Really, Escapist?

[McMullen]

Just for the sake of variety, can we have a news article on robotics and AI research where the author doesn't make the title, subtitle, and body of the news story about how these terribly terrible eeeeeeeevil scientists are building Skynet?

EDIT: Perhaps I didn't make this clear: The part that is tiresome is that it's the same joke every. single. time. and it's delivered as if the writer thinks it's still funny. I know the Escapist doesn't do a serious style of reporting, and that's fine, but my point here is that the writers of these articles seem to have "ZOMG SKYNET RUN!!!" confused with a joke that we haven't seen done in the last 50 articles on the topic. I don't mind them not taking it seriously, it's just that they need to do it well and they're not. It's the John Madden Football of journalism: New article, same old jokes.

 

[aba1]

You are in a forum dedicated towards video game and movie nerds what else were you expecting honestly?

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

Lulwut?
Hey, here's a crazy idea...how about you get Ai and Robotics news from an AI and Robotics specialist news site?
Nah, that's impossible, surely! Heh! God, having amusing titles and a bit light heartedness on an entertainment website is just so wrong, isn't it?!

Hah!

 

[Darthbawls77]

I like how you want a different subject yet you bring nothing to the table.....EPIC FAIL!

 

[Woodsey]

Evidently the OP is an early version of Skynet trying to throw us off its scent.

YOU DON'T FOOL ME YOU AI FUCK!

 

[McMullen]

My point is that it's done, in the same way each time, to the point where it's long since ceased to be amusing or entertaining. It's less about accuracy and more of a "You honestly still think that's still funny after all this time?" kind of thing.

It's the discomfort of watching someone who thinks they're clever fail at being clever repeatedly.

 

[McMullen]

I like how you want a different subject yet you bring nothing to the table.....EPIC FAIL!

Did I say I wanted a different subject? I don't remember saying that.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Just for the sake of variety, can we have a news article on robotics and AI research where the author doesn't make the title, subtitle, and body of the news story about how these terribly terrible eeeeeeeevil scientists are building Skynet? The user community here is more than willing to repeat ancient worn-out jokes as if they're being clever and spout off uninformed paranoia all on their own. They've got the stupid unfunny part covered, so you can actually concentrate on the news part and maybe put a little less fail and facepalm into it.

Eh, I don't mind that, because you know they are taking the piss.

I hate those "Exciting new discovery that will change our lives " stories, whenever something may or may not have been claimed to be discovered by someone, somewhere, which sorta sounds maybe like it could be important, but probably won't be.

If the story is interesting, it will stand on its own merits without false advertising in the title. If it isn't, why write it?

 

[imnot]

Evidently the OP is an early version of Skynet trying to throw us off its scent.

YOU DON'T FOOL ME YOU AI FUCK!

I have an emp sattalite trace skynets ip and ill pulse him to next century!

 

[kayisking]

Evidently the OP is an early version of Skynet trying to throw us off its scent.

YOU DON'T FOOL ME YOU AI FUCK!

I have an emp sattalite trace skynets ip and ill pulse him to next century!

I'll distract him by asking him to sing "Daisy Bell" for me!

 

[remnant_phoenix]

AI is a big boy and doesn't need you defend its techno-ego from our paranoid jokes about AI taking over the world.

EDIT: I have to agree with an earlier post as well. There are plenty of sites dedicated to presenting findings about robotics and AI in a more scientific, straight-forward way. If that's what you want, go elsewhere.

The Escapist is, first a foremost, a site dedicated presenting things that are INTERESTING to gaming nerd types. If putting a "AI WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD" spin on reporting information about robotics/AI makes it more interesting/entertaining to read for the general gaming nerd types, then that's how it should be presented because that's what the Escapist sets out to do.

Don't like it? Go elsewhere for robotics-related news.

 

[Darthbawls77]

I like how you want a different subject yet you bring nothing to the table.....EPIC FAIL!

Did I say I wanted a different subject? I don't remember saying that.

Um different subject and variety can mean the same thing....DOUBLE EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[McMullen]

AI is a big boy and doesn't need you defend its techno-ego from our paranoid jokes about AI taking over the world.

Not my point. See edit to first post.

 

[brunothepig]

And if the charm is in the repetition? I'm sorry, I don't share your opinion, and obviously neither do the newsies. So, I guess, deal with it. Do you honestly have nothing better to do than complain about this?

 

[OtherSideofSky]

I really would appreciate a different joke now and then. It's just gotten really lame at this point.

Also, this new captcha replacement just made me watch a video advertisement with sound in order to see what I'm supposed to type in. Not cool.

 

[McMullen]

Do you honestly have nothing better to do than complain about this?

Now that is actually funny.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

AI is a big boy and doesn't need you defend its techno-ego from our paranoid jokes about AI taking over the world.

Not my point. See edit to first post.

Fair enough.

I was actually responding from the perspective that you were some sort of technophile and had some kind of haughty derision at the idea of AI taking over, but your edit clears things up quite a bit.

I understand and respect that you don't find the repetition of the joke funny or clever. But based on the initial response to your OP, and the general popularity of the "meme," I'd say you're in the minority.

Not that you being in the minority makes you wrong and the opinion of the majority automatically dictates the way it "should" be, hell no, I've always HATED the idea of applying "majority rule" to give validity to a piece of pop culture...

However, I assert that most Escapist readers probably enjoy the paranoid "AI will take over!" jokes, and so they probably will continue, even if the continuance seems redundant/overdone to you. That's just the way it is. Sorry, mate.

 

[FalloutJack]

Just for the sake of variety, can we have a news article on robotics and AI research where the author doesn't make the title, subtitle, and body of the news story about how these terribly terrible eeeeeeeevil scientists are building Skynet?

What evil robot/computer would you LIKE him to talk about?

(Just kidding.)

I'm going to go out on a limb and say most people don't really care. I can see how some would, but then every time I hear about robotic/prosthetic/artificial limbs on here, I make a Ghost in the Shell comment and nobody objects. It's a running gag, yo.

 

[Kross]

I thought it was less a joke and more that Skynet is an omnipresent threat that we have to be on perpetual guard against.

(Also, some news editors really like robots)

 

[Atmos Duality]

Yeah, the whole "AI anything = Skynet" gag is tired to the point of being broken.

A more clever tagline might have been "Algorithms have no ethics." but it wouldn't have been as catchy for the masses who expected the Skynet joke...