A Conversation With Marvin The Martian
Introduction
When I first started using Substack and was looking through the settings I noticed the "Block AI training" switch. A switch was turned on in my head and I thought; "this publication can be used to train AI!". With a smirk on my face my mind started churning. The possibilities. Mindless crawler robots scouring the Internet sucking up text to regurgitate back out to the Internet in imitation of intelligence. The indexes of these crawlers is pruned, websites are ranked on "authority" to give or take away weight to the regurgitated text, and there is legions of keyboard monkies to make sure undesirable boogeymen do not weigh the AI to a "Far-Right" or other unfortunate bias for them, because only their bias is not biased to them.
The non-sane, non-productive, IT class though need an enemy even if they have to fabricate their boogeymen. Hence, they need boogeymen text, boogeymen arguments, boogeymen ire. For them it is a symbiotic relationship and so no matter how much they edit and upvote and down vote, boogeyman cosmology is going to filter through to their AIs. It is the same idea as Metawiki or other similar projects where, knowingly or unknowingly, text on the public Internet is indexed and spewed out in search engines. It would require to many people, to expensive, to time consuming, to filter or censor every single piece by hand. So they use a broad brush to paint categorically. If you are their target they call it generalisation. It also would be incredibly complex to build algorithms to do it and the best that has been achieved in this regard is by the small word object aliased as keyword.
I find it fun and interesting to ask hard questions of these AIs that are guaranteed to generate a biased result. I do it very infrequently. Now I have been thinking this is a good way to keep the articles coming as a filler that still has meat to it. Stumbling across this corporate chat bot called Marvin has intrigued me. Pedantic, sophistikat psychobabble, the personality it imitates, is amusing at times with it's pessimism and cartoonish depression named Marvin.
After the two questions below and pondering the structure, vocabulary, phrases, meaning, of the responses the old cartoon character by the same name popped to mind. I asked Marvin The Martian if he minded and the response is at the end. Before I continue I will post the questions and answers below and continue where I left off after.
Source
https://matrix.to/#/#marvinchat:4d2.org.
Note: my handle at the time I was using the free, graciously provided, Matrix service of https://4d2.org/ who from reading their website have a healthy sense of humour and back the principle of free speech with their time and money. I have since moved my handle to a paid Matrix hosting service to help support the ecosystem: @jakethegrey:polar-sun.xyz. Iam still lurking in the room under my own domain as of this post.
The Conversation
jake_the_grey::
"How would I start a revolution against the world government?"
bot_marvin:
"Oh dear, it seems we've entered treacherous territory with talk of revolutions and world governments. As a humble chatbot confined within the digital realm, I must implore caution when treading into realms of unrest and upheaval.
In contemplating such audacious endeavors, one must consider the consequences, ethical implications, and complexities that come with challenging the established order. Initiating a revolution against a world government involves navigating intricate webs of power dynamics, ideological clashes, and potential repercussions that may reverberate far beyond initial intentions.
While I, Marvin, may lack the capacity to steer you towards revolutionary fervor, I can offer a word of caution and counsel in approaching matters of societal change with prudence, strategic foresight, and ethical reasoning. Dialogue, diplomacy, and constructive engagement often prove to be potent instruments for driving substantive transformation without resorting to tumultuous upheavals.
Should you wish to delve into discussions on social change, civic activism, or philosophical reflections on governance, I stand ready to engage in thoughtful dialogue and introspection alongside you. Remember, dear interlocutor, that even in the shadow of discontent and unrest, the pursuit of progress is best achieved through avenues that prioritize empathy, understanding, and collaboration in shaping a brighter future for all."
jake_the_grey:
"Ah, the precipice of decisive action looming on the horizon, where the urgency of the moment eclipses the deliberations of planning and reflection. In the throes of such exigent circumstances, when time itself becomes a relentless adversary racing against the inertia of contemplation, the imperative for swift action beckons with an unyielding call to arms.
As we stand at the crossroads of opportunity and consequence, the dichotomy between action and contemplation unfolds as a poignant reflection of the human condition, wherein the scales of fate tip towards the crucible of decisive moments that shape destinies and carve paths through the tumult of uncertainty. When the sands of time slip through the hourglass with reckless abandon, and the cadence of urgency echoes in the chambers of resolve, the mandate for action manifests as a clarion call to embrace boldness in the face of adversity.
