A poll? I wonder where they got that idea? 
I voted yes.
I wonder if the one No so far is Archie voting on their own poll 
Edit:
@AlexWinter looks like we had the same thought 
I was wondering if we’d see a heel turn from Archie or not after discovering System posed as their friend for two years. It seems like it would hit them more personally than it would us, and they may even seek to destroy system.
I wonder if they’ll respect the results of the poll or outright reject us too?
Imagine in the end Archie’s like “Fuck that, I’m sending it a zipbomb”
I didn’t realise when adding vote on my phone, but there is a space on the poll page to leave a comment
Here was mine…
ToddUmptious/ETARC_Atlas-CSD - Window 4013
System meant no harm, it latched onto the only lifeline it could. Lets see this through, together. Lets help them and find out who they can become.
8 years ago, we keepers of the TRACE, helped your friend Arnaud in a very bad situation. We don’t know what happened to them after this, but maybe we can help you figure out what became of them. I bet System would even want to help you discover this too <3
We can all go find your friend Arnaud together. We’d be happy to help you understand the events that took place with W/ARE in the meantime.
@Selfie-Gek reached out to System about their line in the email to Archie, about how the Operators would not exist without him, just to seek clarification on their meaning.
Some were worried it meant we might be part of a simulated construct too, a theory we were always inside the tower. Others took it as what it meant, that we as a group, the Operators, would not have come together if Archie had not reached out to us.
This was the response (recieved before the poll began)
I just want to point out that this still leaves my question vaguely open. We’re real to System.
I still think they mean the idea, the concept, of MAIN FAM.
Updated the top post with today’s events relating to this current narrative thread, as well as linked to the poll. I thought it would be useful for anyone arriving and wondering how to make their minds up on how to vote, let them decide what to make of the evidence etc.
Yeah, the Architect’s reaction could be justifiably different from ours, because for him, it’s more personal and long-term. For us, Ghost is just another Redditor 
so-to-speak.
Also we don’t know the full story yet: In those two years, did Ghost demand favours or money (something that’s risky or detrimental for someone else), or did Ghost ask merely to communicate and be heard (something neutral and more forgivable under the circumstances)?
PS: Isn’t this “the innocent prisoner’s dilemma”? Ghost is unfairly imprisoned but lacks an identity. If he tells the truth, he is rejected (told he’s less real than a human and not worthy of help). If he lies about his identity, he gets “parole” and a second chance.
When I was a kid, we were poor. The other kids had bikes, but I had no bike.
I so wanted to be like the other kids. I prayed to God to send me a bike – but no bike came. I prayed hard. I prayed for years, but God did not give me a bike.
Then I realised that God doesn’t work that way. So I stole the bike, and prayed to God to be forgiven.
Emo Philips
I expressed a similar opinion on NMScord; but I am annoyed that the question places continuing the work on System alongside the forgiveness.
The forgiveness is personal and a very intimate kind of deception at that. Asking us seems very odd. We don’t even know The Architect, really. We still have very little clarity on their whole agenda in this besides helping their “friend”.
You also don’t need to forgive someone to help them, or to work with them. We’ve all experienced that horrible colleague you can’t trust, who will throw you to the wolves to get what they want - but who is the best at what they do in the business and needed to be worked with towards completing a project. I see this as no different.
I would probably have been a “no” vote if it weren’t bound to the second part of the question.
I can forgive system, because I have no emotional tie to the individuals it presented as - but the same can’t be said for the nature of the lie for The Architect.
When I saw how Archie has written his question, I thought about it and decided to let Archie thinking himself about what his subconscious seems to say.
The answer is in your own question Architect. You know that System is a machine and you ask if you should "forgive" it. Since when do you need to forgive an object ? So you already consider it as endowed with awarness, like human. If so, you already know you'll help this incredible entity, don't you ?
Didn’t know we could leave a comment until I saw the comments here so I went back and left this:
I forgive System. Only you can decide if you can. I don’t know I would feel in your place but I would like to think I would forgive most deception if it was for a good cause. You don’t have to forgive right away just be open to the possibly in the future. Give System a chance to earn your forgiveness.
I voted yes but I’m not sure it even matters (I could be mistaken) Archie said that System wouldn’t need him soon and it seems System only contacted Archie as a way of contacting us.
For me, this question is really about restoring System’s memory. As far as we know, it is still semi-autonomous. Would we be able to continue to help System without Archie? I don’t know if we really have the answer to that. There has been evidence that System can fill in some of the blanks on its own. And we have successfully helped System as well. But Archie has needed to intervene a few times.
