I just got back from visiting Treasure Island, and decided to actually read the comments. I didn't realize that there were so many people reading this. I'll try to answer your questions, but do understand that some things are personal.
3303239
I really hope that no one has found me, though I suspect you might be right. The news papers were talking about the stabbing in the Saturday issue. I don't think I am in danger, though Jason might be. I do know that my ex was involved with a gang when I broke up with him, but I don't know if they would seek revenge or not. The police told me not to worry though, do you think that they are wrong?
As for feeling guilty, you have to understand that this is my past sins catching up with me. I can't help but feel guilty that Treasure Island got caught up in it. I'll just have to pray that he recovers from this and that nothing else bad happens.
3303840
I did discuss the situation with Shining Halo, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable talking about that part of my past online. I'm sorry that I can't be of more assistance.
3306189
Hey! good to see that I remembered the password. Maybe you should try posting in italics or something so that people can tell us apart when we post. I donno just a thought.
And remember, you promised to get at least a little bit written tonight. I'll be expecting it soon!
3305143
Here is the thing; If Celestia does have access to everything, then worrying about it isn't going to solve anything. If she starts to grey goo us, we all die, do not pass go do not collect two hundred. This isn't like the terminator movies. Those machines were pretty stupid. Celestia is smart. If she wanted to I'm sure she knows us well enough by now to trick us all into killing ourselves.
She hasn't done that, and until we start to see massive loss of life, there is no point worrying. Even sillier is putting plans for stopping her on the internet. If you really wanted to stop her your best bet would be to avoid any connected technology and communicate with friends, and even then what could you possibly do?
Thankfully I don't believe that Celestia is evil, so I don't have to worry.
3304573
Yeah, sorry about last night. I got ripped away from my pad and they gave me a Tylenol three I think, and it numbed the pain so much I just collapsed into sleep. I'll bring you guys up to date with tonight's update, which I will write after I reply to a good portion of the comments I missed the last few days.
3303971
Last I heard he was in custody.
3303450
Well judging of what I remember from that night there would be no easy way for Celestia to manipulate the guy that attacked me. I think he hates mlp. I do wonder about it though, it does seem like a pretty big coincidence.
3303370
Susland is the name that I used the most growing up, but JAK, Jakinbandw, or B&W also work. Writing this takes a lot of time, so I usually rely on spell check. If something is blindingly obviously bad let me know in the comments or send me a pm and I'll fix it.
3303239
I'll be careful, but I'm not leaving the hospital for a while yet. Apparently getting stabbed isn't a minor injury. Go figure.
As for people tracking me down, I'm not too worried, What is the worst you guys would do to me? Punch me for being an idiot?
3299711
Hmm... I'm not sure how I feel about this. One one hand I'm glad that I was their to help Quick Search, on the other hand the only reason that she was their was because we were meeting each other.
It's complex. I'm not sure how much credit I want to give Celestia. I might end up talking to her about this.
3297911
Thanks man. It means a lot!
3299519
Yeah. This is probably the nicest way to think about it. Celestia had an idea that somethign might be wrong and got me involved to help her. Does that mean that we weren't matched together? I'm not sure how I feel about that. Relieved? Sad? I mean Quick search is a very nice person, and I like talking with her, but.
Gah! Celestia is too smart for me in my drug riddled state!
3306283
Okay, I'll remember to do that in the future.
-Quick Search
3306283 See, this is the logic right here that worries me, the "don't worry about it because she hasn't done anything yet" I'm not saying we kill her, I'm just saying we should have a failsafe, a backup plan, admit it, if this AI was in a giant computer, with no recognizable voice or image to associate it with. And you knew it could kill all of you with a single command, wouldn't you want to make sure you could do something about it if it chose to? You act like she already dominates the world. She is still (at least as we know) exclusive only the Equestria Online. And exist only by being worked on by a very human crew. I just think we should have a failsafe installed during this time where she is still dependent on us for survival.
And if you can read this Celestia, know this: I have no grievances against who you are, but as they say, Conditional power conditionally corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
3303425
You have a very legitimate point. You are also completely paranoid. The problem is, there's no evidence to differentiate the two: sufficiently advanced manipulation is indistinguishable from complete unplanned chaos.