Suboids

[Exarch]

for anyone who hasnt read brian herbert/kevin j. anderson's 'house atreides' suboids are a genetically engineered human race of subhumans with which to do hard labour etc etc, with limited intelligence and autonomy.

now we like to think of ourselves as a fairly enlightened people who say no to slavery, but supposing if we were to create human-like creatures (suboids) to do our dirty work for us (the way some mexican immigrants are employed to do the jobs in california), how comfortable would you be with that idea?

Discuss.

[Shadowcry]

Isn't that liek what robots are supposed to do?

Someone help us when they learn how to kill 0.0

[Dayman]

Uh...not at all comfortable?

[Ulyaoth]

I'd be for it just to see Mexicans screaming, "dey took our jerbs!"

[Exarch]

the ixians in house atreides are fine with it, and humans have consistently demonstrated a lack of empathy with certain groups of people in the past.
how hard is it to believe that we wont one day find a race of subhumans serving us?

[Cluny the Scourge]

Sounds like an Epsilon from "Brave New World".

[Exarch]

Sounds like an Epsilon from "Brave New World".

exactly
should humans be 'specialised' genetically to perform certain tasks?

[dwringer]

No, because the specially engineered ones will eventually evolve the ability to revolt, making the idea a recipe for disaster

But realistically, the engineers would probably spot the mutations a mile away and put a stop to such things immediately, so maybe I'm wrong

I still disagree with the idea, though - as above, that's what robots are for

[Chaigidel]

no we can build machines for the tasks; why waste our effort on fleshy servants when we can make steel servants?

[eventhorizen]

Why would we need genetically engineered slaves to do hard labour when we can continue using the genetically unengineered slaves?

[Cluny the Scourge]

Why would we need genetically engineered slaves to do hard labour when we can continue using the genetically unengineered slaves?

Unengineered slaves have a way of being rebellious and eventually demanding their freedom, and then sick pay, a pension scheme, etc. An Epsilon is designed to have near-moron intelligence so that all they can understand are the simplest instructions for manual labour. They're also designed to be physically superior in strength and resilience so they can work more efficiently. They have no boredom threshold, no aspirations beyond their next meal and narcotics-allowance, and are absolutely no threat to the social order.

[eventhorizen]

Unengineered slaves have a way of being rebellious and eventually demanding their freedom, and then sick pay, a pension scheme, etc. An Epsilon is designed to have near-moron intelligence so that all they can understand are the simplest instructions for manual labour. They're also designed to be physically superior in strength and resilience so they can work more efficiently. They have no boredom threshold, no aspirations beyond their next meal and narcotics-allowance, and are absolutely no threat to the social order.

But untill these unegineered slaves "establish an uncorrupt government, fight their way out of tribal warfare, vote in a non socialist government, root out and prevent all possible terrorist events, act within unerring adherance to strict human rights directives, become a corporate CEO or obtain a voting majority" the masters don't have to listen to other masters complaints.

We live in a slave run society, it is just that the wealthy don't directly and individually and legally own any slaves. Creating more slaves simply means more mouths to feed/more starvation etc. and more propoganda to spin.

[Da Skinna]

Why don't we just designate some group that already exists as being subhuman and force them into subserviency?

Or is that too cliche?

Genetically engineering humans to do menial tasks doesn't raise us any higher. It makes us more decadent and frankly, a little pussy, considering we can't do our own dirty jobs.

Praise the garbageman, he puts up with a lot of ... literally.

[Maverick]

Why don't we just designate some group that already exists as being subhuman and force them into subserviency?

Too late. There is already a system in place to "engineer" menial workers, it's called the public school system. States used to have some control, now it's all in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington. Education was also centralized under the regimes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong and Benito Mussolini.

Public school ought to be called a mceducation these days since students are taught just enough to perform a service sector job for more educated people.

[Da Skinna]

Too late. There is already a system in place to "engineer" menial workers, it's called the public school system. States used to have some control, now it's all in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington. Education was also centralized under the regimes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong and Benito Mussolini.

Public school ought to be called a mceducation these days since students are taught just enough to perform a service sector job for more educated people.

And did you get to go to private school.

[Maverick]

And did you get to go to private school.

Actually no, my parents had the means to send me to the best school in the country but my Dad didn't want me to become an elitist.