USH'S MATRIX GAME FOURTH ASSIGNMENT (PHILOSOPHY PATH)- 'The Journey'

Afraid not, Azrael...

"Then let us break this down," says Melitus. "What are the differences... for people like YOU, and what are the differences for one of the inmates- the people you call 'coppertops'?"

"For us the differences are that we can do things in the matrix we can not do in the real world"

"An important difference that does not exist for the inmates, I am sure you agree."

"Yes ofcourse, but maybe if they believe as we believe and know what we know that would disappear as well"

"No," says Melitus, "it is not possible for an inmate to do anything outside of his base programme whilst still plugged into the system unless it is acted upon by an exterior force. The physical differences on this reality apply to these people just as much as physics in the 'real' world."

"Sounds logical, Thank you for correcting me"

"Can you think of any other differences that apply for one group and not the other?"

"We know more about agents and such than coppertops"

"Whilst that is true that is more just a straight difference between you than a difference between the Matrix and the Real World that is true for one group but not the other."

"True"

"The matrix for those plugged in, is reality. For us it is something else, a dream world if you will. I know for one, that seeing what Ive seen fo the real world I am in a position to make an informed decision about whther I want to be in the system or out of it.....Those still plugged in cant even make that decision, and they certainly dont have the perspective to do so. They have never experienced the real world to make a judgement."

"well..i ahve stated the differences for people like us.
For the inmates, there cannot be any differences, simply because they have NO knowledge of the real world, therefore not knowing anything outside what universe the matrix provides. You cannot percieve anything you have no experience of.."

"That's evading the question," says Melitus. "The point is to identify what would be different for a person plugged into the Matrix as opposed to a person living in the 'real' world. Whether that person KNOWS those differences is of no relevance at all- I want to know what you think the differences ARE. As opposed to the differences for people like you, who DO know."

"the main difference would be that they live a controlled life. They do not see the boudries of this controll, but they are there nonetheless.
and they are being used, without even knowing. "

"They dont mind not knowing, save a few like us who rebel. They would be happy living there without a second thought, because they know not what the truth is.

Another thing...we have the ability to leave the matrix. If we make a mistake or are seen by the wrong person at the wrong time, we just bolt to an exit and hopefully put ourselves out of harms way. Coppertops cant just jack out when they want to. They cant just say, I dont like the situation, let me jack out and wait a couple of days until things cool down. Its nto an option for them.

Ohh and food, because I for one, know that the rations they give us on the hover craft...well they blow. At least people in the matrix have some pleasure in what they're eating even if they dont know its not real. Heh."

"Indeed so," says Melitus. "Control is of course probably the biggest difference. Control exists on all sorts of levels wherever you are, but in the Matrix an additional level of great control is part of its design for the inmates. Ultimately, all Governening authorities are controlled by the Machines.

And indeed, you can not 'leave' the 'Real' World, whereas you can leave the Matrix; this is on the whole something inmates cannot do but, obviously, not always.

It is worth noting that the fact that at any point you could be overwritten by an Agent is a rather significant difference from the Real World which applies to the inmates, but not you. Code is so much more flexible than anything in physical reality."

yep..does he want to ask anything else?

(Yeah it looks like we answered that one well, i hope.)

There is a click and the starfield image changes.

"Please observe the starfield images carefully," says Melitus. "I want you to spot five differences between the image on the left, and the one on the right."

"Five...I cant seem to even find one...Whats the point, if I may ask."