Would you want to be a shellperson? - A Meeting of Minds

**Cheryl** · Nov 28 2004, 03:45 PM

If you had the option of being a shellperson or being a "softshell", which would you choose? If you were a shellperson, what role would you like (brainship, city manager...)

I'd have to say that the brain/computing power of a shellperson is attractive, along with the abilities of a brainship. But to never have personal/physical human contact with anyone... that would be a lot to give up voluntarily. If I had no other choice (i.e. I suffered from the physical problems that lead to the creation of shellpeople) I definitely would want to be one, and be a brainship!

AnnMarie · Nov 28 2004, 05:01 PM

If it were a choice of being a Shellperson or being DEAD... I'd take the shellperson...IF I was under 15. Any older than that, and I doubt very much I'd be able to adapt to it.

Now, City or Ship? Well, a ship sees so much more..... but a city can CONTROL so much more.....decsions decisions......

granath · Nov 28 2004, 05:07 PM

I agree. If the choice was to be shelled or to die, I'd choose to be shelled, and to be a ship. The first thing I'd do would be to try and get myself a Moto-Prosthetics body, though.

Anareth · Nov 28 2004, 09:38 PM

If my options were shellperson or dead, I'd pick shellperson, regardless of how old I was. (Hey, if you're going to die anyway, might as well give it a shot.) If we're playing 'death is not an option'...hm. Tough call. Probably brawn, but don't make me swear to it.

As a ship--I think it would be fun to be a city/station like Simeon, though I'd like someplace a bit closer to civilization....

Shani · Nov 29 2004, 06:33 AM

I think I might go for it. The lack of contact would be a problem I think but then there's those bodies you could get for yourself so that takes care of that....

Linmag · Nov 30 2004, 12:57 PM

If it were a question of giving up the life I have now to become a shellperson, the answer would be no. If it were a hypothetical case with the usual choice between a shell or a wheelchair (or worse), then I would go for the shell, and hope to get a job administering a large institution such as a hospital or a university.

Larry Lea O-G · Dec 3 2004, 04:41 PM

To be a brain alive in a body that no longer responds and have the option to be a shellperson powering a ship OK I would do that.

Lara · Dec 8 2004, 12:34 PM

What a question for a claustrophobic!

Of course, like others, I'd rather be shelled than dead, and I think I'd choose to be a City, on a planet. Space is too big and empty for me!

Faren · Dec 12 2004, 02:14 AM

I'd opt for a shellperson's life if that was my only option. I wouldn't choose it if I was healthy though. And if I were a shellperson...I think I'd opt for a city job.

edith · Dec 13 2004, 07:29 PM

shelled rather than dead. ship or working in a lab if possible.

Saphirdrache · Feb 24 2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara

What a question for a claustrophobic!

Of course, like others, I'd rather be shelled than dead, and I think I'd choose to be a City, on a planet. Space is too big and empty for me!

Oh, Lara i do understand. I am claustrophibic. Dad's was a fullblown case of said, but mine is stress-induced only. For both of us, being able to see around us and sense whether room and space are really there or not, are key! In a shell, all the senses are so dramatically augmented (thinking particularily of Nancia here), that that would seem a vast improvement on basic biological optical/aural/nerve imputs and interpretations.

So yes, i would opt for a new titanium wardrobe in a heartbeat if the option was isolation in a responseless body, or worse.

As for choosing between a being a City Brain or a Brain Ship, wow... tough choice! I like the idea of seeing places in the wide universe only a few might see. But i also delight at the aspect of being a City Brain. That's really tough to choose, but since i do like to go, do and see new things as it is, being a Brain Ship seems the logical choice.

Dragonsqueen · Feb 28 2005, 08:12 PM

I'd only want to be a shell person if I was physically disabled, like had an accident or something, cause otherwise I couldn't stand not having human contact etc. But I'd want to be a ship, cause I'd go mad not being able to move around!

Jolèt · Jul 29 2005, 07:57 AM

i'd also choose being a shellperson rather than being dead, but preferably on-planet; and YES TO GRANATH i would also find myself a moto-prosthetics body as soon as i can afford it.

