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Ok,perhaps this may seem a bit bizzare,but..
While discussing various Sci-Fi television shows with a co-worker today,Star Trek.The next generation came up,and during the course of the discussion,the subject of the "holodeck"was explored.
After some humorous stories concerning what we would do if we had access to said holodeck,the subject of marrige,coupling,etc,in ST.TNG was brought up,and my buddy posed the question..."If you had a signifigent other,and indulged in fantasies on the holodeck,would that be considered being unfaithful to your signifigent other?"
I pondered this for some time today,and have yet to decide,my points of view swing between no,it would be the ST.TNG version of watching porn (although much more interactive) and since it involved no "real" partner,it wouldn't be cheating, to infidelity takes place in the mind..so yes ,in a way it's cheating.
Strange question,I know..but what do you here on Dakka think ( other than my buddies and I should stop wasting company time discussing our goofy fantasies.)

Some people don't like their SOs looking at porn.

To look at the question from the other side, I understand that the holodeck can produce highly realistic simulacra of historical and living persons.

Would it be considered rape to force oneself upon a simulacrum?

If it's one of the holograms that are exactly like humans then I suppose it would be.

Orkeosaurus wrote:If it's one of the holograms that are exactly like humans then I suppose it would be.

Then you could be unfaithful with it due to a consensual relationship.

OTOH if you regard the simulacrum as merely a piece of machinery (it's a bundle of computer code) -- well, you can't be unfaithful with or rape a washing machine.

So it depends on what you think about artificial intelligence.

Y'all are a bunch of nerds.

avantgarde wrote:Y'all are a bunch of nerds.

Guilty.

Of course, there was that episode where Data created programs for a Sherlock Holmes simulation that took over the Enterprise. And don't forget the Doctor on Voyager, who exceeded his programming.

If the program is a fairly simplistic one, just a slutty girl who is programmed to have sex with anyone who shows up, then it's just another form of self-gratification, but if it's a fully developed personality, it must be treated like a real person.

Wow, I am such a nerd.

It's cheating if you and your partner consider it cheating.

I'm sure Troi spends hours every week sitting couples down and talking through exactly what their boundaries are. So maybe one couple might agree that holoporn is okay, another will draw the limit at fantasy people and not people they know, and another couple will ban it entirely.

Meanwhile Troi sits their saying 'I'm feeling that you're angry'.

sebster wrote:
Meanwhile Troi sits their saying 'I'm feeling that you're angry'.

That character may have been one of the best ways to get around bad acting that I've ever seen.

sebster wrote:It's cheating if you and your partner consider it cheating.

I'm sure Troi spends hours every week sitting couples down and talking through exactly what their boundaries are. So maybe one couple might agree that holoporn is okay, another will draw the limit at fantasy people and not people they know, and another couple will ban it entirely.

Meanwhile Troi sits their saying 'I'm feeling that you're angry'.

The problem arises when you think it's cheating and your partner doesn't.

i don't think it is...if its not a real person your not really cheating That would be my defence..and if you don't like then fine leave i'll just go back to the holodeck

Roze wrote:i don't think it is...if its not a real person your not really cheating That would be my defence..and if you don't like then fine leave i'll just go back to the holodeck

That's why the issue of how AI is treated is so crucial.

Commander Data is treated as a real person.

Why wouldn't the simulacrum in the holodeck, which is computer generated in the same way as Commander Data, although not permanently embodied, also count as a person?

FITZZ wrote: Ok,perhaps this may seem a bit bizzare,but..
While discussing various Sci-Fi television shows with a co-worker today,Star Trek.The next generation came up,and during the course of the discussion,the subject of the "holodeck"was explored.
After some humorous stories concerning what we would do if we had access to said holodeck,the subject of marrige,coupling,etc,in ST.TNG was brought up,and my buddy posed the question..."If you had a signifigent other,and indulged in fantasies on the holodeck,would that be considered being unfaithful to your signifigent other?"
I pondered this for some time today,and have yet to decide,my points of view swing between no,it would be the ST.TNG version of watching porn (although much more interactive) and since it involved no "real" partner,it wouldn't be cheating, to infidelity takes place in the mind..so yes ,in a way it's cheating.
Strange question,I know..but what do you here on Dakka think ( other than my buddies and I should stop wasting company time discussing our goofy fantasies.)

That would never happen. They'd have to get the collective corn cobs out the keisters first to get their freak on. ST TNG was PC milk fed toast gone amok. I don't see why they fought the Borg. They WERE the Borg. You will be assimilated...

With a Holodeck, who the F needs a significant other? SERIOUSLY?

With a holodeck, you dont have to bother getting thru all the "get to know you" garbage.

No risk of rejection involved. "Wow, Troi's hot, but I'm fat. F-it, Computer, run Seymore 'Troi' program 38!"

No snuggling/foreplay needed.

