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Post by Alan on Dec 19, 2004 19:23:18 GMT -5
Question 2: Which monotheistic religion are the Cylons mimicking? Or is it one that they created independently of traditional concepts of monotheism? It doesn't closely mimic any terrestrial religion I can think of. We know from the episode "33" their god gives them "commandments"; this has an old-testament ring to it. However the specific commandment that Six mentions ("procreation is one of God's commandments") isn't one of the ten Judeo/Christian commandments. We know (from "Secrets and Lies") that "suicide is a mortal sin." The concept of mortal sin is pretty specific. Does any religion have that concept except the Catholics? Some of Leoben Conoy's comments in "Flesh and Bone" seem to mirror some of the oriental religions. The suggestion that every person is God, for example. Six's comment that "God is Love" is likewise a bit new-agey. I can't think of a single earthly religion that would match all these pieces together; it seems more likely that Moore has melded a lot of religious concepts together to create something new.
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Post by Alan on Nov 30, 2004 22:09:55 GMT -5
I may be making a serious mistake here, though. There's no real indication that these theologisms are held by Cylons in general. They've only been clearly articulated by Six-in-Baltar's-Head No, the monotheistic god has been mentioned by Six (the real one) near the start of the miniseries, when she tells Baltar that "God wants me to help you" (by sabotaging the colonial defense systems). Also, god is mentioned by Leoben Conoy during conversation with Adama at Ragnar Anchorage. Conoy suggests that god may have given the Cylons souls. Or he's going bOn KeRs!
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Post by Alan on Dec 12, 2004 17:43:51 GMT -5
<--- Alan is struck speechless by the juxtaposition of the pink waif with the halo and the teddy bear vs. the sparkly-head lucifer saying "NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW..."
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Post by Alan on Dec 6, 2004 18:38:23 GMT -5
Speaking of which, Douglas went kind off on some guy from some other board named Lang, what's that all about? Languatron is a TOS fan whose rants cross the boundaries of merely bizarre and irrational, forging boldly into the realms of the psychotic and dangerous. He's been banned from pretty much every major Galactica-related BBS system. If you see him coming, cross the street and avert your eyes. It's not polite to stare.
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Post by Alan on Dec 6, 2004 4:01:56 GMT -5
They are clearly sharing experiences somehow, even though each specific instantiation is reacting to its specific environment. I don't think that has to be any different from the difference in the way human beings are "different" based on their context, using compartmentalized personae developed for specific use (e.g., this is how I act in a business meeting, this is how I act when I'm intimidating, this is how I act when I am seducing, etc.). Each iteration or instantiation of the program might just be bringing different information to the collective, to be used on an ad hoc basis. But the Boomer back on Galactica clearly isn't getting full information from the others, since she doesn't even seem to know that she's a Cylon! It's got to be more complicated than that.
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Post by Alan on Dec 4, 2004 4:42:37 GMT -5
This whole personality-download thing is really confusing; I almost wonder if it isnt't a kind of Cylon-mythology; something that creator Cylons tell the 'younger' ones to make them not fear death....'cus that would be some seriously formidable technology levels they were operating on otherwise. Agreed! I wondered that exact same thing. Let's remember that the Cylons v. Colonials are (to some degree) metaphors for the current conflict between extremist Islam and the West. We have all heard that modern suicide bombers are promised eternal life in paradise (complete with willing virgins) if they die while killing their enemies. This is disturbingly similar to the pronouncements of Six and Conoy that they "cannot die" even if hit by a nuke. Or a metal flashlight. ;D Cylons believe they are immortal, so what do they have to lose by blowing themselves up the way Aaron Doral did in "Litmus"? From a technical viewpoint, the concept is utterly ridiculous. Six thinks she can survive a direct hit from a nuke by transferring her consciousness into another body?? That would be a pretty good trick, considering that the transmitter would have to transmit her whole personality through a massive wave of EM interference in the exact moment it was being blown to teensy tiny bits. ;D Also remember that bio-Cylons are completely undetectable... which presumably means they don't have a radio and battery packs stashed inside their craniums. Is this magic transmitter based on purely biological components and power systems, and also small enough to hide? Seems a bit ridiculous... The concept works better if it's propaganda or religion rather than literal truth.
