BattleStar Galactica:Season 3.0--11/10/06--Arc 6

[LightPhoenix]

Is another option that the immune systems of the "skin-job" cylons were designed to be immune to *current* biological threats, but not to, e.g., a virus that hasn't been seen in the 12 colonies for several thousand years?

Realistically, not really. Viruses and bacteria are always mutating, most of the time faster than we can keep up with. That's why every year you need a new flu shot, and why we keep getting colds.

Also, re-watching the eppy, Doc Cottle specifically says, albeit in a technobabble rant, that Cylons break down foreign RNA - that's why the cure won't work.

But as I said before, my whole problem is that I am a trained biochemist; I've been a bio-nerd since I was thirteen. The whole biological explanation is technobabble meant to drive the story, and having devoted my life to the science at hand, it's hard for me to suspend disbelief.

Virus's are living organisms. If there was a virus ala plauge wiping out the human racea nd we had a cure to kill it, would we not hesitate to do it.

That's actually debatable. Some believe that virsuses are not living organisms. I personally fall into the category that believes they are, even if in the most strict, basic sense of the word.

Either way, you're deliberately ignoring the whole "sentience" part as a way to make your point. Viruses are not sentient, Cylons are, by the very definition of true AI. Apples and oranges.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Virus's are living organisms. If there was a virus ala plauge wiping out the human racea nd we had a cure to kill it, would we not hesitate to do it.

Ok what if this virus was evovled, say talked and had feelings, but still was designed for one thing, our eradication. would we not hesitate to do it.

Well that's what the cylons are.

No, that's not what the cylons are. Your proposed Virus has never decided that he wants to kill humans (which would be a stupid decision for a virus, since he needs humans to survive, by the way. It's just that a virus does usually not have control about how deadly he is to his host). He was made, or better, evolved to be so.
But the Cylons decided to destroy humanity. Which is certainly not a good choice and morally wrong. But this decision isn't forever. New Caprica proved that - they decided not to destroy humanity for a while, instead they tried to control them, thinking that genocide wasn't such a great idea, after all. Unfortunately, New Caprica didn't work out (and it's certainly to a big part a fault of the Cylons that it didn't). But this means that their decision isn't made forever. They can change their decisions.
There is chance of redemption.

Now, in a direct scenario, whole humanity surrounded by Cylon Basestars and no chance of FTL-ing out of it, I can see that it is a real "us or them" scenario, and if genocide is your only option of escape, I can accept wiping out the Cylons. It is still not a good moral choice, but at least there are really no other options between your death and their death. But in the current situation, there are more options, even if they don't look easy. Acting morally isn't about doing what is easy.

 

[dravot]

I'm one of those who felt like the moral quandry wasn't presented very well. The humans have every reason to believe that they will be hunted into extinction, and with their incredibly tiny resource base, this is one of the only ways they have to fight back and defend themselves.

*shrug*

(As I stated before, as presented, I don't see this as a genocide device anyway, but I'd still come to the same conclusion)

 

[Storm Raven]

And I obviously would say the same of you, which should pretty much finish our conversation, I think.

I think I can rest comfortably knowing that my moral compass includes not excusing mass murderers for their crimes.

 

[Storm Raven]

It's a choice between a horrible choice, and an even worse choice, when it comes down to it.

Or, as some of us see it, a choice between a horrible choice and a really good choice. Too bad Helo rendered the really good choice ineffective.

 

[Mallus]

I think I can rest comfortably knowing that my moral compass includes not excusing mass murderers for their crimes.

I can rest even more comfortably knowing my moral compass excludes fictional characters, especially God-fearing space robots...

 

[Arnwyn]

Hera exists.

Already covered in my post.

They probably could replicate it. I mean, if all you need is love then all they have to do is figure out the right amount and type of chemicals that are produced when people are in "love."

I find this answer to be more intriguing... But "love"? What? If they can replicate it, why would Hera be so important, then? The show's gone out of it's way blathering about Hera this, Hera that. If it's just a chemical mix, then I can't imagine why they can't quickly and easily figure it out for themselves (and the show hasn't bothered to give any indication nor reason why it would be otherwise... for pete's sake, they can download from organic bodies over relatively vast distances!). Extremely unsatisfying.

And then they could have giant Cylon Orgies between the seven known models.

Oh dear. Jerry Springer is gonna work overtime.

Satisfaction rising!

 

[Fast Learner]

I think I can rest comfortably knowing that my moral compass includes not excusing mass murderers for their crimes.

Yes, precisely.

 

[Storm Raven]

Yes, precisely.

And yet, yours apparently includes "learning to live in peace with them", and excusing their planned murder of billions. And so far, none of the cylons we have seen is not guilty of this crime: we know from the episodes that the cylons act in concert, as groups of identical models. As such, they all had a hand in the unprovoked nuclear attack upon a civilization that actively sought peace with them, and continued the assault against a civilization that had surrendered. There are no innocent cylons.

Plus, killing an enemy who has attacked you with the unprovoked intent to kill you (or others) is not murder, it is self-defense. Your "moral" argument falls apart when subjected to any kind of scrutiny at all. Of course, the cylons remain malfunctioning machines, and thus, destroying them really has no more moral content than tossing out an old computer.

 

[DonTadow]

And yet, yours apparently includes "learning to live in peace with them", and excusing their planned murder of billions. And so far, none of the cylons we have seen is not guilty of this crime: we know from the episodes that the cylons act in concert, as groups of identical models. As such, they all had a hand in the unprovoked nuclear attack upon a civilization that actively sought peace with them, and continued the assault against a civilization that had surrendered. There are no innocent cylons.

Plus, killing an enemy who has attacked you with the unprovoked intent to kill you (or others) is not murder, it is self-defense. Your "moral" argument falls apart when subjected to any kind of scrutiny at all. Of course, the cylons remain malfunctioning machines, and thus, destroying them really has no more moral content than tossing out an old computer.

Agreed, however, now we're moving into legal terms and we all know that those in legal have no morals.