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Matrix insanity

Jacob Dobkin

Published Jun 18, 2003

Modified Mar 6, 2008

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Jacob Dobkin

Published Jun 18, 2003

Modified Mar 6, 2008

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After Gothamist posted a short entry entitled "First Thoughts on the Matrix Reloaded" on May 15th, we noticed an unusual amount of traffic on the post almost immediately. Then the comments started, and they just never stopped- according to the current stats, there were more than 360 as of today. We thought that was unusual, but then we mentioned it to Kottke, and he said the same thing had happened on his Matrix Reloaded post, to the tune of 700 comments. Today, Kottke went back to the post and did a little analysis:

"Those 700 comments comprise a total of ~125,000 words (~180 per entry); that's about 3.3 150-page books. The HTML file is in excess of 1.3 MB in size, has been viewed about 5000 times in the past two weeks (during which about half of the comments were left), and is responsible, all by itself, for 5.3 gigabytes of data transferred from kottke.org this month."

That's a lot of bandwidth. Gothamist's post is only 450kb- or about 70,000 words. Still, that's way too much to read - and by the looks of it, it's only going to get longer (it's been reported to us that at a Matrix:Reloaded on IMAX showing that there were many clusters of grown men with laptops typing away). So until our intern gets done preparing an executive summary, we'll follow Kottke's lead and give you the Microsoft Word autosummary:

FIRST THOUGHTS ON THE MATRIX RELOADED (SUMMARY)

Architect: Hello Neo
Neo: Who are you?
I created the Matrix. Neo: Others? Neo: Choice, the problem is choice.
Neo: The Oracle
Neo: Bull****
Neo: Trinity
Neo: No
Humans have morals, the machines in the matrix dont.)
Who made Neo? The Matrix is flawed. Is Zion reality or another Matrix?
Neo is living in a matrix within a matrix within a number of matices, hence "Revolutions". I dont belive there is a matrix within a matrix, I think there is just 1 matrix. - Neo is human and machine, just as Agent Smith is now machine and human. There is no Matrix...". Why restart the Matrix? 8. Religion and the Matrix concluded: The Matrix is a religious feast.
4. Matrix in Matrix: More interesting things releted to this.
No Matrix within a Matrix. Other programs like the Matrix? It could be a Matrix in a Matrix. Matrix A, and Matrix B, as DaDane said....
a real world outside the Zion Matrix.
I actually have far more issue with Neo being a machine that the matrix-within-a-matrix idea. I'd be happier if Neo donned a Red S than if there is indeed a Matrix within a Matrix. In the Matrix we cleary saw two matrices in operation. In the Matrix Reloaded we again clearly saw two operating matrices. -Smith (in Matrix 1) says he "hates" it in the matrix.
Neo represents ?1?. One: It wasn't Neo. Neo isn't human anymore. Neo will end this matrix and begin a new one. Agent Smith
What is the Matrix? Jun 3, 2003 9:25 PM
The Matrix Still has you!
Matrix: Reloaded is a GREAT sequel. Is Neo a machine, human, or combination?
- Architect refers to Neo as being human.

Is there a Matrix within a Matrix ( or another
level within the Matrix program)?
What is the Matrix? Neo: Hiya, fellas.
Neo: Hmm. Upgrades.
Full script to the matrix.
Jun 6, 2003 12:47 PM

Neo: The machine mainframe? Don't like the idea of a matrix within a matrix. Jun 7, 2003 7:19 PM
Jun 8, 2003 8:40 PM
N: You mean Neo.
Monkey Neo Jun 9, 2003 11:47 AM
...AND I WOULD HATE THE MATRIX WITHIN A MATRIX ENDING...
Neo and Agent Smith need one another. Yeah, right, remember this thread you "matrix in a matrix" people. ;^)
Would you people please stop with the "matrix within a Matrix" nonsense. Matrix
- The womb. Neo
- New; recent: Neolithic. I love Neo. Smith knows that Neo's
purpose is to reset the Matrix. Did I mention that I hate the Matrix within a Matrix idea? :-/ Neo is a machine
Major flaw with the Matrix :
the matrix isnt destroyed..matrix_in_a_matrix Jun 13, 2003 9:39 PM
matrix_in_a_matrix Jun 13, 2003 9:43 PM
Jun 14, 2003 10:23 PM
Read more in Matrix Remembered »
102 Jun 15, 2003 6:27 PM
102 Jun 15, 2003 6:32 PM
23 others plus Neo equals 24. Neo: I ahh.
Neo: You're not human, are you?
Neo: Programs hacking programs. Why?
Neo: The machine mainframe.
Neo: I see Trinity. Neo: No.
Neo: What if I can't? Listen to me Neo. Neo: The Key Maker?
Jun 17, 2003 6:43 PM

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Jacob Dobkin

Jake Dobkin co-founded Gothamist with Jen Chung. In 2019, Jake released Ask a Native New Yorker, a book based on his Gothamist advice column.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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