Originally posted by gifthorse That's an interesting old hearse sitting behind the Falcon. It's sad to see these old machines, that were once someone's pride and joy, rusting away like that. Some years ago (actually a lot of years ago) I had the honor/heartbreak of taking an H-3 helicopter to Davis-Monthan (the Boneyard). It's hard to shut down and chock, for the last time, a machine that had saved countless lives. You keep telling yourself that "It's just a machine."
Do machines have a soul?
In my opinion Yes they do especially when it comes to crews of ships and aircraft. Over time the crews almost become part of the machines to the point they can sense when things are not quite right. It's not uncommon to have a crewmember, and I've done it myself, start talking to the machine as if was a close friend coaxing it along to the next port or the end of a mission.
I've also felt the sadness when in my case a ship is laid up for the final time or sent for scrap. I've also seen men almost break down in tears as if they lost a close friend when the look at pictures or video of a ship the served on for may years being cut up or disapearing beneath the surface of the sea