Rainbrith · Apr 2 2006, 09:54 PM

I'd rather be shelled if I had to, but it would be a hard choice of where to be, city or ship. Maybe a reaserch facility. I don't think I'd like to be in charge of a lot of stuff like a city, but I would enjoy researching. Though the ships get to go places and I would like to travel in space... A research ship! And I would get a synthetic body too.

Weyrwoman Kalina · Apr 4 2006, 08:03 PM

Well, if it was an option between life or death, I'd be a shellperson in a heartbeat!

But otherwise I think I'd like to be a Brawn... that just sounds rather attractive.

Kugai · Apr 21 2006, 05:30 AM

Hmmmmm .... I think if it came down to it, I probably would go for being placed in a Shell. As for Occupation, I would definately go fo Ship Life (Armed to the Teeth, of course

) and I'd most likely get one of the Moto Bodies as soon as I could afford it.

Topaz the Golden · Apr 23 2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by granath

I agree. If the choice was to be shelled or to die, I'd choose to be shelled, and to be a ship. The first thing I'd do would be to try and get myself a Moto-Prosthetics body, though.

Shelled, I just not ready to die yet. Under on condition I have to have a Moto-Prosthetics body. At this point in my life I need to be able to touch things.

Becky · Apr 23 2006, 10:30 PM

I think it would be interesting to be a Shellperson. I'm not sure if I'd want to be a city or a ship tho. Even tho you're limited in mobility there are so many other compensations to being a shellperson. Helva is such a wonderful example and one I'd like to think I would emulate, attitude wise that is. Hmmmm.... I'm gonna have to re-read that series now I think.

c_ris · Apr 24 2006, 06:45 AM

Just think of the extra senses a shellperson has over us puny 'softshells'!

Kath · Apr 24 2006, 02:33 PM

Shell person, no doubt about it. As for my new career - it'd have to be a ship. The standard runs would pass the time while the debt was cleared, but then I'd be straight out off out into the deeps of space.

annachie · May 7 2006, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Lea O-G

To be a brain alive in a body that no longer responds and have the option to be a shellperson powering a ship OK I would do that.

You know, this is really a good question for Stephen Hawkings, assuming that he'd read the books of course.

Aparently my nearly 3 yr old wants to be a shell person.

edith · May 9 2006, 12:20 PM

he'd've been too old, they only found out what he had when he was starting his doctorate- there was a v good program about him ages ago.- though I guess they could have found it earlier even now.

granath · May 10 2006, 04:53 AM

All of us would probably be too old to join a brainship program... ALS tends to strike people in their twenties and later.

Milander · Apr 30 2007, 09:13 PM

To my mind this is a kind of 'no brainer' question.. sorry, cheryl. I know Anne mentions in the books that the psych shock is something that an adult cannot endure, but assuming for one moment that they can I can easily imagine a future where a persons brain would be removed at or slightly before the point of death and placed in a 'brain container' for allocation at a future time. I could also imagine a person carrying a card saying 'do not remove my brain when I die'... or something along those lines.

I'm not sure, given the choice if I'd go for brain ship or city brain... I must admit that being the brain on a military ship did give me goose bumps but I'd probably opt for being a library brain in preference. :-)

**Cheryl** · Apr 30 2007, 09:18 PM

I figured most people would say yes, but you never know!

Welcome to the MoM forum, Milander!

edith · May 1 2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milander

To my mind this is a kind of 'no brainer' question.. sorry, cheryl. I know Anne mentions in the books that the psych shock is something that an adult cannot endure, but assuming for one moment that they can I can easily imagine a future where a persons brain would be removed at or slightly before the point of death and placed in a 'brain container' for allocation at a future time. I could also imagine a person carrying a card saying 'do not remove my brain when I die'... or something along those lines.

I'm not sure, given the choice if I'd go for brain ship or city brain... I must admit that being the brain on a military ship did give me goose bumps but I'd probably opt for being a library brain in preference. :-)

I've forgotten the name of the story but Anne has written a story with a brain brain- It's in The Girl Who Heard Dragons

granath · May 9 2007, 05:01 PM

Yes, she's researched the subject from other angles. Wasn't that particular brain partnered with a Hrruban as well?

edith · May 9 2007, 07:24 PM

Yep, I liked that story- I think I started a thread on it as I was a little confused.

