How many are "One of Us"?

So What’s your Cyborg Level???

  • 1 Type 1A (max)
  • 2 Type 1B (max)
  • 3 Type 2B (max)
  • 4 Type 2A (max)
  • 5 Type 2B (max)
  • 6 Type 3A(max)
  • 7 Type 3B (max)
  • 8 Type 4A (max)
  • 9 Type 4B (max)
  • 10 Type 5A (C’mon get real)
  • 11 Type 5B (Seriously?)

0 voters

I’d argue that while it doesn’t fit the current dictionary definition of Cyborg, thats more a reflection on dictionary writers not thinking there’d be people like us.

To me it fits the spirit of the definition for me to be a human with electronic components embedded within my body to give additional abilities or enhance existing ones. Pacemakers, artificial limbs, and yes, even a little bit of glass inside my body that can electronically identify me and unlock a door are all fair game in my book.

And to add to that, the term has wide adoption in this community referring to RFID implants - I’d refer you to this article on changing the dictionary definition of ‘literally’ by Merriam-Webster, they seem to know a thing or two about words.

There is, however, a strong impulse among lexicographers to catalog the language as it is used, and there is a considerable body of evidence indicating that literally has been used in this fashion for a very long time.

I think one of the leading companies in the space using it to describe a kit, it’s wide adoption, and even use in journalism probably would pass that same test.

In my book, I consider myself a cyborg. If you disagree, that’s also fine. There are a lot in the world that don’t understand what we do, thats also fine. At the end of the day, if consenting adults aren’t infringing on the rights of anyone else, do whatever the hell you like with your body and call yourself the President of France, I couldn’t care less :grin:

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Marketing and sales material is notoriously bullshit :slight_smile: Just like Red Bull didn’t give me wings, implanting a DT product definitely didn’t turn me into the dude on the photograph.

No, it’s worse: if you tell someone you’re a grinder, you have to explain what it is - or disassociate your use of the term with Grindr, if the person knows it, which is even more annoying. If say you’re a cyborg, the person looks at you funny or thinks you’re deluded, because you don’t look anything like the Terminator - and everybody has seen the Terminator.

Me, I avoid both pitfalls by not using either. I just use “implantee” (or I say “I have an implant in my hand”). I find it much more restrained, less loaded, and plainly descriptive all at the same time.

Let me guess: she answered “Go away you creep!”? :wink:

Interesting classification - and useful.

Everyone here seems to be arguing about technicalities, but I always figured the cyborg thing was just an inside joke. Like obviously I’m not RoboCop, but it’s funny to say an RFID chip makes me basically RoboCop.

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an RFID chip that activated a hidden gun holster in/on your leg could get ya damn close! Just sayin’

All the layman sees is you taking an RFID card and transforming it into your existing hand. Now you have robot parts. Everyday people are constantly amazed, bedazzled and otherwise stupified by things that are mundane for us. If that’s not “extending our abilities” I don’t know what is (but I’m keen to find out :wink:)

Many of us have more than just RFID transponders. There are people with augments to feel colors, detect earthquakes around the globe, smuggle sensitive information in their bodies, inherently detect North. I can feel and hear magnetic fields. We’re working on extending our capabilities even further. While the term “cyborg” may seem ill-fitting at the moment, it’s not in jest, it’s a rallying call. We should create the conditions where we fit that descriptor.

If you want to stop here, by all means, but some of us are going there.

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Super jealous. The xG3 would fit in my finger, I feel I would prefer a real sensing magnet though. Still looking for that diamond coated one.

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I don’t think you’re giving devices like pacemakers enough credit on that scale. As an implantee, I’m probably one of maybe a few on here that has a $50K device implanted which contains a battery, an antenna, electrodes, and a speaker. It definitely interacts by influencing my body. It uses sensors to read my body and uses RF to send statistics over the cell network. During appointments with testing, it uses RF to take commands from a computer in real time that will then control functions of my body. It notifies me audibly from within the body when it enters different modes. I don’t think any Type 3B or 4B could do all of that. I think we minimize it because it’s socially acceptable. If we asked if a person was a cyborg with functions like that before they were common I think the answer would be a resounding yes.

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You can hear the device’s speaker from inside you? I didn’t know that was even possible. That’s interesting.

Is it audible by other people?

And yes, you’re definitely a cyborg :slight_smile:

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Yes. Others can hear it. It goes off during programming mode and when the battery is low it will siren daily until I change it. I don’t mean this to be an offensive rant but I think we underestimate the power of commonplace medical devices.

Here’s a video (not mine) of the speaker going off https://youtu.be/816gwIy67DA

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Nothing offensive. Yes, medical devices are very advanced these days. Even “simple” passive knee prostheses like the one I have would be nothing short of magic for people a century ago. It’s just too bad that that level of technology is denied to people who want to augment themselves, as opposed to fix or cure a medical problem. The tech available to ordinary hobby grinders is ultra-primitive compared to modern medical devices.

The beeping is cool, but make sure you’re all charged up if you want to sneak on someone :slight_smile:

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No offense, but that is one implant I do not want.

Obviously if I needed one I would get one. I am not against pacemakers, just wanna be… unnamed

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Not gonna lie, the way @Locutus described it kinda made me want a pacemaker.

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It was put very eloquent.

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Fair enough.

Two things I oughta cover regarding that. (all in good spirits :grinning:)

First, anytime you try to break such a broad range of possibilities into a handful of categories there’s gonna be exceptions, grey areas, and overlap. The pacemaker example was just an example, and Holy Hell Batman, I didn’t know they’d gotten that advanced.

Second, the scale was organized around the concept of Upgrades to the natural human condition. (even that statement is full of grey areas and contradictions). As a device that is fundamentally designed to restore normal function, and not really intended to obtain new functions (IE, nobody gets a pacemaker just for the speaker function) it tends to land lower on the scale than it’s rather impressive functionality would suggest.

Plus, it’s just a thing me and a security guard dreamed up one boring afternoon.

Plus, Plus, Always strike up conversations with retired Marines. They have the damndest outlook on things. :sunglasses:

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I understand. I think my enthusiasm came out more aggressive than it was meant.

I actually do get a bit more than just restorative nature as mine isn’t just a pacemaker but a defibrillator. It’s sensors are always waiting in case I flatline so I can get a jump start immediately. Sort of like taking an AED around with you.

As far as getting one, I wouldn’t recommend it. The recovery wasn’t the best months I’ve ever had. image

Also sorry @ODaily, didn’t mean to take this off on a tangent so much

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Don’t be sorry, I’m really enjoying the conversation.

Even if it occasiona… SQUIRREL!!!

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5B Brain implant and signal decoder have done the impossible and reversed paralysis

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so… at least 100

lemme down some MSG and caffeine rq so i can get a pacemaker and be a real 2b cyborg

its a big decision tho
Shakespeare was ahead of his time. “2b or not 2b”

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