The Terrible Truth About Consciousness

3 months ago I recieved an aggressive cancer diagnosis, likely killing me in 6 to 18 months max. A lifelong atheist, I have been pondering my personal oblivion to come. The me, that is sentient will cease to be soon, but is there something beyond death. Everything I ever knew, ever felt, ever learned, ever loved or hated will be forever lost. Sad, but more inexplicable that terrifying. Your video touched me deeply Quinn, love your wisdom and beautiful videos. Thank you forever, Ed H

One great example of Consciousness being a horror aspect is in the game SOMA, in which throughout the game the protagonist is a snapshot of a mind within a suit in a long dilapidated facility. At the end of the game, the protagonist has to transfer their mind into a kind of digital heaven, and they succeed. However, what happens isn't a transfer, but a copy paste. One copy gets to live in digital paradise, oblivious. The original is left in abject horror as they open their eyes, and nothing happened. they're still in the suit, in the facility, trapped indefinitely.

one must imagine quinn to be happy

Okay, you win. I'll make the conscious decision not to go to bed yet

Professor Paradox in Ben 10 had my favourite explanation about consciousness in the face of eternity: “At first, I went mad, of course. But after a few millennia, I got bored with that, too, and went sane. Very sane. I began to learn. I now have total understanding of the space-time continuum, allowing me to travel anywhere and anywhen I want… within reason.”

Alright, take this as a compliment from a kid who grew up in the 80’s watching PBS after school. You’re totally an adult version of Reading Rainbow. My favorite channel on YouTube, by far.

“People aren't rational. We're not thinking machines, we're - we're feeling machines that happen to think.”

The Jaunt absolutely horrified me when I read it as a kid. Just recalling the existential dread that I felt at the time is enough to make every hair on my body stand up straight.

I used to be very depressed about these ideas. Now days its a wave, Ill go from existential horror, to astonishment, to a deep appreciation for the little amount of time I may truly have. I'm thankful for every moment I have, and all the moments I have left.

the Jaunt reminds me of a Ketamine experience i had once. They asked me how it was and all i said was "IT'S ETERNITY IN THERE!"