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Post by Alan on Dec 4, 2004 3:59:17 GMT -5
one died in the opening sequence of the mini-series, and adama beat one to death with a mag-lite, and in the final scene, the human-like cylons are standing together at ragnar anchorage with the count at 9 if im not mistaken. the last cylon to be shown also reveals the identity of the "sleeper agent". that adds up to 12 to me. There are twelve bio-Cylon models, not twelve individuals. So far we have seen only four models: - Number Six
- Aaron Doral
- Leoben Conoy
- Sharon Valerii
The producers have thus allowed themselves some leeway to hire eight additional actors for Cylon roles, or to reveal existing cast members as sleeper Cylons, which may be very useful if the series runs for several years. You are correct. It is possible that Baltar's original Six survived and is still running around on Caprica. The one in his mind could be a chip in his brain, or it could be a delusion caused by insanity and overwhelming guilt. We don't know yet. Fun, isn't it? ;D That's a great question, and a very difficult one. We don't know yet, but here are my random thoughts in an utterly random order. ;D First, I don't think that the Cylons share a group mind. We've frequently seen Cylons talking to each other in order to share information, which suggests that they don't have any kind of direct link, telepathy, or shared consciousness. Second, we have seen disagreements among the Cylons (for example, between Six and Valerii on Caprica) which suggests they don't all have the identical background or viewpoint. Third, we know that both original-Six and Leoben Conoy said that their minds would be transferred into new bodies if they died. We still don't know if they really believed it, or (if so) whether it's actually true. Fourth: if it's true that Cylons are transferred into new bodies when they die, then is it a true "transfer" (with all memories intact) or is it more like reincarnation (transfer of soul/spirit, but without knowledge and memories)? Fifth: Cylons have died who were out of contact with their culture, such as Leoben Conoy back on Ragnar Anchorage and possibly the Doral-clone in "Litmus". Since those Cylons are out of communication range with their backup bodies, do they die a "real" (non-reincarnating) death? Sixth: if the transfer is real (vs. spiritual) then what is the mechanism by which it occurs? If the Cylons have a low-power undetectable biologically-based FTL communication system with sufficient bandwidth to transfer an entire consciousness in the moment of death, wouldn't that be godlike tech? Seems like the Colonials wouldn't stand a chance against technology at that level.
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Lang
Dec 10, 2004 18:23:51 GMT -5
Post by Alan on Dec 10, 2004 18:23:51 GMT -5
He annoys me though. His problem is that he refuses to debate the QUALITY of the show. He annoys me because he never admits error. If he's on the wrong side of an argument, he immediately starts attacking the other poster or tossing out distractions. Honest debate requires a willingness to listen and consider the other person's arguments. Spider's not there for an honest debate, he's there for a CRUSADE against the heathens. *Yawn*
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Post by Alan on Dec 4, 2004 18:41:26 GMT -5
i looked, i really did. but now im feeling lazy and since the fate of New York isnt hanging in the ballance, i think you should just tell me. my stepdad guessed the first 4. i would think anyone born before July 4, 1776, which would be the first 7. Yep, you got it! All the Presidents prior to Martin van Buren were born in the American colonies, NOT the United States of America. As for the four/seven thing, I must extend my apologies for the mistake. I must have typed that during one of my brain's coffee breaks, because you're absolutely right; there were seven, not four! "You've got to admit, John Quincy Adams was pretty forgettable..."
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Post by Alan on Dec 3, 2004 4:13:25 GMT -5
No problem, Xenu. We'll take it offline.
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Post by Alan on Dec 3, 2004 3:51:29 GMT -5
and Who is to say someone today may have other allegiances. Don't call something prejudice just because you don't like it. Feel free to question Arnold's political positions, or his morals, or his skills, or his acting ability ;D or anything else you like. I disagree with him about a few things myself! But if you tell me that people born in Austria shouldn't be President just because they were born in Austria, I shall call that by its proper name: prejudice. Any time you decide that somebody can't do something because of the circumstances of their birth (race, gender, social class, nationality, etc) it's prejudice. Some Austrians are loyal, others aren't... just like some Americans are loyal and others aren't! You have to judge people as individuals, not as groups. The Constitution should not bar naturalized citizens from running for elected office. IMHO, of course. ;D "Sarah Connor?"
"Yes?"
"Are you a registered voter?"
"Um, no..."*BLAM* *BLAM* *BLAM* *BLAM* *BLAM*
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Post by Alan on Dec 3, 2004 0:36:10 GMT -5
I believe Arnie's ineligible as he's Austrian - not American. Don't want to be a nitpicker, but Arnie is indeed an American. He's a US citizen, as much as any other American. The problem is that the Constitution requires not merely citizenship, but also native birth on US soil. IMHO this restriction is flat-out prejudice. Such a restriction made sense back in 1789, when they were worried about the chief executive's loyalty to a newly-created country, but the day for such a restriction is long passed. Arnie isn't the first state governor to be foreign-born, and he won't be the last. Wasn't Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan born in Canada? Under the Constitution, she can't run for President either. And of course, Henry Kissinger (a VERY capable American) was likewise inelligible. Silly! The American voters should be able to elect foreign-born citizens if they want to. For extra credit: which four US Presidents were not born within the United States of America?
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Post by Alan on Dec 9, 2004 1:50:11 GMT -5
Wow, gotta love that hat! ;D
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Post by Alan on Dec 8, 2004 14:50:17 GMT -5
Hatch claimed that Universal had turned the proposal down saying that fans of the new Galactica series may find it confusing if there was another Galactica series on at the same time as their remake. Giving yet more ammunition to those few hardcore TOS fans who want to see the new series fail so they can get their continuation.
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Post by Alan on Dec 17, 2004 20:43:22 GMT -5
Congratulations, Ragnar Anchorage! ;D ;D ;D ;D (So smile they all!)Yes indeedy! And by the way... "One of your smileys might be a sleeper CYLON!"
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