Writers’ Strike

[Mayhem]

Now the actors are going on strike… seemingly they can’t do some cons or appearances either, which puts that sort of show into interesting circumstances if people cancel.

Also if this is true, I’d be ****ing livid too and strike…

“The AI proposal that AMPTP proposed that background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day’s pay, and their companies should own that scan permanently, their image, their likeness and should be able to use it for the rest of eternity on any project they want, with no consent and no compensation. So if you think that’s a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again.” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator said.

[Andrew NDB]

I mean... f***. It's a very different world now with all of that stuff. I can't get mad at them, really. It should be sorted out.

[Barkworm]

The recent developments with AI sure make you wonder how far away we are from Terminator‘s Judgement Day.

[Cowabung-Gal]

Pretty much the only people who are in favor of AI are the ones who benefit from it or have developed it themselves. I got into an argument with a person who saw absolutely nothing wrong with AI art, and as it turned out, if he was indeed telling truth, he helped developed those systems so he wouldn’t have lost his job to AI.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by ToSte

Do we even need those people anymore? A minute on ChatGPT results in more entertaining material than any of the drivel produced these days.

Sums my feelings about those idiots to a "T".

Originally Posted by Barkworm

The recent developments with AI sure make you wonder how far away we are from Terminator‘s Judgement Day.

Stop this redneck fear-mongering.

Modern day AI is barely literate chat-bot, which works exclusively with provided queues. It is not an artificial intellect, since there is no much of intellect at all. While it can become one in the future, it is quite removed from it right now, at least for about decade or so. And even then...STOP THINKING ABOUT FUTURE IN TERMS OF HOLLYWOOD MOVIES, FOR ****'S SAKE!! .
Thank you.

Its probably the most retarded thing about modern generation, who can't make a fart without somehow bringing into it comparison to a movie, they've watched recently, much less we need people who are smarter than them (I hope) to do so.

Originally Posted by Cowabung-Gal

Pretty much the only people who are in favor of AI are the ones who benefit from it or have developed it themselves. I got into an argument with a person who saw absolutely nothing wrong with AI art, and as it turned out, if he was indeed telling truth, he helped developed those systems so he wouldn’t have lost his job to AI.

I am in favor of AI, since I believe in incremental development of society via technology.

After multiple decades of amazing development, we now have quite a few setbacks, due to egomaniacs misappropriating technology to fellate their egos, as well, as red tape surrounding truly groundbreaking ideas, but in due time, those problems will be resolved. Egomaniacs will be confined to their corner and there are always places, which are interested in a progress, as opposed to bureaucratic blabbering about "ethics".

AI will certainly remove some people from jobs, but there will be new jobs, unless lunatics, will start burning computers and machines crying about "glorious past years", burning the world in a process.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Sumac

Modern day AI is barely literate chat-bot, which works exclusively with provided queues. It is not an artificial intellect, since there is no much of intellect at all. While it can become one in the future, it is quite removed from it right now, at least for about decade or so. And even then...STOP THINKING ABOUT FUTURE IN TERMS OF HOLLYWOOD MOVIES, FOR ****'S SAKE!! .
Thank you.

You act as if something like this will start with Terminator robots coming right out of the box. There are steps to this. Even in the fake Hollywood movie, it took years before Skynet got to that point.

AI art might be one of those steps. Though none of us will probably be alive long enough to see it. Probably our great grandkids.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

You act as if something like this will start with Terminator robots coming right out of the box. There are steps to this. Even in the fake Hollywood movie, it took years before Skynet got to that point.

Funny thing - to my knowledge, NO fiction set in Terminator universe had ever elaborated how the **** Skynet got his cyborg army in a post-apocalyptic world, with infrastructure ruined.

Come to think of it for more than two minutes - in original canon, Skynet starts his nuclear attack almost immediately after gaining sentience. At this point he only has generic tanks and jet fighters and maybe some other non-humanoid machines at his disposal.

