Dragon*con 2006
Just a quick announcement that we’ll be hosting a panel Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 7:00 PM at Dragon*con and that the next show will be coming soon.
Morality Bites Show #001 - Introduction and the Battlestar Galactica Election
We’re really excited to present to you a new show by alienEthOS. alienEthOS: Morality Bites. This is a smaller show that will feature a moral dilemma or ethical quandary that a character finds themself faced with. We will turn it over to the listeners to tell us what they would do and why. This show is completely yours and we encourage voicemail and responses on the forums.
Here is the first Morality Bites question:
In the most recent episode of Battlestar Galactica, President Roslyin is faced with a tough choice in the upcoming election.
Does she allow Gaius Baltar, who she suspects strongly is working with the cylons, to win the election, or does she use her military allies to fix the election in her favor?
It’s hard to argue that fixing an election in a democracy is moral, however, she is faced with two evils. The reins of corrupted power in her hands or the reins of power in his corrupted hands. Both possiblities are detrimental to the future of humanity.
In the end, after some convincing by Admiral Adama, she decides to do what she knows is right in the present instead of doing something immoral in order to prevent a future wrong.
So my question to you is, would you do what you had to do to prevent a corrupt man from gaining power, or would you do what you know is right and leave the universe to figure out the rest? And why?
Come discuss the show in the forum!
alienEthOS Show #006 Discussion now open!!
In Star Trek’s “The Measure of a Man” and “Author Author”, we are faced with an expanding definition of sentience and, through that, humanity. In both episodes, tenuous but exciting first steps towards new legal rights for Data and The Doctor are established. This parallels our own history where groups of humans who were once thought to be less than a person have won rights which now seem obvious. This was accomplished both through legal battles fought in the judiciary and battles of public perception.
In the context of “The Measure of a Man”, is it right to endanger any individual for the good of the whole? What circumstances, if any, would justify forcing someone to put their lives in danger against their will?
Also, the judge in both “The Measure of a Man” and “Doctor Doctor” both expanded the rights of two individuals that, under the law, did not exist before. Doing so in today’s political environment would likely earn them the label “activist judge.” Were they overstepping their authority in doing what they did? Should these matters have been brought up before the legislative body instead?
(edited from original for clarity)
alienEthOS Show #005 - Religion and a Child’s Right to Life
Back from the edge of time, reborn to rule the universe, your hosts present Religion and a child’s right to life in Babylon 5.
Here we discuss episode 10 of Babylon 5, “Believers.”
We speak about Star Trek New Voyages, Invasion, and Podcasting for Dummies.
We explore the differences between religious and secular ethics, parents wishes versus the state’s mandates, medical codes of conduct, and the concept of sovereignty.
Come discuss the show in the forum!
Check back soon for show notes!
Back soon.
Just writing a quick post saying that now that life has settled down after the holidays, as soon as I (Kevin) get my computer back from Apple Inc. (sent in for repairs) we’ll get a new show out. Sorry for the delay.
alienEthOS Show #005 discussion now open!
In “Believers” two parents believe that to cut a person is to release their soul. Thus, only food animals can be cut. Their son has a minor problem that can be easily fixed through surgery but only surgery. The parents are content to let the child die, even though he states that he wishes to live.
How far should we be willing to allow for religious beliefs in our society? With cases of polio cropping up in the Amish because they do not believe in vaccination and teenagers in the Bible belt contracting sexually transmitted diseases because they are taught only abstinence, this is a pressing debate. We will take a child away from a parent in cases of neglect, abuse, and the inability to support the child. However, we will not do so if their behavior is religiously motivated.
Why is that? Is it right to give a child a life saving operation without their parents’ consent? At what age does a child’s will to live supersede the parent’s right to make decisions on their behalf?
alienEthOS Show #004 - 62,400 Repetitions: Ethics in the police state
Your hosts present to you, after much delay, 62,400 Repetitions: Ethics in the police state.
We thank Mur Lafferty for her kind comments, talk about Babylon 5 and Hidden Frontier. Also, we announce a show format change, no longer trying to be balanced for the sake of being balanced. Then, we compare the totalitarian regimes of Nineteen Eighty-Four and A Brave New World to the world of today. The Patriot Act and government influence of the media are shown as ways that the administration uses power to keep power.
Come discuss the show in the forum!
Check back soon for show notes!
When it rains it pours.
Well, Sunday we finally sat down and recorded show 4 of alienEthOS. However, after finishing we found out that we were missing half of the audio of the show! We have to redo it sometime but Kade has family in from out of town and working in the time is going to be difficult. I am sorry about the delay and we will try to not let this happen again. We will find a way to make it up to you all.
Slight delay
Kade is not feeling well and has a sore throat, we are going to delay recording by a few days to allow him to recover. Expect a show later in the week!
Where it gets cool - Derek from Skepticality!
I know these are a bit off topic for the show but I am sitting here with tears of joy reading Swoopy’s latest post about Derek! He’s up and about and while having difficulty speaking he’s able to understand and respond to everything everyone is saying and doing. Personally, things haven’t been going so well so news like this really makes my day! Hats off to you, Derek and Swoopy!