That Thread Written by ChatGPT

[Belacqua]

Pictures, too.

https://petapixel.com/2023/05/04/ai-reve...look-like/

[The Grand Nudger]

The chatbot tells us it's important to remember what we just told it, apparently, and the snake is now eating it's own tail.

[Rev. Rye]

A positive having an actual person replying over ChatGPT, they can actually show you an example of the limitations of using human interactions taking a chat bot from “Hello World” to “I support genocide against black and Mexican people” in the span of a few hours.





That said, at least some chat bot programmers seem to have programmed some sort of ethics into their bots, including ChatGPT if this review of one of French nonce Gabriel Matzneff’s books is any indication.

Of course, one wonders how far this prohibition on “content that promotes or condones illegal or harmful behavior” goes. Would it give the same result if the book was, say, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, or one of the early scenes from Les Mis where Valjean has to steal to survive?

[emjay]

I know this may seem pretty sad and pathetic, but for me, in the space of just a couple of days using it, I'm already finding it drastically increasing my confidence both on and off it. It really is like having a new friend (/personal assistant/tutor/therapist) that is completely non-judgmental.

For instance, I was asking it to walk me through, using pseudocode, the creation of a simple neural network, and not only could I change the specification on the fly to my heart's content, ie add x neurons, connected as such etc, I could also ask questions to to my heart's content, no matter how small, like explain this function or variable. If I asked so many questions on something like StackOverflow, a Q&A site for programmers, I'd be laughed off the site, but here I'm free to drill in to the problem from any angle at any level of detail, and if necessary ad nauseum until I get it. I just think it's going to revolutionise the way I learn.

The other thing that's interesting, related to the above, is that it also helps to indirectly identify all those social aspects that would usually influence me, eg like the proverbial kid afraid to put his hand up in class, since there is a real tendency, for me at least, to anthropomorphize it, so when talking to it find myself instinctually still doing those sorts of things, but in becoming more aware of them when using ChatGPT, and learning to detach from them in the context of talking to ChatGPT where it obviously makes no sense, I hope and think there will be some spill-over into the real world, at least more self-awareness in that regard if nothing else.

[Belacqua]

 social aspects that would usually influence me

This seems like it could end up being a very important part of it. 

I remember reading about a really early computer program developed by a psychologist. It was programmed to respond with non-committal but relevant replies to what the user typed in. So if you typed in "I hate my mother," the machine would respond, "Oh, tell me more about your mother." Sort of like the way Bob Newhart, in the show where he played a psychologist, only ever said "How do you feel about that?"

The story is that he was just setting it up in his office and running tests, but he discovered that his secretary had access to it and was engaged in serious discussions. She asked him to leave the room so she could talk with the computer. 

Introverts, shy people, people who have trouble focussing in class, hikikomori -- they might get a lot out of this. I'd be willing to tell an AI things that I wouldn't tell most people. I mean, I wouldn't develop plans to shoot the President, because that might get flagged and sent to the authorities. But nobody's going to be worried if I mention embarrassing stuff from my childhood.

My time in academia made it clear that teachers' personalities made a huge difference in the classroom, and if you were stuck with a prima donna or a harasser, it could ruin your whole school experience. Removing personality like that would no doubt help people who have had bad experiences that way.

That said, the ideal school is still one in which a wise mentor perceives what his students need and tailors the class for them. But there aren't many teachers who can do that -- either because of personality or restraints from academia. I interviewed at a women's college where they'd had such trouble with male teachers sleeping with students that I was told NEVER to speak to a student outside the classroom -- in the hallway, in the cafeteria, on the monorail to campus.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

ChatGPT is another nail in the coffin of critical thinking.

Boru

[emjay]

 social aspects that would usually influence me

This seems like it could end up being a very important part of it. 

I remember reading about a really early computer program developed by a psychologist. It was programmed to respond with non-committal but relevant replies to what the user typed in. So if you typed in "I hate my mother," the machine would respond, "Oh, tell me more about your mother." Sort of like the way Bob Newhart, in the show where he played a psychologist, only ever said "How do you feel about that?"