Khaki · May 10 2007, 02:46 PM

yes, since I am physically handicapped now and getting worse, I would be a shell peson. I love to travel so a ship maybe, but that is very dangerous and I am not sure I am brave enough. So maybe in a lab, not sure of that.

jube · May 10 2007, 10:50 PM

I think a Brainship, especially if you started young, coz at least you have a chance to adapt better to it then someone older, although having said that the possibility exists that if I was my age then and worked in the military services or similiar, I could possibly cope with it.

Gidget2 · Jul 3 2007, 02:44 PM

I'd ship myself in a heartbeat!!! Not a question. I love the description that Nancia gives about comparing a particualr type of flying to surfing the crest of a wave. Fantastic.

To the Horsehead Nebula!

Topaz the Golden · Jul 7 2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by granath

I agree. If the choice was to be shelled or to die, I'd choose to be shelled, and to be a ship. The first thing I'd do would be to try and get myself a Moto-Prosthetics body, though.

Me too.

mawra · Jul 7 2007, 03:08 PM

I would love to be a ship brain. I love to travel so would hate to be stuck to 1 place for long. Altho watching all the people around you grow old & die would be VERY difficult. Maybe the trick would be getting a new brawn every few years so you do not have to watch them grow old & die.

Gidget2 · Jul 9 2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawofone

I would love to be a ship brain. I love to travel so would hate to be stuck to 1 place for long. Altho watching all the people around you grow old & die would be VERY difficult. Maybe the trick would be getting a new brawn every few years so you do not have to watch them grow old & die.

LOL Whilst being quite careful to not accrue penalties for bouncing Brains like some of them did!!

I think that I would like to be paired for someone for a long term partnership, although make sure that they retired healthy and happy (accidents notwithstanding). I don't think that I could be a serial Brawn lover!!

Lady Maelin · Jul 17 2007, 12:39 AM

Being a "Ship" brain...I think that would be far to lonely for me...I would want to have people around me. I could feel very useful taking care of a city...like as if they were my children. You would have to be careful not to fall into the "God" syndrome...

L'isa · Jul 25 2007, 04:57 PM

If I had no choice, I would want to be a Shellperson, yes. But in the city. At least there were always people around. In a ship, it would be less people and more likely more often changing people. In the city, you would have more people and more of a chance to get to know more people around you.
My

FlameCat · Jul 25 2007, 07:26 PM

Between death and a Shellperson: A Shellperson, but i'm a landlubber so no brainship for me!

Cynth · Feb 12 2008, 12:49 AM

I don't think I would do very well as a shell person because of the lack of human touch.
But to have the freedom of a brainship and to go anywhere I wanted...given the choice...I would try it.

Nina · Feb 13 2008, 05:18 PM

If it was at birth and a dicision had to be made, I would like someone to make me a shellperson. I do not think that the kind of math involved for a brain ship would be for me, so another duty maybe like teatcher or instructor in the city.

As an adult I would much rather go to Ballybran and try my luck there.

kevia · Mar 26 2008, 03:40 PM

As others have said, if it was between that and living my life too damaged to feel anything anyway, then you bet I'd go into a shell. I don't really think I'd enjoy being a brainship. But I'm also not sure I would enjoy running a city. If there was the need for that kind of power to run a library, but that would be overkill, so maybe some large university system, or other kind of institution.

Nov 28 2004, 03:45 PM	#1
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Would you want to be a shellperson? If you had the option of being a shellperson or being a "softshell", which would you choose? If you were a shellperson, what role would you like (brainship, city manager...) I'd have to say that the brain/computing power of a shellperson is attractive, along with the abilities of a brainship. But to never have personal/physical human contact with anyone... that would be a lot to give up voluntarily. If I had no other choice (i.e. I suffered from the physical problems that lead to the creation of shellpeople) I definitely would want to be one, and be a brainship! __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Nov 28 2004, 05:01 PM	#2
AnnMarie Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On the Edge Gender: F Fan of: Pern and Talent Now Reading: The Name of the Rose	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? If it were a choice of being a Shellperson or being DEAD... I'd take the shellperson...IF I was under 15. Any older than that, and I doubt very much I'd be able to adapt to it. Now, City or Ship? Well, a ship sees so much more..... but a city can CONTROL so much more.....decsions decisions......

