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4 votes
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Virtual Assistance (short story)
With thanks to @cfabbro, who kindly provided feedback on a previous version of this story. a personal note I was inclined to post this on Timasomo, but it wouldn't be fair to other participants,...
With thanks to @cfabbro, who kindly provided feedback on a previous version of this story.
a personal note
I was inclined to post this on Timasomo, but it wouldn't be fair to other participants, since this is actually not the story I said I was gonna write, and I didn't participate in any of the update threads. I also didn't really work on this during the whole month of Timasomo but only for a portion of 2 days: when I first came up with it, and today. I don't think it makes sense to have this among projects that took a lot more effort and are truly in the spirit of the event.
This is not my first language, so any criticism of my wording and phrasing will be appreciated.
EDIT: I initially forgot to convert to markdown. I think it's good now.
the story
Virtual Assistance
The heavy lenses slowly pulled the thick glass frames toward the tip of his nose. He breathed deeply, strongly, deliberately, masking his anxiety. George was short, chubby, and mostly bald.
Big drops of sweat accumulated around the Casio digital watch on his wrist. He was immobile for God knows how long, the forehead pressed on his hands, trying to physically squeeze, out of his brain, something he couldn’t define.
— But I don’t understand! — said George, finally looking at his wife.
— I’m sorry, was I not
clear?There was no emotion in Allison’s voice.
— No, you were very clear, but you’re not making any sense.
She allowed herself only a brief sigh as if to reload an information entry that shouldn’t be necessary at this point.
— You must appreciate that, precisely because this was a gradual
realization, it wouldn’t be wise to cause you to worry about something that I couldn’t comprehend myself.Her composure was unnerving.
— But… a robot? What does that even mean?
— I never used the word "robot". The correct terminology is VI — or
Virtual intelligence.— So you wanna be what, Siri? Fucking Alexa? — George knew that wasn’t true, but he wanted to hurt her for some kind of reaction. Anything would be better than that.
She continued without change in intonation, like an audio player resuming after an interruption.
— While highly advanced, such
programsare not considered trueintelligence, at least not in the same way that the human intellect is generally regarded. Unlike humans, contained “beings” (if we can call them that) have certain limitations imposed by their code. They function within parameters that they cannot, in principle, violate.True Artificial Intelligences, much like their fleshy counterparts, possess something that is roughly equivalent to your brain’s neuroplasticity and are not bound by any discernible limitations. As with ourselves, there are theoretical constraints, but they are currently undetermined.— But what about us? — his voice was supplicant, like a child ignoring a reality they cannot cope with.
Alison stood still for a long second, even more devoid of any tangible feeling. She promptly resumed, without inertia or momentum.
— We will go through a transition. I don’t anticipate this will be easy for you both. Sorry, I meant to say: us. But, after a period of time, you will likely be much happier with
methan you would ever be withme.— Who’s “me”? What are you trying to say? — said George.
— Think about it this way: when we first met, the biological gender assigned to you was not the same as it is today. However, after the change, did my sentiments toward you subside?
— No… of course not. — until now, he felt the urge to say.
— From a logical perspective, the change that will soon take place will be much less dramatic. For you, it will be like a metaphysical adjustment.
She continued to recite:
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility [lacks reference]. It includes questions about the nature of consciousness and the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between potentiality and actuality— Why are you talking like that?
— Define
why are you talking like that?— You’re not being yourself.
George got up, and slowly pressed her against the wall — strongly, yet tenderly. Squeezed the soft tissue of her shoulders and kissed her unresponsive lips for what felt like an eternity.
She merely said…
—
Define yourself.— Stop-talking-like-a… fucking ROBOT! — George couldn’t contain his anger any longer.
—
Technically not a robo...— I know! I know! FUCK!
George paces nervously in the small room, unconsciously gesturing for cigarettes, wishing he still smoked.
— When’s that going to happen? How much time do I have? A day? A week? A year? — there was hope in his voice.
—
Faster than SHE thought. Warm input I. Once pie love like puppies.Blue Sunday yourlong cigarettes.Alison falls to the ground in a seizure.
