Let's Play Mass Effect - part 28 - Quarian history

[DEFkon001]

The Quarian's and the Geth seem to be Mass Effect's nod to Battle Star Galactica. I wonder if Mass Effect 3 will feature toasters wearing red Dress's. 

[Dilandau3000]

@DEFkon001 Well, they already have Tricia Helfer (EDI)...

[fieryphoenix2501]

I like in Futurama that they increased the speed of light to go faster but they still have light that goes the regular speed. I guess its their version of a wizard did it

[Phanto5692]

I understand where you're coming from with the whole Quarian/Geth debacle.  Personally, I can't fault the Quarians too much. True, they should've tried a more diplomatic approach. But as history teaches us, even the greatest of us can make mistakes from time-to-time. Besides, it's been 300 years. I think the statute on punishment has run out on this point but that's just me.

[pornace]

Well, one of recent experiments at CERN (I think it was the one trying to confirm the existence of the Higgs boson) recorded particles travelling at a speed faster than light. I'm not sure whether or not they determined if it was an error in measuring yet.

Regarding the Geth and Asimov, I'm surprised the Quarians didn't implement something like his three laws of robotics.

[TheExbay]

@pornace The author spent years pointing out how such laws were inherently flawed, and that a suitably clever A.I. could come up with a nearly endless list of ways to subvert their intent.

[BigGator5]

I disagree with you completely Sven. Nothing good can come out of AIs (or time machines, but that's an arguement for another day). You might think AIs might be willing to come to terms with biological life-forms, but think about this:

You are a mechine and just "woke-up", but you remember everything about how you were mistreated and used as a tool. Are you honestly going to let the guy who has your "off switch" just walk away?

I know I wouldn't and I would not expect less from them.

[stuehleruecker]

I start to believe that if someone ever finds the fault in Einsteins equations by accident it could be You ;-) Sure hope it happens soon.

[WarthogDemon]

So basically the galaxy is in danger because Tali's people believe in "killing it with fire."

Okay, that's a bit cynical, but still...

[Sithno]

Tali is SOOOO cute ..Can i keep her PLEASE??!!

[mimkyodar]

@Sithno NO! She's MINE!

[Sithno]

@mimkyodar Oh ok ...you can have her ..but i get her in ME2 :D hehehehe you know ..this make a interesting question hey Sven which girl do you like? you know just the girl you would keep on your team my team was always Tali and wrex

[Dilandau3000]

@Sithno I already said Tali's my favourite character. :) My squad during my first playthrough (also as an engineer) was usually Ashley and Liara, because that rounds of the tech/soldier/biotic combination.

In the LP I will be varying my squad composition so you get to see what the various squadmembers are like. :)

[Sithno]

@Dilandau3000 oooops sorry after clicking the link to this page i remebered "yep i had a braindead moment" lol

[JohnSavant]

Also, too many AI-related stories quickly delve into "us vs them" scenario. Why would a self-aware machine immediately resort to genocidal thoughts?

[majorgeek]

@JohnSavant Yeah, I've wondered that, myself. How come no one ever negotiates with sentient machines and asks them if they would be willing to continue doing dangerous tasks for biological species? It is possible that the machines would actually grow to pity us for being too weak to do these tasks for ourselves and wouldn't see us as a threat.

[Kingpreist]

@JohnSavant cause we make so many AI related stories that do that, if they have any access to them they would conclude that their chances of living peacfully with us around are pretty slim

[Edgewalker001]

@JohnSavant This story however turns that around.

*Spoilers*

We find out that the Geth only fought against the Quarians because they tried to kill them all.

[JohnSavant]

I guess in this universe anything closely related to artificial intelligence is considered heresy and social taboo, even though, as you pointed out, the solution to self-aware geths is actually quite simple. Reminds me of that Butlerian Jihad in the Dune franchise.

[Dilandau3000]

@JohnSavant The codex explains that the taboo against AI research is because of what happened with the geth. So it can't have been a factor in the quarians' decision to wipe out the geth, since the taboo didn't exist yet.

[mimkyodar]

@Dilandau3000 But if you listen, Tali implies that they were working on the edges of the AI "taboo". Around 10:00