Nuclear attack destroys not only majority of human militaries (which is debatable, but whatever), but also powerlines and power plants, supply routes, factories and the like, essentially leaving Skynet with no power and materials to build ANYTHING.

How he is gonna rebuild all of it? No-one knows, since tanks and jet fighters are maybe good for killing remaining humans, but they can not build factories or repair power plants (not to mention, where Skynet will get energy, assuming nuclear attack shutdowns most of the power grid and destroys major power plants, meaning they need to rebuild for scratch, which means you need materials and supply routes to deliver them).

Effectively Skynet nuclear attack will hurt Skynet much more than humans, ironically since it will leave Skynet with no means to wage a further war, no energy or materials for it, while humanity will continue to exist, since they don't need energy in the same capacity as Skynet.

TL;DR
Nuclear war waged by Skynet was Cameron's allegory for the potential Hot War between USA and USSR (not to mention looks good in a movie) and it never made sense in universe. If anything, Skynet would have been much more effective, if he created a deadly virus or a neurotoxin. It would left infrastructure intact and it would spelt the doom for the most of the population.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Sumac

Stop this redneck fear-mongering.

I don't think Barkworm is that at all. He's on the other side. But maybe he's learned a thing or two over the years.

Originally Posted by Sumac

Funny thing - to my knowledge, NO fiction set in Terminator universe had ever elaborated how the **** Skynet got his cyborg army in a post-apocalyptic world, with infrastructure ruined.

Come to think of it for more than two minutes - in original canon, Skynet starts his nuclear attack almost immediately after gaining sentience. At this point he only has generic tanks and jet fighters and maybe some other non-humanoid machines at his disposal.

Nuclear attack destroys not only majority of human militaries (which is debatable, but whatever), but also powerlines and power plants, supply routes, factories and the like, essentially leaving Skynet with no power and materials to build ANYTHING.

How he is gonna rebuild all of it? No-one knows, since tanks and jet fighters are maybe good for killing remaining humans, but they can not build factories or repair power plants (not to mention, where Skynet will get energy, assuming nuclear attack shutdowns most of the power grid and destroys major power plants, meaning they need to rebuild for scratch, which means you need materials and supply routes to deliver them).

Effectively Skynet nuclear attack will hurt Skynet much more than humans, ironically since it will leave Skynet with no means to wage a further war, no energy or materials for it, while humanity will continue to exist, since they don't need energy in the same capacity as Skynet.

TL;DR
Nuclear war waged by Skynet was Cameron's allegory for the potential Hot War between USA and USSR (not to mention looks good in a movie) and it never made sense in universe. If anything, Skynet would have been much more effective, if he created a deadly virus or a neurotoxin. It would left infrastructure intact and it would spelt the doom for the most of the population.

It's not a bad question. For all I know there's novels and comics about this stuff, but head canon... the criss-crossing nukes happen, bombing everyone and everything into oblivion. Then both sides are bought time. The humans to regroup in small pockets into TechCOM, and the machines in identifying like nuclear plants untouched by the devastation or hydro-electric dams and such. Then the crude assembly lines start rolling, like we saw in Salvation. Then by the time the humans are even organized enough to do anything at all, the machines are up and running in decent numbers. But yeesh... it's hard to imagine that happening, mostly on the human side.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

It's not a bad question. For all I know there's novels and comics about this stuff, but head canon... the criss-crossing nukes happen, bombing everyone and everything into oblivion. Then both sides are bought time. The humans to regroup in small pockets into TechCOM, and the machines in identifying like nuclear plants untouched by the devastation or hydro-electric dams and such. Then the crude assembly lines start rolling, like we saw in Salvation. Then by the time the humans are even organized enough to do anything at all, the machines are up and running in decent numbers. But yeesh... it's hard to imagine that happening, mostly on the human side.

In T1 Kyle says that no-one knew who had started a war, until somehow army of cyborgs appeared out of thin air. So humans couldn't start resistance, since they didn't even know who they were supposed to fight against at the time.

