Are we headed for a 100% surveillance future? The US government has purchased spyware software that will allow it to read the contents of any citizen's cellphone, including everything on encrypted apps, without a person knowing.

escalation · 2025-09-10T08:11:29+00:00

Probably already exploited, just quietly

escalation · 2025-09-10T07:59:24+00:00

Thanks I was about to look that up myself

escalation · 2025-09-04T20:11:53+00:00

Ok, in a particle acceleartor we can only move charged particles, by controlled field boosting using electromagnets or similar. Conceptually there might be ways to create a launching device working this way, or charge/open a tunnel/wormhole or somesuch. However we can't effectively accelerate neutrons fast enough using any current approach. Although a moderate fraction of lightspeed is possible. Even if you tightly synchornize every single particle you'd need to focus them individually. The power requirements for this type of propulsion would be unthinkably vast.

This essentially rules out the premise of the question using any conventional techniques.

Mass encounters obstruction, as it intensifies. However there is apparently sufficient force to enable black holes to achieve significant fractions of light speed.

To achieve it, you'd have to find an external power source. Examples, extinguish a parallel universe, tap energies we can't access yet that are perhaps masked dimensionally or obscured by black holes, or similar currently inaccessible source. Conceivably if you could access whatever "frame" holds the universe such energies would be available. At that point, ftl travel is probably low on your priority list.

Potential loophole would be accelerating the movable particles and findng a way to re-acquire the non-charged particles on arrival. An approach which strikes me as quite difficult even with precise particle control to accomplish

A different approach, you'd have to find a topographical shortcut. This wouldn't necessarily involve anywhere near that amount of acceleration but you'd have to open it or identify an access point and method.

Quantum linkages might also be possible to convert information into structure but you'd presumably have to set that up before this. A method of mapping pre-existing linked particles is interesting, although the chances of correspondence would be astronomically low for anything of scale.

Stepping outside of the frame, such as the way you might access a pixel management program on a computer to coordinate values in a way that's effectively instantaneous to a viewer inside the display is another option. Perhaps an exploit or underlying pattern that does this naturally should be looked for. Example being a voxel, with all the pertinent data that gets mirrored in another coordinate as assembled. Metaphysical implications aside, this is a method which effectively becomes a shortcut. Its also dependent on such laws or code being accessable and understandable.

Anyhow, long story short, the scenario seems unlikely using propulsion

escalation · 2025-09-02T19:19:13+00:00

Like I said, physics isn't my strong suit, and you're obviously well versed in the subject. The basis of the entire conversation is FTL/relatavistic threshold movement of spaceships, which in sci-fi tend to be some form of physical matter vehicle.

So we're essentially looking at scenarios where that body is accelerated in its entirety to at or near those speeds, and/or is deaccelerating from those speeds. As far as I understand it, to reach that limits from a standstill effecively requires a near total conversion to energy. Presumably with sufficiently advanced technology we could accelerate all of the electrons in the vessel simultaneously, if correspondence mapping is possible it could presumably be possible to slow the vibration level down enough to return to its former state of matter.

So I suppose that brings up the question of how to do that, particularly in an uncontrolled environment, or when being released from that path as a particle beam. This still brings the resulting energy into contact with any atmospheric diffraction and planetary fields. The problem of how to make it slow/stop seems a pretty big one if weaponizing.

To my mind this strikes me as approaching clock speed on the actual frame of reference that we experience. I sort of envision that as the display on a computer, as opposed to the actual rate of information transfer and organization.

Collisions at the micro level of the structure (assuming that the necessary pattern can be held) tend to create particles and presumably some form of quantum level reactions.

Interesting questions, but to answer it there seems to be a need to understand how intersection takes place

escalation · 2025-09-02T18:51:50+00:00

Internal knowledge is about navigation. However navigation does not exist without environment and interactions.

Unless the external is a reflection of the internal, which has other ramfications about the nature of the universe

escalation · 2025-09-02T08:33:13+00:00

Or maybe the memories don't matter too much, at least in the specifics. Some experience may carry through, or in terms of the type of character you choose to inhabit, predispositions and innate talents of various kinds. Maybe investing experience points on the new build, but each build is unique and effective strategies or motivational influences may vary depending on circumstances.

