Why do you want to be a NA'Vi on Pandora?

[Sarah Noel]

The way the Na'vi physically look is very appealing to me. I like tall people and I like cats, the na'vi are a nice blend of the two.

The fantastical impossible life-mate tsaheylu I find romantic, though I think I prefer serial monogamy as a human with the assumption that people can change and outgrow each other, mating for life is an awfully long time. With the na'vi however, a bond as strong as linking nervous systems I can only imagine it's being too overwhelming to ever do that with more than one sentient being, causing irrevocable emotional changes, and a closeness to which we have no equivalent. I'd be curious to know what that's like.

I'd also probably freak out with the first night I spent on Pandora, and spend hours stuck looking at tiny things like leaf venation, or the dots on my legs, or something.

I don't think I could give up my life right now for a Na'vi one, in a few years when the world's a little worse, I'd definitely reconsider it.

[Moco Loco]

Oh for sure, I guess that's something I forgot to mention as well
If Earth goes to ****, of course I'll be a na'vi. I just have some optimism about us coming out of this situation somehow. Not without horrible catastrophes and changes, but it's true, I'd rather live without technology on Pandora than without it on Earth.

[dstroudswan]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

Not only is "tsaheylu" phonetically correct, but Frommer has confirmed that it is the correct spelling.

You're right; sorry for the typo. Using ay implies the wrong diphthong; the correct one to use is ey.

Originally Posted by Sarah Noel

The fantastical impossible life-mate tsaheylu I find romantic, though I think I prefer serial monogamy as a human with the assumption that people can change and outgrow each other, mating for life is an awfully long time. With the na'vi however, a bond as strong as linking nervous systems I can only imagine it's being too overwhelming to ever do that with more than one sentient being, causing irrevocable emotional changes, and a closeness to which we have no equivalent. I'd be curious to know what that's like.

What's interesting is that it's not impossible. It would just require a really, really powerful computer like this one, a connection method like Dr. Keichii Torimitsu's, correct software built on the NEURON programming, and two willing participants. Maybe in 20 years researchers will have rigged up a system that can do it. After all, it can already happen in nature with some bacteria.

Originally Posted by Sarah Noel

I don't think I could give up my life right now for a Na'vi one, in a few years when the world's a little worse, I'd definitely reconsider it.

I can understand that. Though I could get into a Na'vi life right now and have no qualms about it No reason why I couldn't pursue a career in medicine still; I'm sure the basic medical anatomy of Na'vi is similar to humans, minus a few variances.

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

I just have some optimism about us coming out of this situation somehow.

I wish I could be as optimistic as you, but I think the human race will eventually run itself into the ground, and soon. Average people are greedy and care little for the environment; sooner or later, humans will die off and the Earth will regenerate as if they were never here, reversing all of the damage done.

[Moco Loco]

Nice links , especially about the connection method. I honestly didn't know that much progress had been achieved

[dstroudswan]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

Nice links , especially about the connection method. I honestly didn't know that much progress had been achieved

Most people don't; it's not exactly well-publicized. That kind of thing tends to freak out average people. I'm just glad the research is happening despite public views; maybe we'll get somewhere in a few years

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by Crickett

There have been discussions on various forums asking [sarcastic voice]if you like the Na'vi so much, why don't you live like them?[/sarcastic voice]

If I was capable of that, I'd certainly consider it.

Exactly - if I COULD be 3m tall, with blue skin, beautiful eyes and a tail. I would. If I could, as an average individual, be physically superior to the greatest human who lived, I would. If I could have a lifemate and make tsaheylu and experience everything together, I would. If it was possible to bond with an ikran and ride it through the air, I would. If I could spend every night wandering through bioluminescence, with everything around having its own beauty, I would. None of that's at all remotely possible.

