[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 about spinal control systems? ....
Feeling cold. Ear compressed against pillow. No light through
eyelids, must be early. Body on left side, shoulder squeezed,
left leg flexed a little, right knee tucked in behind left, warm
between knees, arms lying loose. Weight of covers 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 know any 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 I move. Open eyes. Nothing. Too early.
Shut. Bladder pressure. Got to get up and pee. Too damned cold.
When I pull covers back I will freeze. If I move I will freeze.
Too early. I want to sleep. Damned bladder. Got to get up.
Joints feel loose, wiggling feet feels good. Tensing leg muscles,
arm muscles, body, feels good. Too long in one position. Sudden
intake of air, big yawn. I didn't do that. Friction of sheets on
skin as legs straighten and stretch, arms move, body moves.
Getting up any minute now, sit up while hand folds covers back,
icy air on skin. Pretty soon now. Another yawn.
Getting up involves controlling a lot of perceptions. Big
conflict, got to pee but don't want to be cold. Can Hans' model
have a conflict? Can it know it has a conflict? Can it tell the
difference between stretching sensations like this, or cold air
on skin, or having to pee? Really time to do something about
this. 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 on feet, feeling bed behind legs.
Turn right, walk a couple of steps, slow down, grope for wall.
Glimmer of light under door, night-light in hall. Grope to find
hook trying to keep loud scraping noise from waking Mary.
Resonant wall. Ah. Bathrobe. Feel for front, find armhole, slip
on one arm, slide other arm in, close, flip-flip and tie. Robe
cold. Go back for glasses. Pretty close, Hans would be proud of
me. 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 on bathroom light. Pow! Daylight world. Do thing that
relaxes sphincter. Much better. 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.