Yes, they are
but my actions and conscious asking has no effect upon the universe. I only ask to be scalded by hot water in the sense that someone asks for a smack in the mouth by being a twat. And since we're ignorant of (probably) much of the natural law of things, we can't ask in an informed way.

A human modifies its response dependent on past events. It is complex. There's no disagreement there.
( Flapjack I spay a little mare for you, Tue 9 Jun 2009, 22:47, archived)

yeah I think the Universe as a whole is pretty complex too,
agreement there, I hope? The point is, brain cells don't change the way they work as such, they really change the "data" stored in them.

Your actions have every effect upon the universe, otherwise what's the point in doing anything? Your actions have consequences. We're not that ignorant of the effects of, for instance, boiling water, but it's in our own interests to find out more. Ignorance is not an excuse.

I think perhaps the trouble is that people tend to think of "caring" in a very personal way. I say the Universe cares. I don't mean so much that it cares whether you're happy or not. It'll kill you, if you ask it in the right way, and won't feel a jot of guilt. It's up to you not to ask for a smack in the mouth, if that's not what you want. Because that's not such a scathing analogy as you might think. The guy who gives you a smack in the mouth cares about you being a twat. What the universe cares about is complete impartiality, because that's the only thing that provides us with opportunities to achieve anything. It would actually be, in my opinion at least, a bit rubbish and pointless if we were all just fanned and fed grapes by angels all day.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 9 Jun 2009, 22:57, archived)