Originally Posted by Sarah Noel

The fantastical impossible life-mate tsaheylu I find romantic, though I think I prefer serial monogamy as a human with the assumption that people can change and outgrow each other, mating for life is an awfully long time. With the na'vi however, a bond as strong as linking nervous systems I can only imagine it's being too overwhelming to ever do that with more than one sentient being, causing irrevocable emotional changes, and a closeness to which we have no equivalent. I'd be curious to know what that's like.

For me, the idea of a lifemate is better because it's being able to truly know someone on a way that most people never will, and I would far prefer that to ending up losing am ate over and over again... I think that most people would, in a perfect situation, want a mate to stay with them, and it certainly is possible with humans, just not easy and doesn't work for everyone, while the Na'vi have it much easier there...

I'd also probably freak out with the first night I spent on Pandora, and spend hours stuck looking at tiny things like leaf venation, or the dots on my legs, or something.

Definitely

I don't think I could give up my life right now for a Na'vi one, in a few years when the world's a little worse, I'd definitely reconsider it.

Honestly, ideally, I'd like the best of both lives. I'd like to be able to be a Na'vi physically, live somewhere really nice, be able to fly, but also still be able to occasionally enjoy things from Earth.

[dstroudswan]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Exactly - if I COULD be 3m tall, with blue skin, beautiful eyes and a tail. I would. If I could, as an average individual, be physically superior to the greatest human who lived, I would. If I could have a lifemate and make tsaheylu and experience everything together, I would. If it was possible to bond with an ikran and ride it through the air, I would. If I could spend every night wandering through bioluminescence, with everything around having its own beauty, I would. None of that's at all remotely possible.

You're almost completely right. Increasing height to 3 meters would destroy the spinal column and cause paralysis. Blue skin, however, would be possible with tattooing or permanent ink, and maybe in the not-too-distant future, gene therapy. A tail would also be possible if it could be artificially grown and grafted on, but the technology for that is not yet available; maybe in a decade that will change. Tsaheylu would be extremely difficult to achieve, but it might be possible with lots of technology (see my post here). Riding an ikran is definitely not possible. Bioluminescence, however, might be achieved with gene therapy, since some species of fish already have that.

Originally Posted by Human No More

Honestly, ideally, I'd like the best of both lives. I'd like to be able to be a Na'vi physically, live somewhere really nice, be able to fly, but also still be able to occasionally enjoy things from Earth.

I second that; all I'd need from Earth is a generator, an iPad, a laptop, and a satellite connection. There would be no need to do away with technology; it would just have to be used sparingly.

[auroraglacialis]

Originally Posted by dstroudswan

Bioluminescence, however, might be achieved with gene therapy, since some species of fish already have that.

Actually they did gene modified plants that glow in the dark by putting marine organisms genes into them. But of course these have to stay in the enclosed labs because no one knows what will be the result if they go into the wild...

I second that; all I'd need from Earth is a generator, an iPad, a laptop, and a satellite connection.

So all you need is "the internet" basically?

Originally Posted by Sarah Noel

I'd also probably freak out with the first night I spent on Pandora, and spend hours stuck looking at tiny things like leaf venation, or the dots on my legs, or something.

- yeah I can imagine that. That image is very funny but so true. Look at all the dots indeed...

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by dstroudswan

Increasing height to 3 meters would destroy the spinal column and cause paralysis.

Carbon-fibre bones! Carbon-fibre bones! (I've given JC crap for not justifying himself elsewhere, but that sort of thing is what I hoped there was more of: just enough explanation so we can hear, "I know this doesn't work, but it's a film. You should really just relax.")

Though if you're talking about turning a human into a Na'vi, can't you just use surgery whatevers?

I second that; all I'd need from Earth is a generator, an iPad, a laptop, and a satellite connection. There would be no need to do away with technology; it would just have to be used sparingly.

For a species that has a IO cable dangling out the back of their skull, an iPad seems like an awfully crude HCI. (or should that be Na'vi-Computer interface? ) Wouldn't strategically-placed wireless transceivers work better?

