The longest conversation

I don’t think it’s really going to be a “conversation” in the sense we usually think of them… even if we somehow came to be immortal, so much would happen and change in the interim that what had been said a few thousand years ago would likely no longer be relevant at all. I suspect that, if we do ever establish communication, it will be more of a multilateral broadcast. We, and they, choosing a stream of information to send out to all listeners. Eventually the listeners are affected by this stream, and their own stream is altered as a consequence. Not exactly a “response”, but an influence. Instead of an email-like correspondence, I imagine it being more along the lines of a bunch of bloggers that read each others feeds, but never comment directly on each others content, while still obviously being influenced by what they’re reading.

If the content is “progressive”, that is, if it represents some kind of objective progress (as in technology), then your own content stream will be most strongly influenced by the most advanced stream you have access to (i.e. if we were listening to a content stream on computational hardware today, we’d be altered by knowledge of how to build and utilize quantum computers, but not by someone else’s development of vacuum tubes). If it’s more aesthetic, or historical, or cultural content, then you’ll be influenced by the particular combination of other streams you have access to (i.e. If you’ve never heard of Lao Tzu, you’ll never have your thoughts on Buddhism or Shakespeare influenced by him).

there is an interesting parallel, of sorts, in the dune series by frank herbert. a computer ai space ship ends up in a vast orbit, that brings it into the reach of civilization only once in a great while, i can’t remember the precise number of years. since it has so much “time on its hands” while in the far away parts of its orbit, when it returns, it gives civilization great technical or theoretical advances. unfortunately, during its absence on one of its orbits, there is a revolution against computers and they are basically banned (after an ai decides to abort a fetus-the butlerian jihad, if you have read the books). the people try to destroy the ai on its next pass.

such a long, slow relationship would have many such pitfalls to avoid. i even see this in relationships with people i have known but correspond with only sparingly, say once a year, or in bursts every few years. you find them saying things, and saying them in ways, that seem totally out of character. for example, i found a punker/biker friend of mine (or she was 20 years ago), saying something like, “yeah i still have my racing bike, but maybe i should sell it and buy some curtains or a couch or something.” (now being married of course)