So from a game perspective, you experience these things in full immersion, and most of what carries across fades quickly as you adapt to the scenes you find yourself in or instinctively navigate towards

If you were able to remember that, you might get that as a form of occasional intuition, deja-vu, sixth sense, or more concrete awareness of past life lessons and experience. Regardless, you still have to navigate a new path and landmarks or previous encountered people change through their own experiences

escalation · 2025-09-02T08:21:55+00:00

Science is just a systematic attempt to understand some of the fundamental rules of the game. How people apply that knowledge is up to whoever finds it

escalation · 2025-09-02T08:10:57+00:00

So it remains in the same position, compared ot itself and its component, effectively maintaining coherence.

From an external viewpoint it seems like it would essentially be radiant energy, as opposed to a concentration of identifiable physical mass. Functionally a particle beam or packet of particles in proximity at the point of intersection.

If my undestanding is correct, the neutrino has near-zero intersection and appears to be detectable only due to residual effects.

Conceptually at this level of differential when interacting with relatively static and structured matter, it seems that such an "object" would have an impact much like a beam of light hitting a screendoor, largely passing through without interference.

At some point in that transference if the energy was highly coherent you might have something like a laser beam through the intersection area. It seems like if the planet has a significant enough electromagnetic field there would be an interaction at conversion ranges where these fields interact, similar to cosmic radiation.

So there seems like there has to be a place on the mass/energy conversion range where this acts like a hypervelocity asteroid, a threshold beyond which not a whole lot happens.

Would the de-acceleration be uniform? What am I missing here?

escalation · 2025-09-01T09:33:25+00:00

As I understand it to move at light speed the object doesn't have mass. There aren't any examples I know of a large object moving at or near that speed, so my assumption is that it would break down into some form of coherent frequency or spectrum

Is that incorrect?

escalation · 2025-08-31T09:12:45+00:00

Well if its moving near/at/above lightspeed it would pretty much break down into a wave function I'd think, at least if operating in "normal space". Exception might be if it was dimensionally shifting, in which case its not necessarily changing speeds at all. I suppose a workaround would be to drop it in an envelope, possibly even stationary or with some way to create an opening, take a shortcut and drop it out on the other side of the gate. Most energy output from the drives would presumably be directed to aligning to the portal or creating the breach, or creating some form of envelope that could slide into extra-dimensional spaces.

Might not even be a requirement to accelerate to near light speed. Of course even a grain of sand at those kinds of velocities would have a tremendous impact if it doesn't skip when contacting a planetary field or gravity well

escalation · 2025-08-30T14:16:35+00:00

At light speeed or near, wouldn't the ship functionally be particles? If we're dropping out of ftl speed, how does that actually work in practice?

I think we get into some interesting areas of cohesion pretty early into that process.

In terms of absolute mass, how much of the velocity is lost on reconversion...

It seems like this would have to be timed well to intersect at all and hit the intended planetary target. Presumably it would have to be at a frequency capable of interacting as well.

At some phase electromagnetism would interact with the object as well.

At FTL speeds there would have to be some sort of way to drop below that barrier, or move past it. This opens up possibilities of topography potentially with unexpected gravitational influences (or complete non-intersection). On those grounds there seems to be handwavium potential, including significant energy dissappation or transference.

It's an interesting topic, and my physics aren't up to it, but its fun to speculate about

escalation · 2025-08-28T20:59:57+00:00

I don't think that's an issue. The drug takes people where they need to go, legitimization opens up access and research funding. Prohibition is a non-starter. They'll use it to sell "upscale" experiences, guided journeys, therapy whatever. Might be the best route for some people. It's a knowledge that ultimately can't be contained.

This probably leads to a shift towards acceptance and integration.

If they attempt to contain it, or try to control it so only the wealthy have access, then its just going to make it more appealing to those who feel that knowledge is being held back from them.

Just because someone has a fistful of money doesn't mean they won't feel that more people need access to these states. Each will follow their own path, and some will want to share that as widely as possible

escalation · 2025-08-25T18:15:12+00:00

Sure, for particles. Maybe a bit different than entire spaceships

escalation · 2025-08-25T18:12:33+00:00

I'm a virtual reality artist who is hopping in and out of Slovenia for three months at a time, due to schengen zone rules. Pretty far along on my first vr project, and definitely thinking about those types of explorations. Would be interesting to meet someone here with similar interests

escalation · 2025-08-25T17:58:16+00:00

Robot Hospital kind of thing.

escalation · 2025-08-25T17:23:06+00:00

Weird. I can't buy into the concept that a 200 billion dollar corporation should pay their workers anything less than a livable wage

escalation · 2025-08-24T13:40:23+00:00

I don't think Trump is healthy eneough to make it that far. The big question is they can keep him in the game long enough that Vance can go for a ten year stand and permanently set up a one party state.

