It&#x27;s actually interesting to consider the divergent paths followed by a merge scenario presented here. If we assume that uploaded-you is put through a simulated &quot;going to university&quot; experience, then it&#x27;s a few years older than you are. Even if it was _only_ simulating classes and studying, somehow turning off any &quot;human&quot; needs for social interaction and enteratinment, it&#x27;s had years of time to think new thoughts, assimilate new ideas, and become a fundamentally different person.<p>If it&#x27;s completely overwriting your brain&#x27;s current state, then you&#x27;re replacing yourself with someone similar to you but who&#x27;ll be _obviously_ different to anyone who knows you.<p>If it&#x27;s more a merge scenario, then you&#x27;re (effectively) killing yourself and the copy, and maybe the copy won&#x27;t want to rejoin you if it means losing its own distinct state.<p>Continuity of consciousness is weird to think about.