Likewise, Skynet might have bought a time, but then what? Who will create supply lines? Repair and built power plants and factories? All of those was supposed to be maintained by humans, if we go by an original T1/T2 canon. Even by T3/T4 canons. There were neither humanoid machines nor automated factories at the start of the war. At least none of it was mentioned in the movies themselves.

Even Skynet taking human into slavery is not working, since who actually going to hunt and round up humans? Who will build those labor camps and assembly lines in the first place? Tanks? Jet fighters?

I understand what Cameron was going for, but Terminator universe is not very well thought off.

I can headcanon all of this in 5 minutes, but it won't count for anything, sadly.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Sumac

In T1 Kyle says that no-one knew who had started a war, until somehow army of cyborgs appeared out of thin air. So humans couldn't start resistance, since they didn't even know who they were supposed to fight against at the time.

Likewise, Skynet might have bought a time, but then what? Who will create supply lines? Repair and built power plants and factories? All of those was supposed to be maintained by humans, if we go by an original T1/T2 canon. Even by T3/T4 canons. There were neither humanoid machines nor automated factories at the start of the war. At least none of it was mentioned in the movies themselves.

Even Skynet taking human into slavery is not working, since who actually going to hunt and round up humans? Who will build those labor camps and assembly lines in the first place? Tanks? Jet fighters?

I understand what Cameron was going for, but Terminator universe is not very well thought off.

I can headcanon all of this in 5 minutes, but it won't count for anything, sadly.

It'd basically have to be the T-1s and mini HKs from T3 doing all of the heavy lifting. Which is... hard to imagine for sure, in 2004 when it is set, and even harder during the original timeline when we're talking 1997. Though even if key military installations were bombed by the Russians or whatnot, there'd still be bunkers deep down intact with redundancy backup power. Like, we have this right now. And in the Terminator universe, T3 said SkyNET was tied into all of them. So it'd just really take one with the ability to produce stuff (like tanks, or basic machinery) and probably some T-1s and SkyNET coordinating to get some stuff done. Which wouldn't happen fast. But possible.

It's the humans into TechCOM stuff I have trouble wrapping my brain around. They all just got nuked and have no idea there's about to be a machine uprising... I guess they just cluster into radioactive survival clusters until the machines started showing up taking slaves.

[Barkworm]

Being called a redneck is definitely a first for me. I also enjoyed how Andrew's reply sounds like "fear-mongering redneck" is something you need a college degree for or something.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

It'd basically have to be the T-1s and mini HKs from T3 doing all of the heavy lifting. Which is... hard to imagine for sure, in 2004 when it is set, and even harder during the original timeline when we're talking 1997. Though even if key military installations were bombed by the Russians or whatnot, there'd still be bunkers deep down intact with redundancy backup power. Like, we have this right now. And in the Terminator universe, T3 said SkyNET was tied into all of them. So it'd just really take one with the ability to produce stuff (like tanks, or basic machinery) and probably some T-1s and SkyNET coordinating to get some stuff done. Which wouldn't happen fast. But possible.

It's the humans into TechCOM stuff I have trouble wrapping my brain around. They all just got nuked and have no idea there's about to be a machine uprising... I guess they just cluster into radioactive survival clusters until the machines started showing up taking slaves.

There is another problem - Skynet is supposedly connected to all other machines via either wireless connection, most likely satellites (IDK, if it fits into T1/T2 canon). But if he wants to take over other machines, then he'd need other means like wired networks or wi-fi (once again, not sure if it fits OG canon).

Now, I am not sure, if I know what I am talking about, but I think a lot of nuclear explosions will cause a lot of electromagnetic impulses, which will fry electronic equipment and cause disruption in connections. Once again, due to destruction of power grid, a lot of data centers and servers and internet connection relays will be out of power or destroyed, so once again Skynet hurts itself much more than humans. It ends up without supply lines, materials and connections, which in his case is probably most vital for him, since Skynet is effectively just a code in a computer and it can't go anywhere. And there is no-one to move him anywhere.

