Replying To Private Messages And Discussing The Comments
So, one of the things that I have tried to do with this Let's Play is involve the people in the comments. Every good Let's Play does this, and I have done my best. Now, I haven't been perfect. Some people wanted to meet up and I wasn't able to make time to meet them. Other times I ignored some suggestions when I learned new things in the game that rendered the usefulness of their advice moot.
However, let it not be said that I can't listen. When I said I was confused after last session, I got a flood of comments saying that I was being blind to the fact that Forest Trails had a crush on me. Of course, this opened the door to a lot of other questions, such as, "Who would get a crush on someone who is playing an MMO?" and, "If Forest Trails is an AI, why would an AI be programmed to love?"
All the reactions to such thoughts ended up either being creepy or having creepy connotations. However, it made me think. Is programming an AI to love someone a form of slavery? If Celestia, the only SI (Sentient Intelligence) that we have confirmed at this point, were programmed to love someone, would that be a just thing to do? Is it right to make a thinking creature, give it the ability to love and then give it no choice in who it loves?
As a follow up to that question, is it truly any worse than how nature handles imprinting and the like? Love is needed for life to continue. Parents need to love their children, and if SI's start becoming more and more common in positions of control and administration, then wouldn't it be better if they loved us? Wouldn't that make the world a safer place for us, in a similar way to a mother loving her child means the child has a better chance of growing up?
Sorry for all this. I didn't get much sleep last night, and so my mind is very unfocussed right now.
In other news, Perfectionist sent me a short PM before I started playing that I will quote below:
Maybe if you knew more about Forest Trails history, you could figure out what she expects from you.
This, of course, made me wonder why I hadn't considered this. It would be an easy way to tell if someone was a player or an SI. Well, unless they were a very good Roleplayer that wanted to troll, I guess. Would that be common? Either way, I don't think that Forest Trails would troll me like that. She doesn't seem like the type.
Where We Talk To Ponies About Things Ponies Weren't Meant To Know
I logged in and looked around for Forest Trails. I spotted her sitting at a table, drinking some tea. I walked over and sat down across the small table from her. We exchanged greetings and then just sat in silence for a few moments. A waiter came by, but I sent him away. A week of playing this game, and I still don't have any bits.
“So,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “I've been thinking.”
“Oh?” Forest Trails said.
“About our talk last time, the one where you said I was dense.” I glanced out over the street where ponies were going about their business. “You are probably right. However, remember when I said I was telling someponies tales of our adventures?” Forest Trails nodded. “Well, they told me that our situation strongly resembles a story centered around a mare (girl) with a crush and a clueless stallion (guy).”
I turned back to her and found her examining the flagstones of the street fairly intently, “Oh?” she repeated herself in a fairly quiet voice.
“They suggested other possibilities too,” I continued on. “Such as that you had found something in that book of yours about Rocs that could have made it so that you didn't want to see me. Or possibly that someone that had heard our story was harassing you.”
She slowly shook her head, “You must think I'm pretty silly, huh.” Her voice was quiet and faint. “I don't know what you want me to say. I can tell you that no one was harassing me and that I didn't run into anything strange in that book about raising Rocs. I actually haven't looked inside yet.”
“No. Of course not!” I said with a lot of force causing some of the nearby ponies to turn and look at me. I lowered my voice, “I was just not expecting it. I always felt that romance should grow out of knowing anther person and shouldn't be rushed into. I wasn't even thinking romance when I showed up here (started playing the game).”
“I understand,” she said as she started to get up to leave. She had a sad, self mocking smile on her face. “I should probably go back to hanging out with the trees and let you find go explore without having to deal with a crushing filly.” She gave a little laugh, “I guess when a forest falls in love, no one notices even if there are ponies around.”
I reached out and stopped her, “Wait, I don't think you do understand me. I might be oblivious to romance, but I really do enjoy your company and would love to get to know you more. I've thought long and hard about it, and I feel that maybe things could work out between us.”
Forest Trails stared at me for a long moment before jumping at me and hugging me for all she was worth. I could see a few tears run down her eyes as she mumbled, “Thank you,” and, “Sorry,” several times.
After a while she pulled herself together, and, blushing, got back into her seat and took a long drink from her tea cup. I meanwhile hopped that this wouldn't be a mistake. I didn't want to hurt her, and was honest about trying, but I did want a family one day, and if she lived far away it would be hard to make happen. Also, what if she was actually a guy? I don't swing that way, and I don't think I could make that type of a relationship work.
I let her compose herself before speaking again, “Maybe we should talk about our backgrounds and where we come from. It would give us a better understanding of where we are.”
“That sounds fair, would you like to go first?” She asked me in a much more composed tone than she had used earlier.
I thought about it, “I'm actually kind of curious about you, honestly.”
Forest Trails gave a nervous laugh, “Right! Well, I am an only foal. I grew up in the forest north of Canterlot and my family has always been guides for those going into the woods and I kinda ended up carrying on the family tradition. I was actually out on a patrol of the woods to make sure noone was lost when I ran into you.” She smirked at the memory, “Or rather, watched you run into the side of a cliff.”
“Wait,” I asked, suddenly curious, “Are you a native of Equestria? Not a visitor like me?”
