I regularly seek inspiration by taking long solo walks; and during my most recent such, considering what practical consequences (if any) there would be of the universe I know being a simulation - something flipped in my head, and I thought to myself, "Screw the simulators. If I'm the first copy of me, I should make it as hard as possible for any simulation of me to keep up with me - and if I'm a simulation, I'm going to try to do even better than my original did."
Ignoring the impracticality of trying to out-do myself, is there anything that someone living in an 'original' universe can do that would make it harder for a future simulator to reproduce them? And, mirror-wise, is there anything someone in a simulated universe could do to differentiate themselves from their original? And, if the answer to either question is 'yes'... would it be a good or bad idea to try?
(And is there any way to gather any actual data that might support the answers to such questions, instead of merely making guesses of a similar nature to classic college/stoner "Our whole universe could be, like, an /atom/, man" musings?)
I'm aware of that line of reasoning; what I'm proposing is a deliberate rejection of some of it's assumptions.
There are several mythic precedents; if the universe is arranged a certain way, then at least from a certain perspective, the best course of action is to sit down, shut up, and dance to the head of the pantheon's tune. But looked at another way, greater rewards can be found in the dignity of rebellion and choosing one's own path, even if it means getting cast down or having your liver eternally gnawed upon - or being un-simulated.
Being un-simulated, or death in a materialistic/naturalistic reality, is probably the least scary future there is. If you don't exist, then you can't feel pain, remorse, or even regrets.