No arguements, "Computer, cease program."

With Holodecks, the downfall of human civilisation will soon follow. Holodecks will be the ULTIMATE drug. Why deal with an uncaring world when you can program and LIVE in an atmosphere that is PERFECT for YOU? People will only work in order to support their Holodiction.

Barclay was a mild case. That whole ship would've been filled with junkies.

Knowing this...I cannot wait for the technology.

hmm....if i had the option of perpouse built "thing" like data or even a holodeck i'm pretty sure i would go for that. Avoid all the drama...find a donar when i wanted babies
I still think it isn't cheating though. I don't think getting with Data would be cheating either...funny yes, cheating no.

Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice, the Dominion is building this:

Cheating doesn't mean having actual intercourse. Mentally cheating can be just as bad.

Also, this thread makes me sad.

Yea but Dominon battleships make me happy, so it al works out in the end.

As to the OP; of course it wouldn't be cheating. Anyone that considers whacking off or being attracted to others is a form of cheating either had their sex drive removed or has some serious jealousy/esteem issues. Its natural to feel jealous, angry, less-worthy, etc when you catch your SO having sex with someone else but when it comes to virtual stuff its all fake otherwise most men are murdering pscho's with literally hundreds of kills to their credit from games like 40k and HALO.

What if your SO accuses you of cheating on the holodeck then you say "Oh yea?" then show her the program.....

Program has HER in it (maybe with less cellulite, younger, and wearing the bondage outfit she slapped you for asking her to wear).

Is THAT cheating?


(as you can see, I've thought a lot about this....)

Yes, we can see. You have thought about this a lot...

Cane wrote:Its natural to feel jealous, angry, less-worthy, etc when you catch your SO having sex with someone else but when it comes to virtual stuff its all fake otherwise most men are murdering pscho's with literally hundreds of kills to their credit from games like 40k and HALO.

One death is a tragedy.

A million deaths is another day in service to the Emperor.

Back in May I interviewed DICE, the makers of Battlefield 1943. One of the topics was unlockable maps.

There is only one extra map in the game, Coral Sea, which is unlocked when total community kills exceed 40 million (community kills = number of kills scored by any player in any game.)

I asked how long they thought it would take for players to rack up that many and they said about 10 days.

It doesnt matter if it counts. If your spouse said you cheated your sleeping on the couch anyway.

Kilkrazy wrote:The problem arises when you think it's cheating and your partner doesn't.

Then it's resolved like everything else in a relationship, you sit down and talk through the issue like two responsible adults, and then it ends when you say 'yes dear'.

sebster wrote:Then it's resolved like everything else in a relationship, you sit down and talk through the issue like two responsible adults, and then it ends when you say 'yes dear'.

Not in my relationships!

Girl's brains are much stupider than men's are, so they should always listen to us, cause we're smart.

Hmm,some very interesting viewpoints thus far,Deadshane brought up an interesting point concerning holodeck "recreation" with a program of ones SO.
Personaly I belive this would bother me more then finding out my SO was engaged in "simulated fantasies" with a computer generated "playmate",partly due to ego (why would you simulate me? I'm here and real.),and partly due to a (WTF,I would have worn the clown suit if you'd asked me!) frame of mind.
I'm still leaning towards the " not infidelity" position,as ultimatly,no mater how "real" a holodeck 'encounter" would seem,it would still simply be a computer generated distraction.

sebster wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:The problem arises when you think it's cheating and your partner doesn't.

Then it's resolved like everything else in a relationship, you sit down and talk through the issue like two responsible adults, and then it ends when you say 'yes dear'.

So you're married too?

If I recall correctly there were rules against the holodeck in such a manner in Star Fleet. The potential problems of that course of action were multifold. Not only is there the fidelity issues but people could become addicted to it and withdraw socially.

For those that still think it isn't cheating, why not ask people who have had their relationships ruined by online relationships. Again, cheating is more than just a physical act, it is also a mental one.

sebster wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:The problem arises when you think it's cheating and your partner doesn't.

Then it's resolved like everything else in a relationship, you sit down and talk through the issue like two responsible adults, and then it ends when you say 'yes dear'.

Exactly.

FITZZ wrote: Hmm,some very interesting viewpoints thus far,Deadshane brought up an interesting point concerning holodeck "recreation" with a program of ones SO.
Personaly I belive this would bother me more then finding out my SO was engaged in "simulated fantasies" with a computer generated "playmate",partly due to ego (why would you simulate me? I'm here and real.),and partly due to a (WTF,I would have worn the clown suit if you'd asked me!) frame of mind.
I'm still leaning towards the " not infidelity" position,as ultimatly,no mater how "real" a holodeck 'encounter" would seem,it would still simply be a computer generated distraction.

I'll answer that with with a slight edit:

(why would you simulate me? I'm here and real with a headache.)