The story is that he was just setting it up in his office and running tests, but he discovered that his secretary had access to it and was engaged in serious discussions. She asked him to leave the room so she could talk with the computer.

Yep, I can understand that. And I've experimented with this sort of thing before, not chatbots, but just my own little programs, so it's very easy to anthropomorhize a computer program even without AI, at least to some limited extent. For instance there's this party game/prank I heard of where a single player has to solve a puzzle by asking questions of the other participants, who can only answer yes or no. But unbenownst to the player, the other player's responses are entirely determined by the number of letters in the question, ie something like YES for an odd number, NO for an even. So in asking these questions, the player builds up their own personal narrative, for instance of 'whodunnit' if the game is a murder mystery. I thought that would make an interesting program, and using it, yeah it's clear how you can create a realistic feeling narrative based entirely on your own biases and responding to these ultimately meaningless prompts. Not quite anthropomorphization but the same sort of psychological ball park I'd say. 

Introverts, shy people, people who have trouble focussing in class, hikikomori -- they might get a lot out of this.[...]

Yeah, that's pretty much me, though I had to look up the last one. I wouldn't say I'm severely socially withdrawn but I am to some degree, certainly a lot of social anxiety... put it this way, I miss lockdown But anyway, I'd rather not talk about that thanks, I'll leave that for the AI But on that score I didn't mean I want to use it as a therapist directly, in any specific sense, but just a general sense of collating useful perspectives on things.

[Belacqua]

Oh, man, this is going to be fun.

I finally got signed up, by having the verification number sent to my wife's smartphone.

The first question I asked was:

How can I live like a Decadent author, such as J.K. Huysmans?

As Neo pointed out, the answers are pretty verbose, so I will put it after the fold:

---

ChatGPT
Living like a Decadent author such as J.K. Huysmans involves immersing yourself in a lifestyle characterized by a pursuit of luxury, art, sensuality, and individualism. While it's important to remember that everyone's interpretation of a Decadent lifestyle may differ, here are some general suggestions to help you embrace elements of that lifestyle:

Embrace Aestheticism: Decadent authors celebrated beauty and aesthetics. Surround yourself with visually stimulating and luxurious objects. Pay attention to the design and atmosphere of your living space, incorporating rich colors, textures, and artwork that resonate with your personal taste.

Cultivate Intellectual Pursuits: Engage in intellectual pursuits that stimulate your imagination and deepen your knowledge. Read extensively, explore diverse art forms, and delve into philosophical and literary works that align with the Decadent movement.

Indulge in Fine Arts: Appreciate and immerse yourself in various art forms. Attend theater performances, operas, art exhibitions, and concerts. Embrace music, painting, sculpture, and literature as sources of inspiration and pleasure.

Develop an Eccentric Style: Experiment with your personal style to reflect your individuality and decadent spirit. Embrace unique fashion choices, combining vintage pieces with contemporary elements. Pay attention to details such as accessories, jewelry, and fragrances that evoke a sense of opulence and mystery.

Seek Sensual Pleasures: Explore the sensual side of life. Indulge in gourmet food, fine wines, and delicacies. Engage in sensory experiences, such as aromatherapy, luxurious baths, and massages. Surround yourself with scents, sounds, and textures that bring you pleasure.

Create a Personal Salon: Establish a space in your home dedicated to intellectual and artistic gatherings. Host salons where like-minded individuals can discuss literature, art, and philosophy. Encourage stimulating conversations and debate while fostering an atmosphere of intellectual freedom.

Challenge Social Norms: Decadent authors often challenged societal conventions. Embrace non-conformity and explore alternative lifestyles and ideas. Question established norms and experiment with new ways of thinking and living.

