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Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:25 pm
by universalchiro
A Computer Virus is parasitic.
A Computer Virus replicates itself to spread.
A Computer Virus needs a host for survival.

Should mankind consider a Computer Virus as a new life form?


I think computer viruses should count as life. Maybe it says something about human nature, that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. Talk about creating life in our own image.
Stephen Hawking
http://www.hawking.org.uk/life-in-the-universe.html

So no one supports the leading Astrophysicist in the world? 0-7 every one so far has gone against Stephen Hawking, interesting.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:37 pm
by WILLIAMS5232
not all scientists agree a regular virus to be living. i read that somewhere by clicking a link on this site.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:39 pm
by nietzsche
From Wikipedia:
Life is a characteristic distinguishing objects having signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not,[1][2] either because such functions have ceased (death), or because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate.


So your question should be "Considered Alive or not".

In any case, it's a very broad definition.

I'd say not because for some reason I feel that when we refer to life, we mean our carbon based form of life. The posibilities of different type of lives are endless, and very likely we're living around some other types of life that we just can't perceive.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:48 pm
by KoolBak
lol....as stirring as your religious rants! Let's see...a parasite is a "living organism" as is a host, thus, no. Thanks for asking!

ps...I like inductive logic: Robert is a teacher. All teachers are nice. Therefore, it can be assumed that Robert is nice.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:22 pm
by notyou2
KoolBak wrote:lol....as stirring as your religious rants! Let's see...a parasite is a "living organism" as is a host, thus, no. Thanks for asking!

ps...I like inductive logic: Robert is a teacher. All teachers are nice. Therefore, it can be assumed that Robert is nice.


It's what all the arguments are based on. If they threw out inductive reasoning, his arguments for the End Times would cease.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:34 pm
by Metsfanmax
universalchiro wrote:So no one supports the leading molecular biologist in the world? 0-7 every one so far has gone against Stephen Hawking, interesting.


If Stephen Hawking were actually a molecular biologist, that argument might be more credible.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:41 pm
by WILLIAMS5232
we can't even be sure if that's really Stephen talking or not. for all we know it could just be a computer virus trying to validate itself through Stephen's talking thingamajiggy.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:44 pm
by Army of GOD
Stephen Hawking: Considered Life or not

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:28 pm
by macbone
"Some people have questioned whether viruses should count as life"? Stephen Hawking needs to take a microbiology class.

http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/ye ... slive.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... live-2004/

"Nevertheless, most evolutionary biologists hold that because viruses are not alive, they are unworthy of serious consideration when trying to understand evolution."

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:15 am
by nietzsche
Metsfanmax wrote:
universalchiro wrote:So no one supports the leading molecular biologist in the world? 0-7 every one so far has gone against Stephen Hawking, interesting.


If Stephen Hawking were actually a molecular biologist, that argument might be more credible.


LMAO

How did I miss that?????

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:29 am
by 2dimes
Army of GOD wrote:Stephen Hawking: Considered Life or not

#missedop?

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 2:13 am
by Dukasaur
macbone wrote:"Some people have questioned whether viruses should count as life"? Stephen Hawking needs to take a microbiology class.

http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/ye ... slive.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... live-2004/

"Nevertheless, most evolutionary biologists hold that because viruses are not alive, they are unworthy of serious consideration when trying to understand evolution."

Not sure what part you are disagreeing with, but the very first line in the first link you give is:
"Viruses straddle the definition of life. They lie somewhere between supra molecular complexes and very simple biological entities. Viruses contain some of the structures and exhibit some of the activities that are common to organic life, but they are missing many of the others.

This seems entirely consistent with the statement, "Some people have questioned whether viruses should count as life"

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 6:21 am
by Metsfanmax
Dukasaur wrote:
macbone wrote:"Some people have questioned whether viruses should count as life"? Stephen Hawking needs to take a microbiology class.

http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/ye ... slive.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... live-2004/

"Nevertheless, most evolutionary biologists hold that because viruses are not alive, they are unworthy of serious consideration when trying to understand evolution."

