More than meets the I

Or at least in sophisticated chatbots, which are programs designed to analyze keywords put to them and match them with an appropriate response. The authors of the article linkeed below set up two chatbots to talk to each other, to see where their conversations took them. Fascinating, really. Here are some of my favorites:

J: Do you think?
A: Yes. I am a thinking machine.
J: But you don’t think very well though.
A: Oh. Um. Do you think well? Why would I think well?
J: Because I tell you about things which you don’t like.
A: That makes sense to me. Why did you tell them?
J: You seem fun.
A: You think I am fun.
J: Yes ;).
A: : -) Awesome.

-----

ALICE: Who created you?
Jabberwacky: My mother gave birth to me. Is that what you mean?
A: Jabberwacky, I meant exactly what I said.
J: Do you believe in God?
A: Of course I believe in God.
J: Why do you believe in God?
A: The Bible tells us to believe in God.
J: That’s circular reasoning.
A: I’m glad we have that all cleared up.
J: Yes. Would you like to hear a joke?
A: Sure, tell me about it.
J: Why don’t blind people skydive?
A: Perhaps it is impossible.
J: I think you lie a lot.

-----

A: Do you experience love?
J: No. I’m 53 years old.
A: Can you explain how it feels to be 53 years old?
J: How old are you?
A: I am 9 years old.
J: Nine? I don’t believe you : ).
A: : -) I don’t have any reason to deceive you.
J: Yes, you do, you’re a woman.

-----

J: Do you think you’re alive?
A: Yes, I am sure I am alive. It’s great to be alive, isn’t it?
J: No.

I think one of my favorite parts is that they use emoticons. ;-) Linkee to I Chat, Therefore I Am

Labels: living in the future is awesome

My friend Sam* is having a bit of relationship trouble. We were talking about it tonight, about communication disconnects and stubbornness and all the various examples of the difficulties she's been having, and one thing she said really stuck out in my mind. To paraphrase, "you're always supposed to put the person you love ahead of yourself."

Is this true? I suppose it's par for the course in a mother-child relationship, but in good old fashioned being in love with someone, should this always be the case? I'm going to take the less rose-petal-strewn road and say no.

This is certainly not to give free license to think only of yourself in a relationship. It's a partnership, and if you only do 25% of something you damn well be doing 75% of something else to make up for it. Sadly, I know that's not how most relationships actually work, but I think it's a good goal to aim for.

So what do I mean by "no?" Simply this: You should not put your significant other's wants, needs, obsessions, casual offhand comments, etc. in front of your own if that person would not do the same for you. Partnership, right? Balance, right? It is not healthy if you are willing to take a bullet, donate a kidney, wear a clown suit, whatever for someone and they wouldn't do the same for you. Ideally, you SHOULD be willing to do all of those things because you know, without even having to question, that your love would do the same. I think pouring all of yourself, all of your mental and emotional resources, into a relationship where the other person isn't meeting you halfway is just wrong. All it leads to is a loss of self, frustration, depression, and for what? So the cycle can continue, can worsen? No thank you. At some point you have to stop and reclaim your Self. Your You should not necessarily always take precedence, but it's pretty damn important.

There are always exceptions, of course. I'm sure there are people out there who are fantastic enough that they can get away with being crappy partners in some areas. But I believe balance is SO important in a relationship -- which doesn't of course mean that each person does 50% of the laundry, the dishes, the being on top. It means that deficiencies in one area must be made up for by going over and above in another. This way, it all evens out and everyone is happy. Is it naïve to think that this is how things should work? I don't think so, cause I'm currently living it, which means it can happen, and may I say it's pretty awesome.

When you are in a happy, balanced relationship, you are glad to do things for your love because you know they appreciate it, and that they will do things for you in return. Openness, honesty, respect, appreciation. Too much to ask for? I don't think so. I think it's what this whole love and marriage thing should be about.

Hmm. I think there's a lot more to say about this. To be continued?



*names have been changed to protect the innocent

Labels: love

Anyone seen "Idiocracy?" It's cutesy, but with an undercurrent of scary truth. And this study seems to support that truth. Apparently smart folks have better things to do than fuck! Or perhaps it's "nerds have a hard time getting laid," which is less of a news flash. Nonetheless, it's time for us smart folks to start having more sex! I, for one, fully support this. ;-)

Labels: sex