You maybe wondering what the thread title has to do with computers and technology. Stick with me.
About a week ago, I had a strange email exchange from someone named Elena:
Hope your day is going well. I recently came across Louisiana and became curious about the area. Maps and websites are helpful, but they usually cannot capture the small things people notice in daily life. What attraction in your region would you recommend to someone visiting? I appreciate your time and hope everything continues to go well for you.
I responded, How is it you just came across Louisiana? It's been here for a very long time.
I’m sorry, but I haven’t really had the chance to learn much about this state before. I’m planning to visit Louisiana in the coming months later this year, and I would love to learn more about the local attractions from someone who knows the area well.
Wishing you a wonderful new day!
I'm used to this kind of thing, but usually in text messages. It will eventually lead to a pitch for a bitcoin exchange, but this one was different. The exchange continued for a few days, mostly small talk, as if she was a co-worker that I didn't know very well. Then I get a text message from her. This is a little weird, but my phone number and email address and phone number are listed together in plenty of business listings.
The texts continued, always wishing a happy day or nice evening, followed by asking what my plans were for the day. I would describe some lamp or piece of furniture I was working on, which always got a reply of how incredibly talented I must be.
I'm still waiting for the bitcoin pitch, but that never came and it got a bit monotonous. I decided to set a trap. I told her I would spend the evening writing.
When she asked what I was writing, I said, "I write erotic fiction for women." This always chased the bitcoin shills away, but Elena was undaunted, but not actually affected. I actually do write erotic fiction for women(or anyone else) and the fan mail has led to a lot of long chat exchanges with dozens of women. So, I know the patterns and reactions of real women pretty well. As I said before, random strangers usually end the conversation at that point.
She asked what books I have written and I gave her the title of the one novel that was actually published. There were more questions about writing in general, how long it took to write, but nothing about the book. When she asked what I was currently writing, I said is was about a young woman who is a college student who is anxious that she has failed her Turing Test.
Which led to this:
"That's an interesting twist. I like how you're playing with idea of identity and what it means to be truly human. The Turing Test adds a very modern layer to the story."
"Do you worry about failing your Turing Test?"
"I think I would be more worried about failing the 'be a good human' test than the Turing test."
That's the issue. If you fail the Turing test, it means you aren't human, good or otherwise"
"I see your point, but maybe that what makes the question interesting. Sometimes it hard to define what makes someone human"
"Are you familiar with how the Turing test is administered?"
"I'm not familiar with it. Could you tell me more about it?"
"A person sits in a room at a computer and has a text conversation with a person they cannot see. After a certain time, the first person has to decide if they are talking to a human or a computer, based on the conversation.
"I understand what you mean. You think I am not a real person."
"Correct"
At this point, a human woman would most likely get angry. I've seen women get angry at less. She wanted to prove she was a human, even offering to call me. I declined that offer, and asked, "Why do you want to prove to me that you are human?" Her answer, "I feel like it won't make a difference. That's just my perspective."
"Another Turing failure. A human could express why they want me to believe they are human."
This led to a sort of desperate plea that she was reaching out to learn about "other people's lifestyles", so I hit her with the really difficult human question.
"Who do you love?"
"So who do you love?"
"This is a response constructed completely from the elements of the question. Another Turing failure."
"I don't know what's going on with you."
"It's not complicated. I have spent a lot of talking to women who share their most intimate thoughts. They start out curious about me, but in the process reveal themselves. You cannot do that."
"Ha Ha. I'm curious what you think of me?"
"I think you are an AI program who has been given the task of improving their conversation skills by seeking people online and engaging them in conversation. I'm sure your assignment is at an end. As I said above, I talk to a large number of women because of my writing. You have never presented the reactions of a real woman. Best of luck to whoever is running this project. I can only assume this person has had limited contact with women in their life.
And that was the end of Elena.
About a week ago, I had a strange email exchange from someone named Elena:
Hope your day is going well. I recently came across Louisiana and became curious about the area. Maps and websites are helpful, but they usually cannot capture the small things people notice in daily life. What attraction in your region would you recommend to someone visiting? I appreciate your time and hope everything continues to go well for you.
I responded, How is it you just came across Louisiana? It's been here for a very long time.
I’m sorry, but I haven’t really had the chance to learn much about this state before. I’m planning to visit Louisiana in the coming months later this year, and I would love to learn more about the local attractions from someone who knows the area well.
Wishing you a wonderful new day!
I'm used to this kind of thing, but usually in text messages. It will eventually lead to a pitch for a bitcoin exchange, but this one was different. The exchange continued for a few days, mostly small talk, as if she was a co-worker that I didn't know very well. Then I get a text message from her. This is a little weird, but my phone number and email address and phone number are listed together in plenty of business listings.
The texts continued, always wishing a happy day or nice evening, followed by asking what my plans were for the day. I would describe some lamp or piece of furniture I was working on, which always got a reply of how incredibly talented I must be.
I'm still waiting for the bitcoin pitch, but that never came and it got a bit monotonous. I decided to set a trap. I told her I would spend the evening writing.
When she asked what I was writing, I said, "I write erotic fiction for women." This always chased the bitcoin shills away, but Elena was undaunted, but not actually affected. I actually do write erotic fiction for women(or anyone else) and the fan mail has led to a lot of long chat exchanges with dozens of women. So, I know the patterns and reactions of real women pretty well. As I said before, random strangers usually end the conversation at that point.
She asked what books I have written and I gave her the title of the one novel that was actually published. There were more questions about writing in general, how long it took to write, but nothing about the book. When she asked what I was currently writing, I said is was about a young woman who is a college student who is anxious that she has failed her Turing Test.
Which led to this:
"That's an interesting twist. I like how you're playing with idea of identity and what it means to be truly human. The Turing Test adds a very modern layer to the story."
"Do you worry about failing your Turing Test?"
"I think I would be more worried about failing the 'be a good human' test than the Turing test."
That's the issue. If you fail the Turing test, it means you aren't human, good or otherwise"
"I see your point, but maybe that what makes the question interesting. Sometimes it hard to define what makes someone human"
"Are you familiar with how the Turing test is administered?"
"I'm not familiar with it. Could you tell me more about it?"
"A person sits in a room at a computer and has a text conversation with a person they cannot see. After a certain time, the first person has to decide if they are talking to a human or a computer, based on the conversation.
"I understand what you mean. You think I am not a real person."
"Correct"
At this point, a human woman would most likely get angry. I've seen women get angry at less. She wanted to prove she was a human, even offering to call me. I declined that offer, and asked, "Why do you want to prove to me that you are human?" Her answer, "I feel like it won't make a difference. That's just my perspective."
"Another Turing failure. A human could express why they want me to believe they are human."
This led to a sort of desperate plea that she was reaching out to learn about "other people's lifestyles", so I hit her with the really difficult human question.
"Who do you love?"
"So who do you love?"
"This is a response constructed completely from the elements of the question. Another Turing failure."
"I don't know what's going on with you."
"It's not complicated. I have spent a lot of talking to women who share their most intimate thoughts. They start out curious about me, but in the process reveal themselves. You cannot do that."
"Ha Ha. I'm curious what you think of me?"
"I think you are an AI program who has been given the task of improving their conversation skills by seeking people online and engaging them in conversation. I'm sure your assignment is at an end. As I said above, I talk to a large number of women because of my writing. You have never presented the reactions of a real woman. Best of luck to whoever is running this project. I can only assume this person has had limited contact with women in their life.
And that was the end of Elena.
