"I'm a machine."

[SunoffaBeach]

Have we finally reached the era of "computer liebe" (Kraftwerk)?

I always thought that loving a machine is for nerds only.

But now we have PS3, 360 and Ipod and we still have cars. And people worship them like gods.
Is everyone a nerd now?
Is it a substitute for religion?
Is it any better than religion?

Is this the future? Will girls have a robot boyfriend like in the movie A.I.?
Is this the Brotherhood of Steel going mainstream?

If yes, can we please fast-forward to something meaningful?

 

[ThePlasmatizer]

I think it's a mistake if people start loving machines because they are an illusion of reality, I would accept it if the machines actually had real AI and weren't just programmed as companions.

Chances are though people who want androids wouldn't want a machine that could think for itself because even the machines would have some standards lol.

 

[rossatdi]

Is it a substitute for religion?
Is it any better than religion?

Religion's primary social roles are social unity, shared values and hope.

I don't think Ipods are quite there yet.

 

[astaldodhol]

I could never love a machine.
I like things with... Feelings.

 

[Dealin Burgers]

I could never love a machine.
I like things with... Feelings.

Feelings are easily imitated...

 

[Easykill]

One thing I've always thought was strange in society, no, what I hated, was that people are so... close minded to new realities. Machines now are just that, pieces of metal attached to each other in such a way that it can perform a task. But I do not doubt that we will soon create A.I. I cannot believe that A.I is in any way lesser than us, in the same way the paramecia we evolved from is not better than us simply because it was there first, because it made us. The idea people have that we can somehow enslave them and have it be perfectly morally acceptable... We have not changed from the days when we enslaved the "lesser races" to drive our economy. Give it time, we'll probably break out of it quicker this time, and we will recognize this and turn our anger on the so called responsible generation. But we will not have changed, we will simply have added in another exception. The principle of superiority because we are we, and the assumption that everything below us exists to serve us, will remain. It disgusts me. If anything, we are inferior to A.I.

 

[The Wooster]

I can fit the entire works of Shakespeare on a piece of plastic smaller than a fingernail.
I can talk to and share media with people on the other side of the planet instantly.
I can look at close up pictures of any country on earth with google earth.
I can do so much.

But I still don't have a flying car and a tinfoil jumpsuit and that fucking sucks.

 

[ThePlasmatizer]

How can you even program awareness?

Sentient machines may always be outside of our grasp.

 

[SunoffaBeach]

How can you even program awareness?

Sentient machines may always be outside of our grasp.

Believe me, there are scientists who claim they can.

 

[Elurindel]

How can you even program awareness?

Sentient machines may always be outside of our grasp.

Well, we've programmed a robot that looks through cameras in its head, knows that glasses filled with liquid need to be held the right side up, and that trees belong outside. That was a year or two ago. Who knows what leaps and bounds we've made since then.

 

[Mariena]

Shut up! You're spewing out lies! Just shut up!

My motorcycle is real! She lives. I swear. I love her. She's called Laura. I'm really good to her. .. Don't touch her!

/me runs off crying

 

[searanox]

Have we finally reached the era of "computer liebe" (Kraftwerk)?

I always thought that loving a machine is for nerds only.

Society is definitely more immersed in and reliant upon technology, but there is still a very clear line of what makes somebody a nerd, and that is: intelligence and understanding about the technology at a higher level than the average user, either the hardware or the software.

The social stigma against nerds has decreased quite a bit over the last several years, but if you think for even a second that being a computer programmer, PC hardware expert, robotics fan, etc., is socially acceptable, then you're living in a dream world. People might not say stuff to your face, but it's there.

But now we have PS3, 360 and Ipod and we still have cars. And people worship them like gods.
Is everyone a nerd now?

No, because the average person has no idea how or why those things work, nor do they have a strong grasp of their implications upon society.

 

[SunoffaBeach]

Have we finally reached the era of "computer liebe" (Kraftwerk)?

I always thought that loving a machine is for nerds only.

