That Thread Written by ChatGPT

[Belacqua]

I can just imagine ChatGPT being asked about how to be like Lester Ballard from Cormac McCarthy's Child of God.

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After serious attempts at trying to answer your question while trying to stay within the confines of what's acceptable to our algorithm, we've determined the following pieces of advice would help you in your quest:

Take long walks in the woods. It gets the air into your lungs and you never know who or what you'll find.

If you have a speech impediment, don't be afraid to let it all out.  After all, you are a "Child of God."

Always remember to keep flammable materials away from highly flammable hay.

If going off the grid, learn to hunt. Marksmanship also comes in handy if the carnival comes to town and you want to win a tiger for any lady friends you might have.

While occasionally risky, cave exploration can be an exhilirating hobby.

Not caring about others' expectations for you can certainly make life less stressful.

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And for those of you who haven't read the book or seen the movie, well...

That's good! I don't know that movie at all, but when I was trying to think of characters with -- shall we say -- problematic moral messages, I did think of the villain from No Country for Old Men. I don't know the books well enough to figure out if there's a subtext, or if it's just a portrayal of violence. I do think that a lot of modern people in the US will feel admiration for the characters' successful use of violence. 

So it puts the AI in a difficult spot. I suppose what it comes down to is legal liability. If the AI were to recommend or praise some behavior that got someone into trouble, a lawsuit would be inevitable. So they have to keep their analysis as anodyne and school-teacherish as possible.