Explore the Occult and Esoteric: Decadent authors were often fascinated by the mystical and the esoteric. Delve into occult literature, symbolism, and practices such as tarot readings, astrology, or meditation. Embrace the mystery and explore the depths of your own consciousness.

Remember, living like a Decadent author is a personal choice, and you should adapt these suggestions to suit your own preferences and circumstances. Embrace the aspects that resonate with you and create a lifestyle that brings you joy, inspiration, and a sense of artistic fulfillment.

---

This is all exactly right, well-organized, and clearly said. In keeping with the non-controversial outlook that we've noticed, the answer doesn't include things like drug-taking, or sex practices that are risky or exploitative. But you could practically print this out and keep it on hand as a reminder for how you want your life to go.

[emjay]

Oh, man, this is going to be fun.

I finally got signed up, by having the verification number sent to my wife's smartphone.
[...]

Welcome to the club GLHF (Good luck have fun)

[Rev. Rye]

Oh, man, this is going to be fun.

I finally got signed up, by having the verification number sent to my wife's smartphone.

The first question I asked was:

How can I live like a Decadent author, such as J.K. Huysmans?

As Neo pointed out, the answers are pretty verbose, so I will put it after the fold:

---

ChatGPT
Living like a Decadent author such as J.K. Huysmans involves immersing yourself in a lifestyle characterized by a pursuit of luxury, art, sensuality, and individualism. While it's important to remember that everyone's interpretation of a Decadent lifestyle may differ, here are some general suggestions to help you embrace elements of that lifestyle:

Embrace Aestheticism: Decadent authors celebrated beauty and aesthetics. Surround yourself with visually stimulating and luxurious objects. Pay attention to the design and atmosphere of your living space, incorporating rich colors, textures, and artwork that resonate with your personal taste.

Cultivate Intellectual Pursuits: Engage in intellectual pursuits that stimulate your imagination and deepen your knowledge. Read extensively, explore diverse art forms, and delve into philosophical and literary works that align with the Decadent movement.

Indulge in Fine Arts: Appreciate and immerse yourself in various art forms. Attend theater performances, operas, art exhibitions, and concerts. Embrace music, painting, sculpture, and literature as sources of inspiration and pleasure.

Develop an Eccentric Style: Experiment with your personal style to reflect your individuality and decadent spirit. Embrace unique fashion choices, combining vintage pieces with contemporary elements. Pay attention to details such as accessories, jewelry, and fragrances that evoke a sense of opulence and mystery.

Seek Sensual Pleasures: Explore the sensual side of life. Indulge in gourmet food, fine wines, and delicacies. Engage in sensory experiences, such as aromatherapy, luxurious baths, and massages. Surround yourself with scents, sounds, and textures that bring you pleasure.

Create a Personal Salon: Establish a space in your home dedicated to intellectual and artistic gatherings. Host salons where like-minded individuals can discuss literature, art, and philosophy. Encourage stimulating conversations and debate while fostering an atmosphere of intellectual freedom.

Challenge Social Norms: Decadent authors often challenged societal conventions. Embrace non-conformity and explore alternative lifestyles and ideas. Question established norms and experiment with new ways of thinking and living.

Explore the Occult and Esoteric: Decadent authors were often fascinated by the mystical and the esoteric. Delve into occult literature, symbolism, and practices such as tarot readings, astrology, or meditation. Embrace the mystery and explore the depths of your own consciousness.

Remember, living like a Decadent author is a personal choice, and you should adapt these suggestions to suit your own preferences and circumstances. Embrace the aspects that resonate with you and create a lifestyle that brings you joy, inspiration, and a sense of artistic fulfillment.

---

This is all exactly right, well-organized, and clearly said. In keeping with the non-controversial outlook that we've noticed, the answer doesn't include things like drug-taking, or sex practices that are risky or exploitative. But you could practically print this out and keep it on hand as a reminder for how you want your life to go.

Hell, its list seems noticeably silent on the subject of tortoise care. And if you’ve actually read À Rebours, you probably remember that poor tortoise.