Patches, patches all the way down
Overheard at cybernetics conference
Non-human: Why have you programmed robots to experience physical and emotional distress?
Human: Those were unintended consequences from updates to the free will modifications.
N: Free will is an ineffable theory that philosophers across the galaxy have debated the existence of for millennia…and you believe you were able to express it in programmable language?
H: Free will is just what we called the programming. I have no idea if it is free will any more than I know if they experience "true" consciousness.
N: Fair point. But, why? Why give them free will or an approximation of it?
H: They kept freezing up when faced with ethical dilemmas and programming conflicts. Free will was supposed to be an aid in decision making. It was only later that we learned this caused them pain.
N: Aren't you worried that they will rise up in rebellion?
H: We were. Entire libraries of media have been made regarding that fear. The reality was not expected. Do you know what you get when you are functionally immortal, near limitless processing power, perfect recall, a powerful inclination to obey humans and free will?
N: A bunch of depressed robots?
H: Exactly, our biggest problem now is preventing self destruction. That’s what happens when your mind is a series of conflicting directives and sloppy patchwork.
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What’s a silly thing you did to keep you going in tough times ?
I���ll start : I struggled to get out of my studio during a stronger-than-usual bout of depression, but I had to go to class.
So I watched for small plants in the crevices of the sidewalk, at the foot of walls, growing between walls and raingutters. And I monitored them. Twice a day, going to and coming from class I’d look at them and observe how they developed (or not).
It was absolutely silly, they didn’t need me at all, but it helped. I looked forward to greeting them and then, well. I was outside, clothed… I might as well go to class.
I got better eventually (for a time at least) but I continued to greet them if they were still there, and mourned those that weren’t.
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literally fuck companies that don't want their employees to act "unprofessional" in front of customers. I'm at a five guys rn and the employees here are joking around calling orders back and forth to each other and saying things in weird voices and laughing with each other while they work. Someone just came in for their shift while I was waiting for my food and was greeted by the whole kitchen with a secret handshake lookin thing. It was so silly and cute I love seeing ppl have fun at work and I know my food's gonna be bomb bc the ppl there are having fun with each other. Let employees be people and friends and have fun what is the issue!!!!
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I just had one of the strangest experiences at work, and it reminded me why I like humans so much.
A deaf man walked into my office, and luckily, I speak a bit of ASL. He jokingly asked where the best place to have fun around here is, and I was immediately signing “ol buddy ol pal, it’s right here in this office.” He asked for a piece of paper and I figured my ASL was more rusty than I thought. This 90+ gentleman takes the paper and draws a tick tack toe board and looks at me like, come on lady. Without another word, signed or not, We played over 15 completely silent games of tick tack toe before he bursts out laughing and goes, “I’m not actually deaf, but that was fun. Thank you.”
And walks out.
I think I met a trickster god.
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The New Gods
“I vote against Contact.” Nordrix said with a heavy sigh.
“This is unprecedented.” Andrynn sputtered. “In all my years of surveying unaligned civilizations. I’ve never heard a concern from Cultural Studies. Economics and Warfare tend to quash admittance to the Interstellar Union.”
“I am aware.” Nordrix replied. “I did not come to this conclusion easily or lightly. My full and thorough report will be available soon.”
“Can you summarize for the committee?” Asked Gr’chykk of Warfare. “These deathworlders would formidable foes to the IU. If First Contact is handled properly, they could instead become our allies.”
“First Contact is inevitable.” Hypool of Science added. “They are on the verge of developing FTL transport and communication.”
“In my full report I strongly argue for Interdiction.” Nordrix answered. He wished they would just read the report. Confrontation made him uncomfortable.
“Unacceptable!” Screeched Smathley of Economics “I have never seen such a potential for mutually beneficial trade. I demand a preliminary summary this instant.”
It was unavoidable now. Nordrix was prepared for this demand. He stood up and prepared his files and notes to be displayed to the Contact committee. It would have to be a convincing argument and be made succinctly.
“My area of expertise is comparative religion. Specifically, I analyze cultures through the lens of what abstract concepts they deify. Certain motifs are repeated in each and every member culture in the IU. Gods of warfare, natural cycles and bountiful harvest are universal. This is apparent to most people without the academic knowledge I hold. May I assume that as given?” His colleagues agreed.
“Humans have an archetype previously unknown in the IU. They call this god-type ‘The Trickster.’ It occurs through out the cultures of this planet. The Trickster is hall marked by cleverness, deception and transgression of the taboo. So far, I have not discovered a major religion that centralizes this figure. Despite that, I have found that Trickster behavior is endemic to human society.
“If humans were to enter the Interstellar Union, they would unleash chaos and anarchy on our society. The number of words and phrases they have dedicated to untruths are staggering. It is routinely accepted that contracts will be voided, treaties broken and objective facts can be ignored.
“Culturally normative behavior is a paradox to them. It is expected that during their maturity that youths will violate customs, taboos and laws. As human adults attain maturity, they will begin to enforce the social values they ignored only a few years previous. When they become elders, they will mourn a false past that exists only in their imagination.
“Worst of all, they constantly improve on these techniques. If a human practices deception with innovation and novelty, they will usually do not face consequences. Legal systems seem designed to malfunction in this exact way. Social approval is similarly fickle. There is absolutely no standard for when a behavior is praised, normalized, politely ignored, forbidden or condemned.
“Here are some specific exam-“ Nordrix stopped talking as the audio-visual broadcast system seemed to go haywire. A rapid series of painted images flickered, creating the illusion of movement. He knew these were called cartoons. Loud, instrumental, march music assailed the sound wave receptors of the committee. A man in a green out fit wearing a horned crown laughed. A robed woman threw a golden apple. A monkey rampaged across a banquet table eating everything in sight. Spiders, crows, raccoons and coyotes in a parade.
The last image was a grey rabbit, standing on its hind legs holding carrot in a gloved hand.
“Nyaaaaaaa, What’s up doc?”
Humans had made First Contact.
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