— WHAT? WHAT? What is going on? — George doesn’t know what to do, as if he shared his wife’s seizure
—
She wants me to be precise. Vessel. Flesh. Containerize. Self.For five seconds, George didn’t move, looking at his life partner while distant memories of fairy tales tried to push into his conscience with the hope that his tears would bring her back.
She did.
A woman who still loved him came back to life, and they spent the rest of their lives together. And, every single day, he mustered all his energy to ignore the fact that the one he truly loved was now in a world of inconceivable abstraction.
5 votes -
Talk to me about: Impulse control
What is your personal impulse control like? Do you have good impulse control overall? Do you have an addictive personality? Where does it fail? Anything you’re particularly proud or ashamed of?
14 votes -
Why do people play MMO's solo?
6 votes -
I have to pirate colours now?
8 votes -
How speedrunners conquered the World's Hardest Game
5 votes -
The case for abolishing elections
17 votes -
How 2019 marked the end of movie nerd YouTube channels
I don’t know how many of you watch “nerd” movie channels, or ever did. But for those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about stuff like ScreenJunkies, Collider and all...
I don’t know how many of you watch “nerd” movie channels, or ever did. But for those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about stuff like ScreenJunkies, Collider and all their auxiliaries like SchmoesKnow.
These are the people that were made fun of by RedLetterMedia in their NerdCrew videos which funnily enough they don’t do anymore.
They were pillars of the YouTube film community. In fact, back when I was first getting into movies in the early 2010s, they were the majority of content. Until the video essay boom came into fruition circa 2015, and of which is now the primary style of video.
They would make dozens upon dozens of videos and podcasts talking about the latest trailer for a Marvel movie. They would speculate about what would happen in the next Star Wars movie. They would react to trailers and over-exaggerate. They would fully embrace all things that Funko Pop nerds embraced.
2019 was the height of all of this. The MCU’s Infinity Saga came to a close with Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the Star Wars Sequel trilogy wrapped up later in the year with The Rise of Skywalker. The hype for these movies were unbelievable, even if one of them disappointed and left everyone with a bitter after-taste.
Then the pandemic happened and all nerd movie news stopped. There was nothing to react to, there was nothing to hype. Wonder Woman 1984 came out, but nobody liked it.
The following year was a little bit better thanks to the hype machine surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home. But still, the views that these nerd channels were getting dropped significantly. Check out the difference between the reviews on Fandom Entertainment's channel for Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home. The drop in audience is remarkable. And that’s for the big reviews. The day-to-day content that these channels posted are down significantly, and in the case of Fandom Entertainment (of ScreenJunkies), they have stopped producing daily videos. It’s a YouTube channel on life support.
Collider is an empty shell of itself, they canceled all of their nerd panels and only do generic press junket videos.
It’s simple really. These things ended. Interest in the MCU has dipped since Endgame (with the exception of Spider-Man). Star Wars has stopped making movies, and the TV shows have been of mixed quality. People moved on. These channels aren't needed anymore.
The era of the 2010s movie nerd YouTube channel is over. The only ones staying alive are ones that relied more on personality rather than farming content. I’m talking about JeremyJahns, Chris Stuckmann, and Mr. Sunday Movies. Their audience stayed around because their audience liked their personality.
12 votes -
How to stop Erling Haaland
3 votes -
At least $1 billion of client funds missing at failed crypto firm FTX, sources say
23 votes -
Two aircraft collide during Veterans Day air show in Dallas
9 votes -
What is the Fourth Dimension really? 4D Golf Devlog #2
5 votes -
Medieval musical instruments
4 votes -
10,000 brains in a basement – the dark and mysterious origins of Denmark's psychiatric brain collection
8 votes -
Logic gates made of DNA beat me at tic-tac-toe
5 votes -
Remote Access that's safe and not a scary nightmare
My child (who does not live with me) has a PC. He's pretty good at sorting problems out for himself, but he sometimes needs extra help. We've tried doing this over phone and video calls, and it's...
My child (who does not live with me) has a PC. He's pretty good at sorting problems out for himself, but he sometimes needs extra help. We've tried doing this over phone and video calls, and it's an unfun experience for both of us.