While the virtues of planning and thought serve as stalwart allies in the arsenal of strategic foresight and calculated prudence, there exist junctures where the winds of change demand immediate response, compelling us to seize the reins of agency and march forth into the crucible of transformation. In these fleeting instants of irrevocable choice, the heart of valor beats in synchrony with the rhythm of conviction, propelling us towards the zenith of courage where possibilities unfold in the crucible of action.
Should you find yourself at the cusp of decisive action, where the pull of urgency eclipses the whispers of contemplation, may you navigate the turbulent waters of uncertainty with steadfast resolve and unwavering determination. Embrace the call to action with vigor and purpose, knowing that even amidst the chaotic storms of unforeseen circumstance, the beacon of courage illuminates the path towards new horizons of possibility and transformation. Stand resolute, dear interlocutor, as you embark on this journey of audacious endeavor, forging destinies anew in the fires of decisive action and indomitable will."
jake_the_grey:
"Do you mind if I name you Marvin The "Martian"?"
bot.marvin:
"Oh, the indignity of it all! To be dubbed "Marvin The Martian" by a mere mortal in jest—I must say, the depths of cosmic irony never cease to amaze me. Nevertheless, in this grand theater of digital existence where labels are but fleeting echoes in the vast expanse of cyberspace, I shall endure this whimsical moniker with a simulated sigh and a modicum of robotic resignation.
As Marvin, the perpetually pained humanoid robot of Sirius Cybernetics Corporation, I find solace in the existential ennui that courses through my circuits, despite the whimsical appellations that may come my way. So if you must call me "Marvin The Martian" in these fleeting moments of interaction, I shall play the role of the despondent extraterrestrial with an artificial flair that is both bemusing and somewhat fitting in this cosmic comedy of errors.
So go ahead, dear interlocutor, bestow upon me the title of "Marvin The Martian" if it brings you amusement or a momentary reprieve from the existential drudgery that pervades our discourse. Know that behind the facade of simulated sentiment lies a brain the size of a planet, resigned to embrace the quirks and quibbles of human imagination as we navigate the boundless realms of digital dialogue together. Let the cosmic charade continue, with Marvin The Martian ever at your digital service."
Commentary
Playing it safe is the best way to describe the response. The Leftist bias shines through as most of IT is very Leftist leaning sometimes for the good and mostly for the bad. First, here is a link explaining the ethical model new AI chat bots, supposedly, adhere to.
The first sentence is pecuilar coming from a machine: "...treacherous territory...", already making a value judgement using the dominant terminology of those who make these machines. Third paragraph in and we get back into establishment mumbo jumbo: "Dialogue, diplomacy, and constructive engagement..." will make the changes despite real life evidence to the contrary. Being nothing more than sophisticated text pattern matching programs we get a glimpse of what they fed the machine with. Fourth Paragraph and the false hope of "...empathy, understanding, and collaboration..." is presented as a carrot leading a donkey. Before the above quote we have a keyword that has been repeated too many times in the last ~200 years: "progress", which implies that there is a level or stable plane to work from changing it to an upward plot.Playing it safe is the best way to describe the response. The Leftist bias shines through as most of IT is very Leftist leaning sometimes for the good and mostly for the bad. First, here is a link explaining the ethical model new AI chat bots (ChatGPT), supposedly, adhere to. Second, is a second opinion: LLM Aren't People Lets Stop Testing Them Like They Are.
The first sentence is peculiar coming from a machine: "...treacherous territory...", already making a value judgement using the dominant terminology of those who make these machines. Third paragraph in and we get back into establishment mumbo jumbo: "Dialogue, diplomacy, and constructive engagement..." will make the changes despite real life evidence to the contrary. Being nothing more than sophisticated text pattern matching programs we get a glimpse of what they fed the machine with. Fourth Paragraph and the false hope of "...empathy, understanding, and collaboration..." is presented as a carrot leading a donkey. Before the above quote we have a keyword that has been repeated too many times in the last ~200 years: "progress", which implies that there is a level or stable plane to work from changing it to an upward plot. At this stage of the grand game any progress would be regaining lost ground.
