What is consciousness?

If somebody asked you to describe what consciousness, how would you describe it? What are the rules something has to obey in order to be considered a conscious being? http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4f/9a/25/4f9a250cdd9edc8542b0e2b05a79f0a0.jpg

Being aware of your own existence. "I think, therefore I am". You don't know if anyone besides yourself is conscious. Hell you could just be a brain in a vat being fed stimuli with nothing around you being anything more than manifestations of said stimuli and you would never know~ http://pre11.deviantart.net/56cb/th/pre/i/2012/202/b/d/brain_in_a_jar_by_doctor_morbius-d583d9j.png But in more simple terms: It is awareness. Awareness of the mind and awareness of the world.

I'll keep this as simple as possible. This is a really simple concept in the grand scheme of things. Consciousness is self awareness, awareness of your feelings, your thoughts, and your emotions. You're able to perceive, discern and articulate. Computers, cybernetics are based off humans and life. Wires, cords are Veins, Hard Drives are Brains, Motherboards are nervous systems/organs, Graphics Cards your optic nerves, ram your muscles, workhorse. Flesh and Bone is nature's creation, gadgets can only go so far. Diving into the net is Astral Projection, Virus, maleware, anti-virus, white blood cells. Ghost in the Shell get it? Blue Rose Get it? Do you wanna become trans-humanistic and synthetic, or be natural as intended. http://youtu.be/meTqIYVHAkI

I believe consciousness cannot be perfectly reproduced in any way. It is indeed everything you said, but it is also more. Your consciousness is the core of your being, it defines who you are. It's your soul. Take away your awareness and you're no longer you. Machines will never have this kind of free will, at least not from us. Something beyond our control dictates whether something receives consciousness or not. If a machine ever became fully conscious, something else intervened. It is no longer a machine at that point, it is a miracle of life.

Consciousness is an awareness emanating from a singular perspective. There are no rules to consciousness. But to really recognize a consciousness, it would need to be aware of itself.

Ever felt bad for doing something? That's consciousness. It sucks... But it's what distinguishes humans from other animals.. And humans actually.

@Xynox That's a chemical reaction in your brain. And some people don't have it and hence don't feel bad for hurting others or doing "wrong".