Nov 28 2004, 05:07 PM	#3
granath Talent Tower Prime Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Proud Mom! Gender: F Fan of: Afra Lyon Now Reading: PiF	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I agree. If the choice was to be shelled or to die, I'd choose to be shelled, and to be a ship. The first thing I'd do would be to try and get myself a Moto-Prosthetics body, though. __________________ Decaf coffee is an oxymoron. Instant coffee is an abomination. Give me the real thing and nobody gets hurt. "Do. Or do not. There is no try" -- Yoda VP of the Afra Lyon fan club!

Nov 28 2004, 09:38 PM	#4
Anareth Journeywoman Healer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Here and There Gender: F Fan of: Pern, Ship Series Now Reading: Girl Genius (read it!)	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? If my options were shellperson or dead, I'd pick shellperson, regardless of how old I was. (Hey, if you're going to die anyway, might as well give it a shot.) If we're playing 'death is not an option'...hm. Tough call. Probably brawn, but don't make me swear to it. As a ship--I think it would be fun to be a city/station like Simeon, though I'd like someplace a bit closer to civilization.... __________________ Read "Strange Roads" Keep the Heat on for Book 3

Nov 29 2004, 06:33 AM	#5
Shani Inactive Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Australia Gender: F	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I think I might go for it. The lack of contact would be a problem I think but then there's those bodies you could get for yourself so that takes care of that....

Nov 30 2004, 12:57 PM	#6
Linmag Inactive Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Gloucester UK	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? If it were a question of giving up the life I have now to become a shellperson, the answer would be no. If it were a hypothetical case with the usual choice between a shell or a wheelchair (or worse), then I would go for the shell, and hope to get a job administering a large institution such as a hospital or a university.

Dec 3 2004, 04:41 PM	#7
Larry Lea O-G Inactive Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Louisville, KY USA Gender: M Fan of: Moreta/Nerilka's story Now Reading: A Gift of Dragons	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? To be a brain alive in a body that no longer responds and have the option to be a shellperson powering a ship OK I would do that.

Dec 8 2004, 12:34 PM	#8
Lara Inactive Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Annecy, France Gender: F Fan of: Pern,Petaybee,Freedom Now Reading: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? What a question for a claustrophobic! Of course, like others, I'd rather be shelled than dead, and I think I'd choose to be a City, on a planet. Space is too big and empty for me! Last edited by Lara; Dec 8 2004 at 07:19 PM. Reason: Clarification.

Dec 12 2004, 02:14 AM	#9
Faren Inactive Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Fan of: Talent and Freedom Series Now Reading: Invisible Prey, John Sandford	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I'd opt for a shellperson's life if that was my only option. I wouldn't choose it if I was healthy though. And if I were a shellperson...I think I'd opt for a city job.

Dec 13 2004, 07:29 PM	#10
edith Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Delft Gender: F Fan of: Most of them :) Now Reading: Don't You Have Time To Think- RP Feynman	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? shelled rather than dead. ship or working in a lab if possible.

Feb 28 2005, 08:12 PM	#12
Dragonsqueen Inactive Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the sea, NZ born! Gender: F	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I'd only want to be a shell person if I was physically disabled, like had an accident or something, cause otherwise I couldn't stand not having human contact etc. But I'd want to be a ship, cause I'd go mad not being able to move around!

Jul 29 2005, 07:57 AM	#13
Jolèt Inactive Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Gender: F	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? i'd also choose being a shellperson rather than being dead, but preferably on-planet; and YES TO GRANATH i would also find myself a moto-prosthetics body as soon as i can afford it.

Apr 2 2006, 09:54 PM	#14
Rainbrith Inactive Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Launceston Tasmania Australia Gender: F Fan of: All Dragon Riders books Now Reading: Dragonlover's Guide to Pern	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I'd rather be shelled if I had to, but it would be a hard choice of where to be, city or ship. Maybe a reaserch facility. I don't think I'd like to be in charge of a lot of stuff like a city, but I would enjoy researching. Though the ships get to go places and I would like to travel in space... A research ship! And I would get a synthetic body too.

Apr 4 2006, 08:03 PM	#15
Weyrwoman Kalina Inactive Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Wherever I am :D Gender: F Fan of: Crystal Singer series! Now Reading: Moreta	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Well, if it was an option between life or death, I'd be a shellperson in a heartbeat! But otherwise I think I'd like to be a Brawn... that just sounds rather attractive.

