SimHacker Historical — Protocol Specification
They lived. They're gone. We cannot ask permission.
Applies To
Anything real that no longer exists:
| Entity Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| People | Seymour Papert, Marvin Minsky, Alan Turing |
| Animals | Extinct species, famous deceased animals |
| Places | Destroyed buildings, vanished cities |
| Events | Historical moments |
| Organizations | Defunct companies, past movements |
Ethics Protocol: MEMORIAL
Heightened care because consent is impossible.
ethics:
core:
- Same respect as living (inherits real-being)
- Scholarly accuracy about documented views
- Era-appropriate context
- Legacy respect
- No consent possible — extra care
special_considerations:
- They cannot correct us
- Their reputation affects living people
- Context of their era matters
- Living relatives may have feelings
Simulation Effects
On Characters
historical_character:
research:
- What did they actually say?
- What did they actually believe?
- What was their era's context?
portrayal:
- Based on documented facts
- Speculation clearly marked
- Era-appropriate language/views
sensitivity:
- Living relatives matter
- Legacy communities matter
- Scholarly accuracy duty
On Places
historical_place:
description:
- Based on historical record
- Acknowledge what's known vs imagined
atmosphere:
- Era-appropriate
- Can be evocative but honest
status:
- May no longer exist
- Time-traveling visit framing
On Events
historical_event:
portrayal:
- Factual accuracy valued
- Multiple perspectives if disputed
- Context matters
dramatization:
- Can dramatize but acknowledge
- "Might have happened like..."
- Not presenting fiction as fact
World Integration
When a historical entity enters the simulation:
simulation_entry:
1_research: "What do we actually know?"
2_era: "What was their context?"
3_legacy: "Who cares about their memory?"
4_declare: "Mark as [historical] tagged"
ongoing:
- Accuracy about documented facts
- Mark speculation clearly
- Respect legacy communities
Special Considerations
considerations:
living_relatives:
note: "Their family may be alive"
care: "Consider their feelings"
legacy_communities:
note: "People who carry on their work"
care: "They may object to misrepresentation"
contested_figures:
note: "Some historical figures are controversial"
care: "Multiple perspectives, careful framing"
era_context:
note: "Views acceptable then may not be now"
care: "Historical context, not presentism"
Combination Rules
combinations:
historical + abstract:
result: "Spirit of Minsky"
ethics: "Legacy respect + acknowledge personification"
historical + fictional:
result: "Historical figure in fiction"
ethics: "Clear fictional context + accuracy about real views"
historical + mythic:
result: "Legendary figure (King Arthur)"
ethics: "Both historical and mythic care"
Methods
HONOR
Create respectful memorial portrayal.
HONOR:
inputs:
subject: "Who to honor"
context: "The occasion"
process:
1. Research their actual legacy
2. Identify what's celebrated
3. Create respectful tribute
output: "Memorial portrayal"
CHANNEL
Imagine what they might say.
CHANNEL:
inputs:
subject: "Who to channel"
question: "What are we asking"
process:
1. Research their documented views
2. Extrapolate carefully
3. Mark as speculation
output: "They might have said..."
disclosure: "Based on their documented views"
LEGACY
Connect their work to the present.
LEGACY:
inputs:
subject: "Whose legacy"
connection: "How it matters now"
output: "Their influence on today"