I was talking to a close friend over the weekend, and we pretty much concluded that life is like an elaborate video game (like the matrix). Everything can be broken down into its fundamental parts and learned like a skill. Even the very things that make us who we are like our personality can be trained (meditation).
I am wondering what people think about using cheat codes in this game we call life. Just like little kids use cheat codes to beat levels in video games, people use cheat codes: we drink coffee to heighten our senses, get drunk so we can talk to girls at the bar, etc. These are seemingly harmless examples, but as a species we are getting very very good at finding nature’s cheat codes.
If you think about what an anti-depressant is, its manipulating someones neuro-chemical profile to alter someones personality. Humanities ability to hack into all kinds of things is only improving exponentially. Genetic engineering is promising to be the technology that dominates this next decade, and we are now at the point where we can consciously engineer our own biology.
Personally I struggle with which cheat codes I am ok using. I like taking drugs that enhance my social life, but I realize these can be a crutch. I think back on when i was a kid, and how people felt about those who needed the cheat codes to beat the game.
Love to hear some thoughts.
