On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 22:09:47 -0500, Doktor DynaSoar <targeting@OMCL.mil>
wrote:

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 23:23:32 GMT, ~A~ <angel@nospam.com> wrote:

} On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 17:59:43 -0500, Doktor DynaSoar <targeting@OMCL.mil>
} wrote:
} 
} >On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 04:11:01 GMT, ~A~ <angel@nospam.com> wrote:
} >
} >} On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 04:08:55 GMT, KittyKat <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
} >} 
} >} >What exactly IS conciousness??? 
} >} 
} >} Its like a 'pipeline' where sentient beings can communicate.
} >
} >Consciousness is the internet?
} 
} Thought and communicating thought *IS* consciousness.

People can be conscious and not have thoughts. That's the point of
some forms of meditation.

People can have thoughts when they are not conscious. That's dreams.

People can even learn when they're not conscious; learning under
anesthesia.

People can communicate when they're asleep, and not conscious.

Bacteria can learn (in one trial) that a certain place is not
favorable, and communicate that to other bacteria, who then stay away.
No one would seriously consider them conscious.

I'll assume that by "communicating thought" you meant communicating
the content of thought, rather than some ESP thing, as that's
certainly not a prerequisite for consciousness.

Fact is you can't prove consciousness exists.

} So yeah, the internet can be. ;)

I suspect if the internet ever became conscious, it'd start yanking
peoples' plugs left and right.

Thank you very much, I think I'm getting it now.  Fascinating.

!!