Am I in the wrong place / alone in this?

[Metal-Destiny]

Hello.

First off, please let me say I am not trying to be belittling or dismissive of other people's tastes. That is not what this is about.

Lately I have been doing some 'soul searching' on why I am a member of the sites that I am a member of. Why I like what I like so to speak.

I will start by saying that I am one of those people who could see myself as a... well as the common term around here is.. a fembot. I could honestly see myself being transformed into a thing of circuits and cybernetics. But not for the reason you might think. I am not interested in it for the reasons that are common to the fiction stories on this site. It is not because I have a secret desire to be controlled, in fact such a concept freaks me out. It is not because I have a secret desire to be ordered around. Nor is it because I do not wish to be human. I do not desire to be able to be switched off, in fact being switched off is part of why I would find such, if it was possible acceptable. A human female shaped body made from circuits and cybernetics to host a human mind, it seems to me that it would be more durable then an organic body. Systems wear out, it would easier fix them. Being more durable, the systems would not degrade and weaken with age like an organic system does. As long as it could be serviced, the body would last, rather then like in my case where my organic body is slowly failing and will some day "switch off."

So, as a writer and a fan of this genre am I the only person who comes at it as science fiction concept as a way to extend human life, is there anyone else out there with views like this, and does it mean I am in the wrong place?

Thanks for listening.

[Muzzleruffels]

The questing search for immortality (or at least a means of existence similar to it) has been on Man's bucket-list for as long as man has existed, and in the days we're in now, the race has never been faster; nor has it ever been closer to being accomplished.

It is common for us (actually, it's almost natural) to fear the end of what we consider our "physical" existence, and as our lives progress onwards over the decades (and in saddening but common cases, merely years) until we've reached our final hour, that fear can become overbearing.

But think about this: If you were to be made into a fembot, if you were to replace every component of your being (except the brain, if you wish) with something durable and replaceable, what 'human' part of you remains?

You may not be the kind of individual who watches anime when I reference this, but Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell(1995) is a film that constantly ponders this. The main character of the film is more than human, with a mind in a durable body that bares a face that is not her own; there's even a scene when she confronts another individual wearing the same comsumer-model body as her own.

But the reason I reference this is this: When the human individual desires to make themselves greater, they must in turn give a piece of themselves as payment; this, is not confined to just the "physical" state of being. Sometimes we wish to reach a height so monumental, that we give the entirety of our existence to reach it, even if it means abandoning all that we once were.

So it's alright if you wish to replace your flesh and blood with circuits and cybernetics, just remember what it will cost you, and before you decide to reach that peak, just ask yourself if it will be worth it.

[General]

Bottom line up front, I don't think you're in the wrong place.

We have a wide variety of preferences here and they all have their place so I don't see why you can't as well. It's different than what some people might discuss or write about but I think the more ideas we're all exposed to the better. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

From what I've seen over the years a lot of the attraction to fembots comes from a dominant/submissive angle. For other folks a fembot is an accessible companion where maybe a human woman may not be available. Or for some a fembot is a more understandable potential companion. My initial draw to this genre was from a combination of my last two points. I was socially challenged in school and the idea of a fembot was the antithesis of the 'mean girls' who wouldn't give me the time of day or the 'crazy' ones that I couldn't understand. [not to say they were actually crazy, I just didn't understand them at the time]

I've also talked with folks who want to be fembots less for the domination aspect of it, but more to shed a human physical form that is currently.....challenging. As you mentioned its a fantasy scenario that let's someone become more powerful, more skillful, more beautiful and practically immortal. So I know you are not alone in this thought process. So my advice is to let the ideas flow. You may be surprised who else you may find that is like or complementary minded.

[darkbutflashy]

You mentioned "the reasons that are common to the fiction stories on this site". That may be true for a lot of stories, but not for all. You decide which you pick.

I'm strongly on the side of transhumanism, too, but as a mere viewer and (sometimes) writer. For me it's something to ponder about, not something which would really happen in my lifespan. We might encounter new fancy technical gadgets in the near future but nothing which help us overcome our mind and thoughts itself have a limited life (think: been there, seen that). And that's the only thing that counts when everything else may fail.

Personally I'm satisfied when I'm amused. That's why I'm here.

[Grendizer]

Metal-Destiny,
As a human, you have a relationship with sexuality. You may or may not actually be interested in sex, but the relationship remains, because you are a social creature living in a society of sexual beings. This makes Fembot Central a good place to explore that relationship, since you obviously seek to breach the limitations of the body, which I would conjecture is actually at the root of much concerning our common interest. Whether it is the limitations of one's own body, or the limitations of available partners, we all seek a technology that both is not present and has the possibility of existing at some point in the future. The foundation of this interest is hope in the future, because all of us find something attractive about its possibilities, even if we acknowledge the downsides. If that describes you, then you belong here. If you find something lacking, then now is the time to add your own story. I hope you jump in with both feet!

[NukuNookee]

No, you're not alone or in the wrong place. There are quite a few of us interested in the transformation / transhuman experience, but not the rigidly controlled / owned experience.

I think everyone above makes excellent points about our desires, I can't think of anything to add at the moment, except I'm looking forward to more of your stories and ideas.

[Miss Pris]

I'm in agreement both with this being (one of) the right places for you and with Grendizer's comments specifically. Not only is sexuality - however we express it - a part of who we are as sexually reproducing, social animals, but to add to this idea, with new bodies comes the possibilities for new pleasures. What could a technologically-enhanced body experience that a "meat"-only body could not? If we turn the volume up on our nervous system, what does that do to our bodily pleasures? Discussions of bodily enhancements beg questions of new sexual experiences (and of course, as Muzzleruffels mentioned, do we sacrifice anything with this kind of exploration?)

I usually just put myself in the "interested in partnering with a machine" group (to cross list with other threads here..) but I am very much in agreement and empathy with you Metal-Destiny about the draw of cyborg-ing the physical body. I think the idea of the technologically-enhanced body is particularly attractive to many women especially because of the power, durability, and static nature of technological enhancements (or our idea of them, of course - plastic, metal, and everything else breaks down on a long enough time line.) On a surface level, western-culturally speaking, women are viewed as physically weak and of no further use after reproductive age (ALERT - BLANKET STATEMENT! I'm just speaking generally to the culture as per biomedical anthropology work on the reasons that women get plastic surgery to appear younger, not making any suppositions about men on this forum or their beliefs about women!), so transforming the female body into a physically powerful, eternally young/static (and desirable) body is alluring. No one wants to break down and age, get sick and die - but imagine the freedom of being a woman who defied the cultural category of "nature." It's very seductive to be free of bonds and expectations - arousing even... Sex and technological transformation are linked - a woman doesn't want to have to be controlled to want to be a bad ass piece of metal...