Half an hour in the life of an HPCT system

Unedited posts from archives of CSG-L (see INTROCSG.NET):

Date: Thu Nov 25, 1993 1:55 am PST

Subject: Observing P

[From Bill Powers (931125.0215 MST)]

Notes from an observer:

Hans' diagram --nothing there to know about perception --all imagination. No higher levels, no lower levels, all one chunk. How aboutspinal control systems? ....

Feeling cold. Ear compressed against pillow. No light through eyelids, mustbe early. Body on left side, shoulder squeezed, left leg flexed a little, rightknee tucked in behind left, warm between knees, arms lying loose. Weight ofcovers warm here and there, cold between. Taste of cold air in mouth and nose.Muscles tense, close to shivering in stomach and legs. Hans' model doesn't knowany of this. Scientific ...

Now knees pulled up more, legs close together, colder. Must have dozed off.Left hand holding warm right hand, sheets warm above and below but cold if Imove. Open eyes. Nothing. Too early. Shut. Bladder pressure. Got to get up andpee. Too damned cold. When I pull covers back I will freeze. If I move I willfreeze. Too early. I want to sleep. Damned bladder. Got to get up.

Joints feel loose, wiggling feet feels good. Tensing leg muscles, armmuscles, body, feels good. Too long in one position. Sudden intake of air, bigyawn. I didn't do that. Friction of sheets on skin as legs straighten andstretch, arms move, body moves. Getting up any minute now, sit up while handfolds covers back, icy air on skin. Pretty soon now. Another yawn.

Getting up involves controlling a lot of perceptions. Big conflict, got topee but don't want to be cold. Can Hans' model have a conflict? Can it know ithas a conflict? Can it tell the difference between stretching sensations likethis, or cold air on skin, or having to pee? Really time to do something aboutthis. Slide hand to top of covers, fold back, sit up. Do it. Pretty soon. Well...

Hand up, covers back, tense stomach, swing legs over side of bed, stiff,levering body up on elbow, sitting on edge of bed. Not as bad as I thought.Feet feeling rug. Damned dark. What time is it? Want to write this down. Up onfeet, feeling bed behind legs. Turn right, walk a couple of steps, slow down,grope for wall. Glimmer of light under door, night-lightin hall. Grope to find hook trying to keep loud scraping noise from wakingMary. Resonant wall. Ah. Bathrobe. Feel for front, find armhole, slip on onearm, slide other arm in, close, flip-flipand tie. Robe cold. Go back for glasses. Pretty close, Hans would be proud ofme. Find way back to door. Fumble for doorknob, rattle, rattle, pull door open,go through, pull closed with both hands to prevent bang and click.

There's the clock in the living room. One in the morning. Damn. Flip onbathroom light. Pow! Daylight world. Do thing that relaxes sphincter. Muchbetter. Awake now. Nice glass of hot milk while I write all this down --too cold in computer room, scribble on paper.

Half an hour in the life of a hierarchical perceptual control system, babe,that's really what it is. All you have to do is pay attention.

Really awake now. Might as well copy and send.

Bill P.