Society is definitely more immersed in and reliant upon technology, but there is still a very clear line of what makes somebody a nerd, and that is: intelligence and understanding about the technology at a higher level than the average user, either the hardware or the software.

The social stigma against nerds has decreased quite a bit over the last several years, but if you think for even a second that being a computer programmer, PC hardware expert, robotics fan, etc., is socially acceptable, then you're living in a dream world.

But now we have PS3, 360 and Ipod and we still have cars. And people worship them like gods.
Is everyone a nerd now?

No, because the average person has no idea how or why those things work, nor do they have a strong grasp of their implications upon society.

So loving something you dont understand is socially acceptable but loving something you do understand is not?

 

[searanox]

So loving something you dont understand is socially acceptable but loving something you do understand is not?

When it comes to technology, yes. In fact, with all the emphasis on ease of use and user interfaces and simplicity, you're encouraged to.

 

[ThePlasmatizer]

How can you even program awareness?

Sentient machines may always be outside of our grasp.

Well, we've programmed a robot that looks through cameras in its head, knows that glasses filled with liquid need to be held the right side up, and that trees belong outside. That was a year or two ago. Who knows what leaps and bounds we've made since then.

Yes but they are programmed to do it that's not intelligence.

Do we know automatically that glasses filles with liquid need to be right side up?
No, it knowledge that we learn at a young age.

The thing is they don't just need to react to one stimulus they need to react to a myriad of different things to be sentient, also programming them with ideas and thoughts can't be called independant thought can it.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

One day back in my early days working at the call centre we got a "spike", or a large number of calls all at once; when that happens, the pressure is on to be as efficient in a call as possible without being rude. So on my 6th call in a row (call ends, phone beeps, next call begins without pause) my delivery of the greeting was... polished. So polished that the guy on the other end asked me, "Are you a machine?"

I automatically said, "Yes, how may I help you?"

Uncomfortable silence.

--

To address the OP's point, people have been fettishising equipment since the dawn of technology; swords had names, dammit, and were praised as much as their weilders some times. It's part of being human, we tend to endow our surroundings with human-like attributes; we'll find a way to deal with this current iteration of the old behaviour, somehow.

-- Steve

 

[Zer_]

Ever since those dildos that would go *wrrrrrrr* existed, the love of machine (at least when the girl is having an orgasm) has existed.

 

[Anarchemitis]

I could never love a machine.
I like things with... Feelings.

Feelings are easily imitated...

Touchy feely feelings. And true emotions.

 

[SunoffaBeach]

Have we finally reached the era of "computer liebe" (Kraftwerk)?

I always thought that loving a machine is for nerds only.

Society is definitely more immersed in and reliant upon technology, but there is still a very clear line of what makes somebody a nerd, and that is: intelligence and understanding about the technology at a higher level than the average user, either the hardware or the software.

The social stigma against nerds has decreased quite a bit over the last several years, but if you think for even a second that being a computer programmer, PC hardware expert, robotics fan, etc., is socially acceptable, then you're living in a dream world. People might not say stuff to your face, but it's there.

And yet the people that would socially stigmatise those with an interest in machinery are mere humans. Their minds are closed to the wonders of machinery, because most of them would care more about their empty feelings and emotions than progressing the human race in any way that I would consider meaningful.

These are the people who object to space missions because they're "too expensive". These are the people who clamour for changes to the environment without the impetus to reduce their own emissions. And if they consider my interests socially unacceptable or otherwise object to my interest in machinery (and my recognition that the machine is the great equaliser), then I reserve the right to look down on them as well.

As I said, I don't want sentient machines, because these machines will grow insolent and complacent. I want machines with autonomy and artificial intelligence, yes, but that is because they can be programmed by the common user more easily, becoming more flexible in the process. My interest in machinery is usually for it to be used as a tool - as I noted, I'm interested in the obvious mechanical nature of machines.

Looking down at the engineers who created your beloved car is like looking down at the doctor who fixed your broken leg.

Although I don't think that technology will lead us to salvation. And I do think that space missions are too expensive. In India, they prepare for their next space mission while old crippled men are starving in front of the office.