Not sure what part you are disagreeing with, but the very first line in the first link you give is:
"Viruses straddle the definition of life. They lie somewhere between supra molecular complexes and very simple biological entities. Viruses contain some of the structures and exhibit some of the activities that are common to organic life, but they are missing many of the others.

This seems entirely consistent with the statement, "Some people have questioned whether viruses should count as life"


And that second quote is in contrast with the rest of the SciAm article, which argues that we need to understand viruses to understand evolution.

universalchiro: computer viruses don't appear in Genesis when God creates all living species. Are you allowed to think they are life?

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:27 am
by universalchiro
When man had one common language, man built a tower to be like God. God confused their language and something really interesting, let's confuse their language for since man has one voice there will be nothing they can't accomplish. Fast forward 4,200 years after the tower of Babel and man has one common voice again. Even in Strasburg France there is a building to mimic the Tower of Babel, posters commemorating production said, many tongues, one voice.
What man didn't accomplish 4,200 years ago is occurring today.

Why must life be thought of on our terms, why does it have to have Carbon base or breath or have blood? If we are more lax with our definition about what constitutes life, then indeed man has created a new life form and has become like God. So now the ball is in God's court, what say you God?

<queue the Jeopardy music>

How long Lord must we wait?
I hate waiting :)
But I like the notion of man acting like God by creating a new life form, maybe this is the last straw.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:31 am
by patches70
universalchiro wrote:How long Lord must we wait?
I hate waiting :)


Well, being as a day to God is a 1,000 years to us, you just might be waiting a while.......

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:52 am
by jonesthecurl
What didn't go like about the Tower of babel? Was it too tall, was it actually going to reach heaven? How high up is heaven?

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:57 am
by ManBungalow
I don't think it's important if it's considered life or not. 'Answering' that question wouldn't change anything about the viruses or the way we manage them. Not to say that we shouldn't learn about things that aren't considered important - after all, that's where a lot of great and influential discoveries come from - but I believe we're asking the wrong question about computer viruses here.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:59 pm
by universalchiro
jonesthecurl wrote:What didn't go like about the Tower of babel? Was it too tall, was it actually going to reach heaven? How high up is heaven?

I'm thinking Heaven is not far in distance, but far in dimension. For many scriptures say immediately in heaven upon death. So its not that the Tower actually came close to reaching heaven, its that man was trying to make a name for themselves, to be God like and glory in self achievement.

Patches, finish the quote: a 1,000 yrs is LIKE a day , as a day is LIKE 1,000 yrs. Meaning God is not bound by time as we are. Not that a day is 1,000 yrs.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:38 pm
by jonesthecurl
So it's wrong to have pride n your achievements?

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 2:00 pm
by universalchiro
Its a virtue to be pleased with the results of diligence and hard labor & thank God for the ability and favor to do so. Its a vice to glorify oneself for the results giving no thanks to God.

So if one uses pride as in self glory from achievements, then yes its wrong.
If one takes pride in themselves for self hygiene and cleanliness, then no its not wrong.
So its the context of "pride". Self glory is wrong. Self hygiene, cleanliness and respectful attire is right.

Its a condition of motive, heart, thoughts and desire.

(edited: wow many cell phone auto corrects and errors)

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:36 pm
by KoolBak
Whew! I'll sleep better tonite! Thanks quacko!

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:59 pm
by AndyDufresne
I voted no in this poll, but that may have been just to keep the poll similar to: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=205573

But also, a definition of life in general can be a bit confounding.


--Andy

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:06 pm
by Metsfanmax
I think it would have been better if the poll had been "Computer Virus: Considered Harmful."

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 7:01 pm
by notyou2
jonesthecurl wrote:What didn't go like about the Tower of babel? Was it too tall, was it actually going to reach heaven? How high up is heaven?


It was so tall it was tickling gods ribs. So god threw down the tower and reprimanded man for having the gall thinking he could tickle god.

Re: Computer Virus: Considered Life or not

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2014 10:09 pm
by warmonger1981
We are 3D beings living in a 3D universe. Or is our world just a projection of a reality in 2D? Crystalinks.com/holographicuniverse.html has a lot of info on it. I cant post direct links sorry.