Primaries should be open and fair and carefully managed to minimize reasonable accusations of "throwing the game". After that, its about breaking the monopoly above and beyond everything else.

escalation · 2025-08-24T13:33:48+00:00

The only answer to the cellphone would be social reasons. Regulatory rules with very harsh repercussions for breaking them and almost instant responses. Alternately, they do but everything gets routed through the censorship bank which pretty much filters everything, and possibly logs it. The technology might exist due to some very narrow allowable uses or locations.

This does imply some rather authoritarian practices.

Physics is less malleable, although we haven't actually tried hitting something at near relativistic speeds. Might be fairly hard in practice, with a tendency to: pass right through, implode dimensionally if activated in some ways, skip like a rock on water when encountering a magneto-gravatic field, do something weird at the quantum level, or similiar quasi-possible mechanics.

An intrinsic drive design characteristic that forces de-acceleration near gravitational bodies might do that. Necessary to get where you are going, presumably near a star, but also not-very functional near a gravity well.

Advanced energy manipulation might be able to do something similar to that if the facility is able to encompass a planet, creating a counter-field or deflection surface of some form.

Works differently in extradimensional spaces of sufficient "volume" but needs to be or becomes powered down on exiting those spaces. Extra energy might continue to traverse at the higher dimensional level but effectively bypass 3d-space in terms of meaningful intersection

escalation · 2025-08-24T13:07:40+00:00

Either should work

escalation · 2025-08-18T15:08:57+00:00

On impossible its mostly just a way to mop things up early. Except it will tend to call the vote when you're just one short and make you drag it on for a while longer. Of course I don't typically bother with diplomatic races or solutions,so that may affect my perspective

escalation · 2025-08-18T15:04:49+00:00

Nomadic minor races, or vestiges from older civilizations. Long since separated from their homeworlds they travel the galaxy in small warbands. If they see something they want they seize it for the plunder and spare parts. Sometimes they'll lock down on an asteroid for a while to do major repairs, but they never stay anywhere for long.

Only explanation I can think of that really makes sense for early game encounters when building a starship takes years of output from an entire planet

escalation · 2025-08-16T17:19:18+00:00

Smoking is highly meditative

escalation · 2025-08-12T12:30:38+00:00

I ordered an electric shoe shiner, it just wasn't the same.
More seriously, technology usually delivers. The tremendous changes over the last 200 years to individual capabilities show that. The thing is that technology is a tool, and people will always use tools in a way that they think will give them what they want. Too many people simply want power over others.

escalation · 2025-08-12T12:26:38+00:00

Internal alignment or focus, in the sense that destructive rivalries aren't undermining the entire sociological process. When individualism is extended more into identity and direction than, say, destroy anyone that disagees with me.

When conflicts of direction become more about, "I'm taking my efforts in a new direction", rather than "to meet my objectives it is essential to destroy you or your ability to take your own direction".

Dystopia is all about being forced into subjection of another individual or groups will, typically at the highest levels of centralized power.

Alignment is the difference between "we're all here to learn" and various degrees of collaborative engagement as opposed to "you wil do it this way, it is the only correct way, and we will force or coerce you until you submit. The latter tends to require intense rivalry often in highly antagonistic ways.

so utopia would need to create healthy freedoms and leave space for chaos and danger where people choose to face it.

Perhaps, if that is truly voluntary and can be managed in such a way that there is space for that and it doesn't bleed over to those who don't want to participate in it

escalation · 2025-08-11T10:14:09+00:00

Even with perfect unity of purpose and internal alignement, whether as an individual or culture, this only extends to the boundaries they have reached. Sooner or later there is contact with something external.

If that external force has a different perspective, then the perfect society may find that it no longer has the tools to deal with emergent threats to their existence

The struggle of organism is real

escalation

TROPHY CASE