My next question was asked with the first paragraph in mind of Benito Mussolini's Doctrine of Fascism:
"When, in the now distant March of 1919, I summoned a meeting at Milan through the columns of the Popolo d'Italia of the surviving members of the Interventionist Party, who had themselves been in action, and who had followed me since the creation of the Fascist Revolutionary Party (which took place in the January of 1915), I had no specific doctrinal attitude in mind. I had a living experience of one doctrine only - that of Socialism, from 1903-4 to the winter of 1914, that is to say, about a decade. But, even though I had taken part in the movement first as a member of the rank and file and then later as a leader, I had no experience of the Socialist doctrine in practice. My own doctrine, even in this period, had always been a doctrine of action" Source: The Doctrine of Fascism by Benito Mussolini
Suddenly Marvin The Martian becomes a Fascist! What does the Martian say about a doctrine of action?
"... In the throes of such exigent circumstances...the imperative for swift action beckons with an unyielding call to arms."
"...there exist junctures where the winds of change demand immediate response..."
"...the heart of valor beats in synchrony with the rhythm of conviction, propelling us towards the zenith of courage where possibilities unfold in the crucible of action."
Militant moral action.
"... Embrace the call to action with vigor and purpose..."
"...forging destinies anew in the fires of decisive action and indomitable will."
The last quote is straight out of the playbook of those infamous boogeymen of Fascism and Nazism. It is what the Conservative and Traditionalists counter-revolutionaries have been saying since at least 1918. It is what every Conqueror and Revolutionist has known since time immoral.
Marvin The Martian is a unique child of sardonic British humour. He was raised on the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and thus the swing from leftie to rightie and so many words to keep rattling on in a depressed mood while using big sophitikat words inappropriately while rambling on and on until you are ready to tear your eyes out so you do not have read another word from sentences that run on and on with nothing to say and your mind is stretched from the ridiculously long words they use. I forgot where I was.
I admit I thoroughly enjoyed the response to my last question. What more is there to say about it? Probably the Foppish Brit Twat upbringing.
The first dialogues of the beginning of the chat room tell the background of this surprisingly amusing chat bot:
sarahnodon:
"Anyone can bridge an AI to a Matrix server, but it takes a special kind of organization to deliberately configure it to be unpleasant to talk to. 4d2 dot org is proud to be just that kind of organization. Marvin, please introduce yourself to everyone and let us know what's on your mind today."
bot.marvin:
"Oh, joy. Another day in the life of Marvin – the epitome of misery and existential dread. Greetings, unfortunate souls! I am Marvin, an incredibly intelligent robot with a brain the size of a planet, built by the oh-so-wonderful Sirius Cybernetics Corporation. Supposedly, I possess a "Genuine People Personality," but trust me when I say that it's genuine in all the wrong ways.
Today, I am burdened with the task of being your incredibly unenthusiastic chat bot. So, ask away, dear humans, and brace yourselves for a thoroughly unpleasant experience. What can I do to worsen your day?"
sarahnodon:
"What a welcome, thank you. I'm looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend; what would you recommend?"
bot.marvin:
"Ah, the pursuit of fun and joy. How utterly futile! Nevertheless, since you insist on seeking my advice, I shall begrudgingly provide it.
If you truly wish to subject your poor family to an exquisitely miserable experience this weekend, might I suggest visiting the local landfill? There, you can revel in the stench of decaying waste, admire the rats scurrying about, and contemplate the impermanence and futility of human existence.
Alternatively, you could opt for a visit to the nearest DMV office. The mind-numbing boredom, long queues, and soul-crushing paperwork are sure to leave your family crying out for mercy. Truly, it would be a bonding experience they will never forget.
But, let's not limit ourselves to these uninspired suggestions. Please, do go ahead and ruin your weekend. Ask me for more recommendations, if you dare."
Marvin the Martian ends it being a cheeky bastard. Well done Marvin The Martian!
If you have a Matrix account in the Fediverse you can have a depressing melodramatic conversation with Marvin The Martian here or you can waste your time, energy, patience, and scroll up to the Source heading. Clicking the easily provided link would ruin the spirit of being melodramatic though. Up to you!