It makes T3 look dumb, BTW, because, nuclear strike on power grid and Internet grid will hurt Skynet, if it spread throughout the net. Its like he cuts parts of its own body. Though, maybe he is OK with it.

As for human resistance, there are also a lot of questions. So US and Russia (USSR) major population centers are destroyed, but its not like Skynet launched nukes at every single village. Then there are other countries with and without nukes. Unless Skynet literally threw every single nuclear bomb at every single major and minor city, town and village, half of humanity should be alright. T2 even says that Skynet initial attack had killed 3 billion people and if we go by beginning of the 90s it would be around 50% of population of the planet.

And what about countries with nukes? If Skynet attacks them they bomb US ground twice, making even more damage to Skynet himself in the process. If not they relatively left intact. Yes, a lot of ground and atmosphere will poisoned and, of course, there are problems with supply routes and food shortages, but nothing which humanity would not be able to overcome with the time.

Which means that most of human non-US and Russia military should be intact to counter Skynet attack...which would be conducted exactly how, since Skynet in US and unless he has bases in Europe, Asia and Africa, which is doubtful, how does he plan attack humanity across the oceans?

And how does Skynet rounds up humans throughout the world to work for it? Most likely scenario, Skynet works only in the US, while the rest of the world deals with the consequences of the nuclear war and maybe not even aware of the war between humans and machines in US.

Oh, and another problem - where Skynet take additional fuel for his machines when they run out of gas and electricity, if military facilities are destroyed.

Basically, as I said before Terminator universe logic doesn't really work, if you think about it.

There is a lot of room for very interesting sci-fi stories, but most people will just either skip to Future War or "one cyborg chases other across time".

[TheCanadiandrome]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Now the actors are going on strike… seemingly they can’t do some cons or appearances either, which puts that sort of show into interesting circumstances if people cancel.

I don’t see who the strike affects them going to coneventions but sure


This thread makes me giggle, funny how it can go from chatting about the “Writers Strike” and now the actors going on strike supposedly, to full on bonkers mode talking about AI which has nothing to do with anything

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by TheCanadiandrome

I don’t see who the strike affects them going to coneventions but sure


This thread makes me giggle, funny how it can go from chatting about the “Writers Strike” and now the actors going on strike supposedly, to full on bonkers mode talking about AI which has nothing to do with anything

Not sure about exactly why but for whatever reason they're not allowed to do cons until the strike is over.

[Mayhem]

Yes, SAG union rules during strike prevent certain convention and personal appearances, among other things. Probably tying in with film promotions, so if you are a current actor, you might be screwed. Anyone who last appeared in a film in the 90s but still a member is probably okay.

[Andrew NDB]

Guaranteed, though, when this strike is over you're going to see a ton more of movies and TV shows disappearing from streamers.

[Mayhem]

Okay more appearance strike rules from SAG have emerged, basically you can make appearances, do cons, and do signings, but you can't promote a banned show/producer, can't talk about any character from the shows, and anything you provide to sign can't be from a slated show/film (but anything people bring you to sign is okay). Not sure about signing character names on pieces, that's still being clarified.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

but you can't promote a banned show/producer,

wtf is a "banned show"?

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

wtf is a "banned show"?

One that's been sanctioned by the union as it is produced by one of the studios that the strike is levelled against. So effectively anything from Universal, Sony, Paramount, Disney, Warner Bros and loads more.

Okay "banned" is probably the wrong word, but anyone in SAG AFTRA can't promote or say anything about any production from those studios, they are restricted from doing so by virtue of being in the union. Thus, well, "banned" from saying a word.

[Cowabung-Gal]

While they are screaming for higher pay, the actors who are on strike are gonna lose their jobs anyway because Hollywood can’t afford them.