jenalysis
Midnight Weather Witch
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This idea came to me through a social media discussion.
I was trying to think of a future world where there are biological enhancements instead of cyber enhancements, due to advances in genetics. Certain core ideas
1) Climate Change has led to a severe population decline- mostly on the backs of the poor. There's not a lot of poverty because the poor die.
2) Folks modify themselves through genetic therapy, and full-body transplants into specifically engineered clone bodies are possible, though it requires an intact nervous system (or at least brain) and several weeks of recovery. This is not immortality as the brain itself can rot, most deaths are due to brain disease, but lifespan of the brain can reach 150 years or so. It is doable to switch race or gender- which has eroded norms among the rich, though lighter skin is preferred in general.
3) Folks are genetically engineered to be as fertile as possible to increase fertility for repopulation.
4) Automation has made little need for labor. Most wealth is inherited, and jobs are considered a mark of high ability, and one of the few ways to rise in status.
5) Beacuse of this, competitive games are a common way for folks to pass the time, and to feel alive. Hedonism and self body-modification (if it can be afforded) is another. There's almost an enterprenurial spirit in how one can modify themselves, though it occasionally has disasterous results. There are a number of mad geneticists.
6) Megacorps are a thing, as is vertical integration, though most corps are now driven by power more than profit, as the profits have become effectively infinite. However, folks are wary of ecological damage, and this crates a balance of power dynamic where no corp is truly able to become too powerful.
7) Children are cherished due to underpopulation, but mostly for their potential to become talented and make corps more powerful with creativity. Those who show potential are given the keys to move up in society, those who aren't are given a stipend to become consumer drones and left to their own devices (and maybe one or two will show hidden potential) Due to boredom, most folks either disappear into the internet compltely, or become guinea pigs just to have something to live for.
8) Crime is largely a function of boredom, and largely ineffective as police are pretty thorough. Criminals who are good enough to get away with it are considered talented and rehabilitated. Those who aren't are generally not treated well.
9) Due to climate change, fashion has evolved into lighter clothing, with shorts, skirts, tanktops, and minidresses being fashionable. Sandals are common footwear in high-class area. Hairstyles also tend to be short, or none at all.
10) A global solution to climate change had been found, and enforced through negotiations and the balance of power. As such, global warming's pace of increase has slowed, though it will be 2-3 centuries before things are back to normal. It was found in time just before things snowballed uncontrollably.
Can anyone think of any questions that such a world might need to answer as part of its worldbuilding?
I was trying to think of a future world where there are biological enhancements instead of cyber enhancements, due to advances in genetics. Certain core ideas
1) Climate Change has led to a severe population decline- mostly on the backs of the poor. There's not a lot of poverty because the poor die.
2) Folks modify themselves through genetic therapy, and full-body transplants into specifically engineered clone bodies are possible, though it requires an intact nervous system (or at least brain) and several weeks of recovery. This is not immortality as the brain itself can rot, most deaths are due to brain disease, but lifespan of the brain can reach 150 years or so. It is doable to switch race or gender- which has eroded norms among the rich, though lighter skin is preferred in general.
3) Folks are genetically engineered to be as fertile as possible to increase fertility for repopulation.
4) Automation has made little need for labor. Most wealth is inherited, and jobs are considered a mark of high ability, and one of the few ways to rise in status.
5) Beacuse of this, competitive games are a common way for folks to pass the time, and to feel alive. Hedonism and self body-modification (if it can be afforded) is another. There's almost an enterprenurial spirit in how one can modify themselves, though it occasionally has disasterous results. There are a number of mad geneticists.
6) Megacorps are a thing, as is vertical integration, though most corps are now driven by power more than profit, as the profits have become effectively infinite. However, folks are wary of ecological damage, and this crates a balance of power dynamic where no corp is truly able to become too powerful.
7) Children are cherished due to underpopulation, but mostly for their potential to become talented and make corps more powerful with creativity. Those who show potential are given the keys to move up in society, those who aren't are given a stipend to become consumer drones and left to their own devices (and maybe one or two will show hidden potential) Due to boredom, most folks either disappear into the internet compltely, or become guinea pigs just to have something to live for.
8) Crime is largely a function of boredom, and largely ineffective as police are pretty thorough. Criminals who are good enough to get away with it are considered talented and rehabilitated. Those who aren't are generally not treated well.
9) Due to climate change, fashion has evolved into lighter clothing, with shorts, skirts, tanktops, and minidresses being fashionable. Sandals are common footwear in high-class area. Hairstyles also tend to be short, or none at all.
10) A global solution to climate change had been found, and enforced through negotiations and the balance of power. As such, global warming's pace of increase has slowed, though it will be 2-3 centuries before things are back to normal. It was found in time just before things snowballed uncontrollably.
Can anyone think of any questions that such a world might need to answer as part of its worldbuilding?
