The Chip Worshipers
March 10, 2005
A reaction from a reader, Sébastien Tourbier, 36 years old, computer scientist, from the Lille region
I’m horrified by what I just read. The frog being slowly boiled doesn’t realize what’s happening to it. The chip arrives… and there’s nothing that can be done for those who accept it. The essence of today’s human being hasn’t changed in 5,000 years.
In Alexander the Great’s time, people were massacred in order to avenge the burning of Athens. Greek civilization was supposed to spread like a flood. But after ten years of continuous warfare, upon Alexander’s death, the world plunged into civil war. Generals “divided up” the world through massacres and genocides; ordinary citizens became mercenaries. Later, Caesar did the same, dreaming of achieving greatness like Alexander. All of human history is an endless cycle of repetition.
Today, people want to avenge the towers. And it’s started again. “Gorillas” manipulate people’s fears to steal from their neighbors what they don’t have themselves. We’re in the 21st century now; these “gorillas” have all the tools needed to set the planet ablaze. We, mere little chimpanzees, flail around trying to warn our fellow humans, but they cover their ears, close their eyes, and remain silent. (First Company, Chirac as president, Bush back in power, nature deteriorating, Reeves on Fogiel’s show, saying nothing and not being heard!)
What can we do? Wait for aliens to come and take control of our world? Shouldn’t that have happened already? Should we launch a communication campaign, like Greenpeace, to wake people up? Why bother? Reality suits the masses just fine. No one cares! What matters is watching football matches, rushing around during sales, or buying fancy wooden garden furniture before spending time on beaches, basking in the sun.
Behind the scenes, people are preparing for human enslavement. It’s so noisy that it spills over onto the stage during performances. This is normal—it’s part of history: strikes, wars, viruses, climate control, epidemics, deforestation, pollution… and now chips, etc. How wonderful! Let us give thanks to the great human spirit! We must fight all this. But maybe the battle lies elsewhere. After emerging from the oceans, humans created a universe suited to them—or rather, oversized for them. They keep searching for answers to their questions, always in motion. But what exactly are they seeking? They don’t know; they just keep searching for truth. Humans will perish because they’re overwhelmed by possessions—or lack thereof. They can’t find any answers.
They communicate endlessly, hoping to finally understand. As a symbol of unity, people have become addicted to their cell phones. They walk around with phones glued to their ears—a sign of existence, of social recognition. People call Auchan while standing in front of the toilet paper aisle. It’s crucial to stay connected to the collective consciousness. At this point, getting a chip implanted seems like the next logical step—to feel at ease among our peers!
Humans fear death so much that they use artificial means to forget it: “Look, I’m talking on the phone on the street; someone’s calling me. I exist, therefore I’m alive, thus I’m not dead.” Another example: “Look, my phone is green; what color’s yours? Mine’s red, but I take pictures with mine! Mine lets me play Pac-Man.” Who hasn’t seen people laughing and playing with their phones at street corners or in subways? All Western peoples are preparing for this leap into the unknown. This isn’t merely technological evolution; salespeople roam streets and shops wearing earphones, ready for anything. We want to hear another voice, not our own. We no longer want to think; others should do it for us. But there’s danger here.
During World War II, some members of my family died in gas chambers. They marched silently, under barking dogs, listening to commands like “Everything’s fine; you’ll wash yourselves, and then everything will be okay. Keep moving forward!”
After years of mental preparation, months of pressure, everything was ready to bring masses of people to the right place at the right time. Half a century has passed; there are countless testimonies, disturbing images of Nazi camps… yet nothing changes. It’s not just at CNRS where memory fails. Once again, humans ignore their inner voice and listen instead to sweeter, easier voices. It’s simpler: “Have faith, little man; don’t be afraid. We’ll improve your life, ensure your safety, delay your death and suffering. Just extend your hand or neck; it’ll only take seconds. Then evil won’t be able to harm you anymore.”
Humans will sell their souls because they can’t find answers to their questions. They fear death so much, they fear failure so much, that they’ll let others decide for them—without understanding, without realizing, without finding any answers. You’re right: what humans lack is dreams—how to go further, how to fight.