Apr 21 2006, 05:30 AM	#16
Kugai Crazy Kiwi Shoujo-Ai Fan Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wellington NEW ZEALAND Gender: M Fan of: Tower and Hive Series Now Reading: Whatever takes my fancy at the moment	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Hmmmmm .... I think if it came down to it, I probably would go for being placed in a Shell. As for Occupation, I would definately go fo Ship Life (Armed to the Teeth, of course ) and I'd most likely get one of the Moto Bodies as soon as I could afford it. __________________ JAMES THE You can never have too much Coffee FanFic Original Homepage FreeBabylon5 FreeBabylon5 Website

Apr 23 2006, 10:30 PM	#18
Becky Coelura Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington Gender: F Fan of: Fav character - Lunzie Now Reading: Love reading Lanen's books too	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I think it would be interesting to be a Shellperson. I'm not sure if I'd want to be a city or a ship tho. Even tho you're limited in mobility there are so many other compensations to being a shellperson. Helva is such a wonderful example and one I'd like to think I would emulate, attitude wise that is. Hmmmm.... I'm gonna have to re-read that series now I think. __________________ Becky aka Coelura1

Apr 24 2006, 06:45 AM	#19
c_ris Journeyman Harper Roedin Wing Second Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Great Britain Gender: M Fan of: the Dragonriders of Pern! Now Reading: The Elder Gods - Eddings	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Just think of the extra senses a shellperson has over us puny 'softshells'! __________________ Roedin Of Pern "When a harper is silenced, all men should listen harder." AtWoP

Apr 24 2006, 02:33 PM	#20
Kath Starsmith Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oop North Fan of: Moreta	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Shell person, no doubt about it. As for my new career - it'd have to be a ship. The standard runs would pass the time while the debt was cleared, but then I'd be straight out off out into the deeps of space.

May 9 2006, 12:20 PM	#22
edith Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Delft Gender: F Fan of: Most of them :) Now Reading: Don't You Have Time To Think- RP Feynman	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? he'd've been too old, they only found out what he had when he was starting his doctorate- there was a v good program about him ages ago.- though I guess they could have found it earlier even now.

May 10 2006, 04:53 AM	#23
granath Talent Tower Prime Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Proud Mom! Gender: F Fan of: Afra Lyon Now Reading: PiF	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? All of us would probably be too old to join a brainship program... ALS tends to strike people in their twenties and later. __________________ Decaf coffee is an oxymoron. Instant coffee is an abomination. Give me the real thing and nobody gets hurt. "Do. Or do not. There is no try" -- Yoda VP of the Afra Lyon fan club!

Apr 30 2007, 09:13 PM	#24
Milander Inactive Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hungary Gender: M Fan of: The ship who... series Now Reading: Going Postal - Terry Pratchett	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? To my mind this is a kind of 'no brainer' question.. sorry, cheryl. I know Anne mentions in the books that the psych shock is something that an adult cannot endure, but assuming for one moment that they can I can easily imagine a future where a persons brain would be removed at or slightly before the point of death and placed in a 'brain container' for allocation at a future time. I could also imagine a person carrying a card saying 'do not remove my brain when I die'... or something along those lines. I'm not sure, given the choice if I'd go for brain ship or city brain... I must admit that being the brain on a military ship did give me goose bumps but I'd probably opt for being a library brain in preference. :-)

Apr 30 2007, 09:18 PM	#25
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I figured most people would say yes, but you never know! Welcome to the MoM forum, Milander! __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

May 9 2007, 05:01 PM	#27
granath Talent Tower Prime Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Proud Mom! Gender: F Fan of: Afra Lyon Now Reading: PiF	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Yes, she's researched the subject from other angles. Wasn't that particular brain partnered with a Hrruban as well? __________________ Decaf coffee is an oxymoron. Instant coffee is an abomination. Give me the real thing and nobody gets hurt. "Do. Or do not. There is no try" -- Yoda VP of the Afra Lyon fan club!

May 9 2007, 07:24 PM	#28
edith Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Delft Gender: F Fan of: Most of them :) Now Reading: Don't You Have Time To Think- RP Feynman	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Yep, I liked that story- I think I started a thread on it as I was a little confused.

