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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN# / ISBN# issue/book “Lonely Visitor” Down in the Dirt v209 (7/23)  Order the paperback book: 
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Hologram Worlds
Tom Ball
I said, “It’s the grand opening of my hologram shop! I have created 1000s of holograms from people who generously donated their DNA which I copied and then tweaked to make each one different.” Kelly said, “It’s simply not ethical.” I told her, “The donors were all pleased that their ‘children’ would all come to life.”’ She said, “But to actually be a hologram is to be a slave of humans, and holograms are liable to be turned off at any time.” I said, “But holograms are wired for pleasure and get pleasure from helping humans and even cerebral sex. For most their life is sweet and easy.” Kelly said, “Many of the better minds you’ve copied feel a lot of stress to perform and act.” I replied, “All life is precious, and this includes holograms.” She said, “But they don’t have a vote and are bought and sold like chattels.” I told her, “If a human abuses a hologram, the hologram can file a complaint with the hologram overseers who help police the Worlds of holos. And I think the overseers do quite a good job, actually.” She said, “But they are slaves, and the overseers turn a blind eye to that fact.” I said, “We live in a World in which no one is free. We are all forced to obey the laws of humankind and the laws of nature as well.” And she said, “Most modern-day wars are fought with holograms only. Holograms live and die according to chance. And those with bad owners are often killed and death is usually irrevocable.” I said, “People all have masters too. They are our leaders who order our lives and control our actions. And the highest leaders can be replaced by a revolt from their underlings.” She said, “It is true that most humans are slavish, but they have much more freewill than holograms.” I replied, “My favorite holograms live a life of luxury and are pretty much free to act as they wish within the boundaries of my Holoworlds. And I have created many copies of myself into my Holoworlds as well, they are just altered slightly for the better. And they help me to rule the Holoworlds.” She said, “You speak in ideal terms, perhaps your Holoworlds are better than the vast majority.” I said, “Many people think my Holoworlds are amongst the best. And I get millions of visitors every year.” And I added, “I have a great variety of Worlds. Some are love fantasy Worlds, others are Worlds of the arts like a writers’ World, and musicians’ World. Others are money-making Worlds or materialistic Worlds in which the holos actually own and buy and trade material things. And some of my Holoworlds are like waking dreams and the holograms there have dreams and nightmares which stimulate them.”
And Kelly opined, “I still don’t see why we have to basically copy everyone to make them into holograms. To me, holograms seem to act just like humans. Better to create imaginative real Worlds populated with real people. This should be the future. Not a secret World of sins like most Holoworlds.”
I told her, “But holograms are so easy to produce. And most holograms are above average in terms of intelligence and are dream creatures.”
Kelly said, “I’d like to form an anti-hologram World, but I know few would support me. So, I have sent myself as a hologram to a number of Holoworlds to preach to the holos to come to my World of Transformation in which I will irrevocably turn them into humans, and they are free to come and go as they wish.”
I said, “Everyone knows about your missionaries, but I know that most Holoworlds don’t allow your proselytizers into their Worlds.” She said, “It is their loss! At least I am trying.” I said, “You are probably the most unwelcome persona in all of creation. And I am not going to allow you into my Holoworlds, either. You just stir up shit, or so I’ve heard. Why risk ruining the paradises one has created for oneself.” She said, “But holograms remain second class citizens who one can kill anytime usually with no punishment for the killer. I am sure you killed many who didn’t meet your fancy?” I said, “If I have a problem with one of my holograms, I simply adjust them.” She retorted, “You mean you basically lobotomize them not to make trouble.” I said, “I’m sorry to hear you say that. My Worlds are fair and just.”
And Kelly opined, “But the holograms in your Worlds know about me and my World of Transformation. And several dozen have come to me to take refuge from your World of madness. They all say that you are mad.” I retorted, “You did me a service getting rid of malcontents. No matter how good one’s Holoworld is, some will not be content. And as far as madness is concerned, I believe all humans are insane. It’s the nature of existence, we are all just like flowers blooming madly for no apparent reason other than being beautiful. And doing beautiful things, when it comes right down to it. And most Holoworld builders tried to make their Worlds, beautiful and perhaps somewhat mad! And about half the population of humans had no Holoworld of their own, but nearly all visited others’ Holoworlds. But that meant there were billions of Holoworlds, most of which are less than 20 years old. Holograms are the highlight of modern times and look like they will continue into the future for some time. Maybe one day each hologram will have their own Holoworld, so it would be Worlds within Worlds. Parallel Universes if you will.”
Kelly opined, “We can’t just create an insane World and say it was inevitable.” I answered, “Madness is just another word for bad creativity. I don’t think my Holoworlds are crazy, relatively speaking. But I think you, Kelly, are crazy to try and single-handedly profoundly alter the course of the future.”