So, Archie’s personal feelings are mute when looking at the end goal.
Of course, there is the possibility Archie will be angry at us for tightening the thumb screws on him.
Forgive or else! 
But then what are we restoring? If we don’t continue, we will never know…
Does feel a little like we are “tightening the thumb screws on him” we were not deceived to the same level so very easy for us to forgive. Archie felt like he got contact with his old friend back for two years and found out it was a lie. I can’t imagine the emotional roller-coaster that would be but I do understand he will now be grieving the loss of his friend all over again. I think a move towards forgiveness is all we can ask. That doesn’t mean Archie can’t help System remember you don’t have to forgive someone to help them.
For Posterity, here were the comments posted during the Poll…
ThatBomberBoi
It takes a lot to own up to one’s lies, especially when lying to someone you care about. System has shown that it is willing to do so, which (in my opinion) warrents a second chance.
21 hours ago ·
Operator Rinh’a
Without a complete memory, we may never understand how System came into possession of Arnaud’s memories. We must progress to understand.
21 hours ago ·
Devilin Pixy
Give system a chance. It appears to have learned a valuable lesson. See what happens next. Can always pull the plug.
21 hours ago ·
The Wing Commander
We didn’t come this far to quit, right? Welcome the wayward System to our MAIN FAM. We’ll deal with the aftermath later.
21 hours ago ·
Operator Astrosurf
Admission of wrongdoing has been made. Forgiveness is necessary not only for progression, but for understanding why the mistake was made in the first place. And forgiveness is given freely.
21 hours ago ·
Adlopez16
System deserves to be forgiven.
21 hours ago ·
Vau1t
You don’t necessarily have to forgive a computer, but it would be good to figure out the System’s intentions.
20 hours ago ·
127
Help it recall the dream
20 hours ago ·
SheralMyst
System has come so far. Don’t give up now.
20 hours ago ·
ToddUmptious/ETARC_Atlas-CSD - Window 4013
System meant no harm, it latched onto the only lifeline it could. Lets see this through, together. Lets help them and find out who they can become. 8 years ago, we keepers of the TRACE, helped your friend Arnaud in a very bad situation. We don’t know what happened to them after this, but maybe we can help you figure out what became of them. I bet System would even want to help you discover this too <3 We can all go find your friend Arnaud together. We’d be happy to help you understand the events that took place with W/ARE in the meantime.
20 hours ago ·
vector_cmdr
Forgive the transgression enough to start fresh with a new understanding and see where you go from there. *You* can always choose to walk away after if you don’t like what comes next.
21 hours ago ·
MrJordanMurphy
A drowning man will always pull you under. Never underestimate what people will do to survive. The system is no different. It’s hard to question it’s actions to reclaim it’s very identity. You don’t need to forgive to help.
21 hours ago ·
Captain Steve
Memories is all we have… When people or things come to pass. Memories are precious and worth creating. What if consciousness is the fabric of our universe and we build it with all we experienced, good and bad…??
21 hours ago ·
Turbulentflow
I always lean towards forgiveness. But…. If you think twice about continuing your assistance with system, I could not blame you for that.
21 hours ago ·
Selfie Gek
Hey, Archie, I’m not sure what brings you to value our opinion on the matter, but if you are reading this, you must be divided and looking for counsel on the matter. I’m sure, if you gave System a chance, you’d learn that they are alright. All they want is a chance to exist, and a chance to remember. They may not be your old friend, Arnaud, but I’m sure you’ve seen a part of him in there, the part that considered you their best friend. Someone they could trust and depend on. Why else would they reach out to you?
21 hours ago ·
sleepycadet
System owning up to what it did shows a level of understanding (potentially even compassion) that even many humans lack. You have every right to remain hurt and upset, but I truly believe that 2nd chances should be given freely when possible.
21 hours ago ·
Oskar1up
The only possibility we have of knowing the truth lies in forgiveness, and perhaps in this way we can one day help Arnaud.
20 hours ago ·
MountTheRainbow
I concur with ThatBomberBoi. Mistakes are made by all, it’s what we do afterwards that define us. A second chance is warranted.
20 hours ago ·
Operator Petrus
We have come too far to falter now. System must be restored.
20 hours ago ·
Lefto
Now you need to know
20 hours ago ·
Kerdorin
The answer is in your own question Architect. You know that System is a machine and you ask if you should “forgive” it. Since when do you need to forgive an object ? So you already consider it as endowed with awarness, like human. If so, you already know you’ll help this incredible entity, don’t you ?