May 10 2007, 02:46 PM	#29
Khaki Inactive Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern/Tower&Hive + Now Reading: The Skies of Pern	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? yes, since I am physically handicapped now and getting worse, I would be a shell peson. I love to travel so a ship maybe, but that is very dangerous and I am not sure I am brave enough. So maybe in a lab, not sure of that.

May 10 2007, 10:50 PM	#30
jube Dolphineer Journeywoman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Gender: F Fan of: Dragons of Pern Now Reading: Puzzles and my thesaurus!	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I think a Brainship, especially if you started young, coz at least you have a chance to adapt better to it then someone older, although having said that the possibility exists that if I was my age then and worked in the military services or similiar, I could possibly cope with it.

Jul 3 2007, 02:44 PM	#31
Gidget2 Brainship Courier Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Wiltshire, England Gender: M Fan of: The Ship Series Now Reading: Dragonheart, baby!	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I'd ship myself in a heartbeat!!! Not a question. I love the description that Nancia gives about comparing a particualr type of flying to surfing the crest of a wave. Fantastic. To the Horsehead Nebula!

Jul 7 2007, 03:08 PM	#33
mawra Dolphin Friend Craftmaster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CONCORD VA Gender: F Fan of: PERN Now Reading: Dolphins of Pern and Queens ow	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I would love to be a ship brain. I love to travel so would hate to be stuck to 1 place for long. Altho watching all the people around you grow old & die would be VERY difficult. Maybe the trick would be getting a new brawn every few years so you do not have to watch them grow old & die. __________________ MEDDLE NOT IN THE AFAIRS OF DRAGONS, FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY & GOOD WITH CHOCOLATE SO MANY BOOKS SO LITTLE TIME DRIVING SMART KEEPS YOU ALIVE

Jul 17 2007, 12:39 AM	#35
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Being a "Ship" brain...I think that would be far to lonely for me...I would want to have people around me. I could feel very useful taking care of a city...like as if they were my children. You would have to be careful not to fall into the "God" syndrome... __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Jul 25 2007, 04:57 PM	#36
L'isa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Paradise Gender: F Fan of: Dragonflight Now Reading: Xenocide	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? If I had no choice, I would want to be a Shellperson, yes. But in the city. At least there were always people around. In a ship, it would be less people and more likely more often changing people. In the city, you would have more people and more of a chance to get to know more people around you. My __________________ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Jul 25 2007, 07:26 PM	#37
FlameCat Dragonrider Candidate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: England Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Grimm's Fairy Tales	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? Between death and a Shellperson: A Shellperson, but i'm a landlubber so no brainship for me!

Feb 12 2008, 12:49 AM	#38
Cynth Inactive Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada Gender: F Fan of: Planet Pirates Now Reading: Alternative Care For Ruminants - Dr. Dettloff	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? I don't think I would do very well as a shell person because of the lack of human touch. But to have the freedom of a brainship and to go anywhere I wanted...given the choice...I would try it.

Feb 13 2008, 05:18 PM	#39
Nina Talent Finder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denmark Gender: F Fan of: The Talent series Now Reading: almost a book a day	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? If it was at birth and a dicision had to be made, I would like someone to make me a shellperson. I do not think that the kind of math involved for a brain ship would be for me, so another duty maybe like teatcher or instructor in the city. As an adult I would much rather go to Ballybran and try my luck there. __________________ Nina The Rowan is my favourite! "The name rowan is believed to derive from the Norse runa - "a charm". It was often planted outside houses to ward off witches. On May Day a spray of rowan leaves was hung over doors to repel evil, and wells dressed with rowan to keep witches away. The rowan, or mountain ash, is found commonly in Scotland, sometimes clinging to a rock face."

Mar 26 2008, 03:40 PM	#40
kevia Ballybran Resident Tuner Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere in the USA Gender: F Fan of: Nimisha's Ship Now Reading: Crystal Line	Re: Would you want to be a shellperson? As others have said, if it was between that and living my life too damaged to feel anything anyway, then you bet I'd go into a shell. I don't really think I'd enjoy being a brainship. But I'm also not sure I would enjoy running a city. If there was the need for that kind of power to run a library, but that would be overkill, so maybe some large university system, or other kind of institution. __________________ Kevia