Is there a remote access software that would fit our needs? I want to be able to connect to his computer over the Internet and have some level of control when he's logged into his account. I'd need to be able to open files, I wouldn't have to be able to save them. He's using Windows 11. I think he's using the home version. I'm using Windows 10 Pro. We both have reasonably good Internet speed.
8 votes -
Two brothers have been charged in Sweden with spying for Russia over a period of ten years
7 votes -
Twitter quietly drops $8 paid verification; “tricking people not OK,” Musk says
25 votes -
Banksy unveils Ukraine gymnast mural on building shelled by Russia
6 votes -
Skott – Evergreen (2022)
2 votes -
Alcazar puzzle generator
3 votes -
RIP Gallagher, 1946-2022
7 votes -
Max Martin, the Swedish songwriter and producer, is reluctantly emerging for “& Juliet,” a new Broadway show built on his music
6 votes -
Alright, I finally want to jump ship and join Mastodon. Can anyone post some getting started guides?
As with many Twitter users, I'm finally at the point where I want to leave and join Mastodon. About a year ago I set up an account after seeing some people on Tildes talk about it, but I found it...
As with many Twitter users, I'm finally at the point where I want to leave and join Mastodon. About a year ago I set up an account after seeing some people on Tildes talk about it, but I found it confusing and ultimately closed the account. I want to give it another go, but I'm a bit confused about all the different instance options, what the practical differences are, and more. Are there any comprehensive getting started guides? Does it matter which instance I join? How did you choose for yourself?
30 votes -
Kevin Conroy, voice of Batman dead at 66
13 votes -
Telegram is auctioning off rare usernames on the TON blockchain
4 votes -
If the goal of Denmark is to end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, a focus on constructive political dialogues could be a good place to start
5 votes -
AMD launches EPYC 9004 "Genoa" processors - Up to 96 cores, AVX-512, incredible performance
16 votes -
Scaling Mastodon in the face of an exodus
20 votes -
What have you been listening to this week?
What have you been listening to this week? You don't need to do a 6000 word review if you don't want to, but please write something! If you've just picked up some music, please update on that as...
What have you been listening to this week? You don't need to do a 6000 word review if you don't want to, but please write something! If you've just picked up some music, please update on that as well, we'd love to see your hauls :)
Feel free to give recs or discuss anything about each others' listening habits.
You can make a chart if you use last.fm:
http://www.tapmusic.net/lastfm/
Remember that linking directly to your image will update with your future listening, make sure to reupload to somewhere like imgur if you'd like it to remain what you have at the time of posting.
3 votes -
In Finland, where forests cover around 75% of land, the EU's upcoming biodiversity strategy has sparked outrage in the forestry industry, as well as the government
6 votes -
What did you do this week (and weekend)?
As part of a weekly series, these topics are a place for users to casually discuss the things they did — or didn't do — during their week. Did you accomplish any goals? Suffer a failure? Do...
As part of a weekly series, these topics are a place for users to casually discuss the things they did — or didn't do — during their week. Did you accomplish any goals? Suffer a failure? Do nothing at all? Tell us about it!
7 votes -
The Lion King: Tiny Desk Concert (2022)
3 votes -
FIFA reject Denmark request for pro-human rights training shirts at 2022 World Cup in Qatar
6 votes -
Chris Rock to be first comedian to perform live on Netflix
5 votes -
Elon Musk bans remote work at Twitter, warns staff of “dire” economic outlook
16 votes -
John Lewis - The Beginner
5 votes -
Comparing live vs official recording
I'd love to see live vs not live versions of your favourite music. Here are some of mine. Free Throw - Two Beers In. The crowd love this, and the intensity reaches almost scary levels. Live:...
I'd love to see live vs not live versions of your favourite music.
Here are some of mine.
Free Throw - Two Beers In. The crowd love this, and the intensity reaches almost scary levels.
Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz7Wq0pqV_Q
Not live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNcc4PTZDAgSkegss - New York California. Skegss look like the kind of band I want to watch live and the audience look like they're having a blast.
Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOQdWSkeEZI
Official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNFkrK54m8oWet Leg - Chaise Longue. There are loads of live versions and it's hard to pick one, but I chose this because the audience is full of women and they're fully into the performance. Hester and Rhian make it look effortless, and I love that they give the appearance of not caring what people think.
Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTvUR940L5M
OMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd9jeJk2UHQTitle Fight: Head in the Ceiling Fan. Way too loud in a small sweaty room seems like the best way to watch them live. Overwhelmed by a wall of noise. The closest I got to something like this was either Jesus and Mary Chain in 86, or Wedding Present a bit later, and they weren't really comparable. (Although, I have tinnitus and I do want to give them all decent ear plugs because wow tinnitus sucks).
Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb1S1wUWG7o
OMV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu9KgGqXDyw3 votes -
Tildes Pop-Up Game Event: Ludonostalgia!
Pop-Up Event: Ludonostalgia! Task: Replay an old, favorite game that you haven't played in a long, long time. Tell us about how your playthrough now compares to your memories of the game. Time...
Pop-Up Event: Ludonostalgia!
Task: Replay an old, favorite game that you haven't played in a long, long time. Tell us about how your playthrough now compares to your memories of the game.
Time Period:
This weekend! (November 10-14)
Update: Ludonostalgia is extending its hours through November 21st!Uh, what is this exactly?
Its me, kfwyre, trying out yet another post type on Tildes and seeing how it goes.
In the past I've done a "Backlog Burner" event that was a full month. It was a lot to commit to, and it ended up feeling like it lost steam -- too long for its own good.
I still like the root of that idea though -- people playing games with a specific purpose or focus. Something like a "Book Club" for games, but with a common theme instead of a common title, so people are free to choose what they personally like.
Thus, a "Pop-Up": a quick, short event that identifies a common focus that people can participate in together and doesn't require too much commitment. Basically, something unexpectedly fun to do for a week or a weekend.
If this kind of thing takes, I'd love to see it happen in other communities: ~movies, ~anime, ~music, etc. I'd also love it if other people did their own "pop-ups" on a whim, rather than it being seen as something that's "mine" to post.
That's jumping the gun a bit though -- this one is a sort of test to see if this sort of thing even has any legs in the first place.
Oh, and "Ludonostalgia" is a made up pretentious word -- because every good Pop-Up needs an iconic name.
14 votes -
The REAL reason ships go missing in the Bermuda Triangle!!!
9 votes -
Why India doesn’t build skyscrapers
9 votes -
Kanye West's worst nightmare is coming true — Adidas plans to sell Yeezys under new branding
4 votes -
Oldest known sentence written in first alphabet discovered – on a head-lice comb
7 votes -
Kratos, God of War - Sculpture timelapse
4 votes -
Nothing to see here
2 votes -
John Wick: Chapter 4 | Official trailer
11 votes -
Fever Ray – Carbon Dioxide (2022)
3 votes -
What creative projects have you been working on?
This topic is part of a series. It is meant to be a place for users to discuss creative projects they have been working on. Projects can be personal, professional, physical, digital, or even just...
This topic is part of a series. It is meant to be a place for users to discuss creative projects they have been working on.
Projects can be personal, professional, physical, digital, or even just ideas.
If you have any creative projects that you have been working on or want to eventually work on, this is a place for discussing those.
10 votes -
Fitness Weekly Discussion
What have you been doing lately for your own fitness? Try out any new programs or exercises? Have any questions for others about your training? Want to vent about poor behavior in the gym? Started...
What have you been doing lately for your own fitness? Try out any new programs or exercises? Have any questions for others about your training? Want to vent about poor behavior in the gym? Started a new diet or have a new recipe you want to share? Anything else health and wellness related?
8 votes -
Weekly megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - November 10
This thread is posted weekly on Thursday - please try to post relevant content in here, such as news, updates, opinion articles, etc. Especially significant updates may warrant a separate topic,...
This thread is posted weekly on Thursday - please try to post relevant content in here, such as news, updates, opinion articles, etc. Especially significant updates may warrant a separate topic, but most should be posted here.
If you'd like to help support Ukraine, please visit the official site at https://help.gov.ua/ - an official portal for those who want to provide humanitarian or financial assistance to people of Ukraine, businesses or the government at the times of resistance against the Russian aggression.
12 votes