[Moco Loco]

Originally Posted by Human No More

Exactly - if I COULD be 3m tall, with blue skin, beautiful eyes and a tail. I would. If I could, as an average individual, be physically superior to the greatest human who lived, I would. If I could have a lifemate and make tsaheylu and experience everything together, I would. If it was possible to bond with an ikran and ride it through the air, I would. If I could spend every night wandering through bioluminescence, with everything around having its own beauty, I would. None of that's at all remotely possible.

If it were just about becoming a na'vi physically and I didn't have to give up access to all the knowledge humans have, technological advances, etc, YES, I would be a na'vi I guess that question has never been posed to me, and before now, I've never even thought about it with those circumstances, but there are several situations in which I'd gladly be a na'vi.

[dstroudswan]

Originally Posted by auroraglacialis

So all you need is "the internet" basically?

Yep, and maybe a toothbrush.

Originally Posted by Clarke

Though if you're talking about turning a human into a Na'vi, can't you just use surgery whatevers?

Yes, you can. Plastic surgery coupled with permanent ink (or genetic engineering for a version of melanin that's blue) would yield something almost exactly like a Na'vi, minus the increase in height and the tail. The former couldn't be practically achieved with surgery, and the latter would require growth in a lab and grafting on once developed. Maybe they can use tissue printers for that

Originally Posted by Clarke

For a species that has a IO cable dangling out the back of their skull, an iPad seems like an awfully crude HCI. (or should that be Na'vi-Computer interface? ) Wouldn't strategically-placed wireless transceivers work better?

That's true, but it also assumes that the brain could adapt to control a device that is Internet-capable and designed for a 2d environment. I'm not sure if that would be possible - research would need to be done to find out.

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

If it were just about becoming a na'vi physically and I didn't have to give up access to all the knowledge humans have, technological advances, etc, YES, I would be a na'vi I guess that question has never been posed to me, and before now, I've never even thought about it with those circumstances, but there are several situations in which I'd gladly be a na'vi.

Exactly
It's about gaining special, unique things, abilities no human has, and still knowing everything I did

Originally Posted by dstroudswan

Yes, you can. Plastic surgery coupled with permanent ink (or genetic engineering for a version of melanin that's blue) would yield something almost exactly like a Na'vi, minus the increase in height and the tail. The former couldn't be practically achieved with surgery, and the latter would require growth in a lab and grafting on once developed. Maybe they can use tissue printers for that

I already have some of the ink part done
I will honestly be getting a tail when it becomes possible too.

Originally Posted by auroraglacialis

So all you need is "the internet" basically?

About right for me.

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by dstroudswan

That's true, but it also assumes that the brain could adapt to control a device that is Internet-capable and designed for a 2d environment. I'm not sure if that would be possible - research would need to be done to find out.

If you did away with conventional web pages, and used things like Twitter, you could directly interpret 1D streams of data, which would probably be a lot easier.

[Moco Loco]

I guess it would be kind of wonky to be a na'vi on Earth with nothing else different But ideally, the way I'd prefer it would be if I could be a human sized avatar (I like all my fingers KTHX). And of course I'd be thrilled if everyone here had this choice, and then there'd be some real na'vi at the meetup (had a dream recently like this).

[dstroudswan]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I already have some of the ink part done

And it looks awesome

Originally Posted by Human No More

I will honestly be getting a tail when it becomes possible too.

Me too, and the rest of the modifications to become as close to Na'vi as I can get. How long do you think it will be before that's possible? I'm betting on less than two decades.

Originally Posted by Clarke

If you did away with conventional web pages, and used things like Twitter, you could directly interpret 1D streams of data, which would probably be a lot easier.

How would you view scientific articles and know whether information was accurate and peer-reviewed, then? There would have to be some serious web infrastructure changes to make that work, but I suppose it could be done.

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

And of course I'd be thrilled if everyone here had this choice, and then there'd be some real na'vi at the meetup

Which would be awesome on so many different levels