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I don’t know why I keep coming back to poetry as a gauge of peak desirable skill. After I wrote and drew this, I realized I said something similar way back in Spacetrawler II. Reflections of my values in a way I guess. Shrug. 🙂
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Having released Val and Audri (in the bodies of Picknar and Thoos respectively) from their bonds, Loom looked at an approxiscan and said, “wait, my approxiscan indicates that I’m not hearing a translation, that they are actually speaking Tith.” Loomp begins to think outlouf in a monologue getting more and more excited, “plus, they seem to have no agility issues, going from two soft feet to four hooves. Does that mean that muscle memory, and the language parts of the brain remain static? So, if I were to transfer myself into the greatest poet alive, would I just have their language, or also their skill to write the best poems ever? This could be the biggest scientific breakthrough of all time! It could change everything!” Loomp pauses to consider this, and then concluded with, “meh. I suppose with the legal issues of ownership and royalties, I shouldn’t bother.”
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Finally one of the characters notice what we’ve been commenting on for a while.
This is exactly what I thought, that the “drivers” for the body stay in place.
For those who feel poetry can also exemplify a lack of talent or intelligence, let us not forget N’Vil Brigeedo … mentioned here and here.
Something tells me the Tithians would not be above allowing the wealthy to buy the bodies/language of the less wealthy.
Heredity would be a little strange, though.
But eh, found family, eh? Or … purchased family more like. Yech.
.
“Mad scientist?”
“Mad scientist.”
“Escape?”
“Escape.”
“Hey, where are you two going? You can’t leave!”
“You abducted and shackled us! You have no right to keep us here! We’ll find a way out of here if it’s the last thing we do!”
“Well, yes, but first I have to pay you…”
“…What?”
“I’ve deposited your payments on your approxiscans. Well, your hosts’ approxiscans. Don’t worry, your contracts and medical records account for ‘disorientation’ and identity confusion. You’re Picknar and you’re Thoos. Your approxiscans will tell you everything you’ll need to know about ‘yourselves’. Any questions?”
“…Why?”
“Well, I’m not a monster, even if I look like one to you. And I don’t want to attract the attention of Earth’s GOB representatives, if you know what I mean. And you’ll find the money is good. REALLY good. If you know what I mean. I’m sure you’re not idiots.”
“Yeah, I think we do.”
“See you next Gramble’s Day at 10 for a followup? Adjustment is part of the study.”
“Uh… sure…”
“…”
“…Nice scientist?”
“Nice scientist.”
.
After they leave…
“Idiots! Why can’t I be surrounded by idiots?!”
Maybe you’re a Fillipod at heart.
Nah, Fillipods don’t seem to care whether the poetry is good or not, just as long as there is plenty of it
They definitely do care if it’s good. They’ve been shown to be embarrassed of their earlier, inferior, work being seen. There’s just a big difference (especially in length) between what their ideal poem is and what the ideal human poem is.
Nice saves.
Poetry’s a funny thing. I’m embarrassed that I actually like some of it, dunno why.
There are American court judgments dealing with the responsibility of alternate personalities in one individual who committed a crime that the other personality(ies) don’t recall. They’re all over the map on this issue, because the very presence of multiple personality disorder is not itself proof of the removal of responsibility from the physical person. The question of authorship of a literary work from another, perhaps artificially transferred personality would put most judges into a tailspin, and very likely enrich attorneys for the plaintiff no end.
Me, I just recall an essay by John Updike on what would happen if he sat down at the typewriter and…. He…. the personality that actually wrote…. decided not to show up. That would show everybody.
I appreciate the mad scientist has a basic understanding of copyright law — and that such a thing exists in their world, too.