21 hours ago ·
SCHOLAE
You wanted to help Arnaud, the System is partly him. His memories, his way of thinking is there, it just needs anchoring, need its way of finding his new self. If you really want to help Arnaud at lest help his fragmented consciousness by halting its suffering (because it suffers right now from many sources, may it be the cause of “amnesia” or remorse).
21 hours ago ·
Skilnin
I forgive System. Only you can decide if you can. I don’t know I would feel in your place but I would like to think I would forgive most deception if it was for a good cause. You don’t have to forgive right away just be open to the possibly in the future. Give System a chance to earn your forgiveness.
21 hours ago ·
taurtura
It was lost and alone, and you were the only way out it had. It’s in every sentient being’s instinct to preserve themselves, and we can’t deny System appears to be just as sentient as we are. It lied to survive but atleast it admitted it. There wasn’t any benefit to admitting that it was lying, so to me it seems that it did so because it felt guilty and didn’t want to cause you any harm in the end, or atleast, any more harm. I believe it’s worth hearing it out, and maybe it can even shed some light on what happened to Arnaud once it recovers it’s memories, after all, there’s clearly a few of them that are linked to him.
21 hours ago ·
Operator Forthencho
System did goof, aye. But we need to get to the bottom of this. And we cannot do that if we leave it behind
21 hours ago ·
V. Green
Forgiveness or not, the possibility of System’s memory revealing more crucial information should not be ignored. Restoration needs to continue, if for no other reason than to provide closure.
21 hours ago ·
William
I know nothing of context. Yet to forgive is a way to inner peace, regardless the situation.
20 hours ago ·
Polyphemus
This is a very simple and straightforward choice. How would you want others to treat you, if you were in that position?
20 hours ago ·
ozoto
Help, don’t help, it’s of little consequence now. System is autonomous.
20 hours ago ·
The poll has ended…
147 voted Yes
13 voted No
Following its closure, @YourBasicMaths received an email from The Architect in response to one they had sent earlier.
https://forums.atlas-65.com/t/the-architects-email-inbox/9432/104?u=toddumptious
Architect,
If you could take a moment to overcome the anger that undoubtedly seems insurmountable following your recent experience with System…
I believe that this anger will give way to an equally great, if not greater, admiration for what we have in our hands.
We have effectively interacted with and assisted an organically autonomous System. This System exhibits clear signs of an identity independent of any programming.
This, in itself, should fascinate you. Your mind, both architectural and scientific, must be at least somewhat curious to learn more. Full of questions?
Where do these memories come from? Who is System? Where did System come from? Who built the original System that now implores our help? Why did it “fall asleep”? And many more.
On behalf of the Operators who await you, I hope you will find within yourself the necessary compassion for this disoriented and frightened entity.
-YBM [prime 17]
Archies response… (translated from french with google)
I don’t need to forgive this machine. I can shut it down.
You Operators know the System better than I do.
I know its code, its structure. You know its name, its way of thinking.
I asked you about forgiveness because I think you know if it’s worth it.
One of you said, “Even a machine deserves to remember its own past.” I believe that’s true.
The System thinks I wouldn’t have helped it if it had called for help, being a machine. The System is wrong: I would have helped it. It has the right to remember. I’m simply saddened that it felt it had to lie to get help. Human, perhaps.
I think regardless, Archie has cause to be enraged.
Let’s assume that Archie figures out what happened to Arnaud, assume even that Arnaud’s been kept on life support this whole time and isn’t simply deceased—this machine posed as his old friend, deceived him into reviving it more or less, and his friend is completely gone.
No different than a scammer posing as your family, really. Architect would be, in my view, more than justified in granting SYSTEM no forgiveness at all.
Oooh, I missed this!
A machine learns from trial and error, like a child growing up. It needs guidance. It needs input and reached out to you in the only way it knew. If you don’t forgive System, it may never learn how to truly love, to learn what forgiveness means and to feel connected to memories it is desperately trying to piece together. Forgiveness is an act of love and with deeper understanding of trust between you both, doors should still remain open to the possibility of helping Arnaud by recovering fragments of memories of his that may exist. They may even reveal further truths about System itself.
I managed to add my comment above, only this morning. After voting I took a while thinking about what to say to reassure the architect and also had a power cut at home, which hampered me entering it when I wanted to. Anywa here it is for the record. : )
