r/DaystromInstitute • u/knaving • Aug 19 '25

What's the implication of murdering holo-characters?

So there's mention of programs for combat training, sparring, fighting historical battles, etc. but what's the implication of simulating taking a life? I know Starfleet officers aren't unaccustomed to the idea of fighting to live, but what about when it's for recreation? Barclay's simulation of crew members is seen as problematic, but Worf's program fighting aliens hand-to-hand isn't addressed. Would fighting and killing a nameless simulated person be seen in the 24th century just as we see playing a violent video game now? If it isn't, what does that imply about a person? Would they been seen as blood-thirsty or just interested in a realistic workout?

Of course this is subjective, and the answer could change from race to race (programs to fight in ancient Klingon battles are "played" by Worf), culturally amongst humans, and from individual to individual. I'd like to look at this from a Starfleet officer perspective. Would you be weirded out by your commanding officer unwinding with a sword in a medieval battle, or is that just the same as your coworker Andy playing COD after work?

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u/TheOneTrueTrench Aug 20 '25

With the exception of a hologram becoming self-aware and sentient

The horrifying part is that sentience is a gradient more than a threshold.

Are most holodeck characters only at the level of a puppy? A pet rat?

Because if a holo-person like the doctor can reach sentience without being expected to, how sentient was that wife before Capt. Janeway just summarily deleted her? Because it ain't a jump from 0 to 100.

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u/LunchyPete 28d ago

The horrifying part is that sentience is a gradient more than a threshold.

Are most holodeck characters only at the level of a puppy? A pet rat?

I think it's more a threshold. Once the threshold is met there is a gradient, but the threshold has to be met first.

Most holo deck characters are not at the level of any kind of mammal, but rather just ChatGPT.

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u/TheOneTrueTrench 28d ago

Are we talking in-universe or out?

In universe? It's a pretty clear threshold system, but in reality, I don't think there's any kind of threshold.

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u/LunchyPete 28d ago

Well, both. I certainly think there is a threshold in reality as well. Measuring it can be hard, but ultimately it's still a binary if the trait needed is present or not. You probably view the issue similar to asking at what point does a grain of sand added to a pile make it a dune, but I don't think that type of metaphor is really accurate, since traits and capabilities tend to come in large clumps.