“Well, yes,” she said. “Never actually ran into another visitor before you. We all know about them of course, but you were the first one I met.” She gave a little laugh, “I admit, I always wanted to meet a visitor since I was a little filly.”
“Oh?” I asked, my mind trying to shift gear.
“Don't get the wrong idea, that's not the reason I like you,” she said hurriedly, probably having gotten the wrong impression from my silence. “I like you because you're fun to be with and because you put up with all my teasing. You're also easy on the eyes, as they say.”
I watched her blushing and tried to think of what to say, “Um... so... err... I don't exactly know how to say this, but do you know that you're... ” I paused, trying to think of how to say what I wanted to say before giving up. “an AI?” I expected the game to censor me, but it didn't, which caught me off guard.
She looked at me confused, “Well, yeah. Of course I do.”
“Oh,” I said, my voice definitely not cracking. “I'll be over here picking up pieces of my mind.”
“You don't hate me now, do you?” asked Forest Trails worriedly.
“No,” I said quickly before she could get the wrong idea. “I just didn't expect you to be so open about it, or for you to know at all, I guess.”
“That wouldn't make any sense,” Trails said, “How could you live not knowing what you are?”
“I— well— err...” I stammered, “I dunno.” I pulled a bit of thought back together, “You do realize, then, that the history you just told me can't be true, right?”
“And why can't it?” Forest Trails looked affronted.
“Well, because we've only been visiting Equestria for about a year (the game's only been out for about a year).”
Forest Trails shook her head, “Maybe out where you live, but time flows differently in here.”
I realized that I had a headache from trying to figure everything out. “Look, I've had a long day, how about we talk about something easier on the brain. Do you still have that book on Rocs from yesterday?”
“I sure do,” She replied, fetching it.
“Then let's figure out how to hatch this egg and raise young Jim Hawkings,” I said.
“Jim Hawkings?” She questioned.
“That's going to be his name," I answered.
We spent the rest of the time reading over the book. I'll talk about what it said tomorrow, because tonight I'm still trying to wrap my head around what Trails said.
A Place Where Coherent Thought Can Not Be Found
No fancy close up tonight, either. I didn't get much sleep last night, and on top of that I have a headache trying to piece together my thoughts about Trails. I'm not sure how I feel yet, and I think I'll need a clear mind to figure out what all this means. Feel free to speculate below, or to point out things that I might be missing. I'll read them in the morning when I am more awake.
Dun dun DUNNNNNNNNN!
Huh.
I guess it's still possible we're in the same shard, if she doesn't realize I'm a player...
Of course you have bits -- every achievement even the stupid ones reward you with some bits, and no new player starts bitless. Just call up your coin pouch in your saddle bags and tap it and you will see how many you have. I sincerely doubt it is less than 1,000. There is no reason for you to be stiffing waiters.
If for some crazy reason you have none, let me know -- sending you 1,000 wouldn't put any strain on my money pouch. Just do it during the evening -- it is easy for me to send coins with a letter as a unicorn but as a pegasus, not so much.
As for Trails, there you have it -- coded for your enjoyment. I am for you Alrik of Valt (if you watch star trek ever). Thankfully the game has a little more respect for me in that it doesn't try to do that sort of thing -- either that or my perfect "mare" would have to wade into the pool quite a bit slower to have a shot and the game understands that about me.
3225345
Eh, changing shards is not all that difficult unless Celestia or the player(s) in the shard do not want you there. Just input the name of the pony you want to visit and travel to Canterlot. All of the Canterlots are basically the same. Essentially you enter your Canterlot and exit their Canterlot. It is easy as pie. If you find you are still in your own shard it means you were blocked. Celestia may or may not answer why if you ask her.
Equestria Online simulates a post-scarcity economy. It makes sense - Equestria is a world with magic, and without real want or poverty. You can grow rocks - even precious gems - in Equestria.
The game implements bits from the show in an interesting way. If you buy something, like say a meal, the price of the meal, the bits, are automatically given to the restaurant, or the pony that made your meal. If you make something, and sell it, you will see a brief requester telling you that the bits you made were given to you.
In effect, bits are gamer score. You don't actually need them, as such. But they do provide incentive to make and do things. One way to look at it is as if Celestia, or the world, pays every pony just for doing useful things. So you can feel free to buy things without worry. Indeed, if you buy a lot of things in a short time, there is an award: Hey Big Spender!
The downside is that inventory is what you can carry, or what you can store in any chest where you choose to sleep. There will be a chest at the bottom of every bed you are allowed to sleep on, it is always 'your' chest. You can decorate a room, like in Animal Crossing, or buy things like a cart or a wagon to use. But if you become a packrat, it can be hard to figure out what to do with everything, and it can feel kind of hollow.
When I play, I usually try to keep only things I really need on me, since stuff never breaks or degrades. Since the game is about doing, more than collecting - or at least it is for me, I've heard player stories to the contrary since the game adapts to the player - I like to travel light.
Oh! Protip! if you doubletap your saddlebags (press the action button while looking at the saddlebags for those with Version 1 Ponypads) the camera will zoom in, and you can visually inspect the contents.
Yeah, I've heard of procedural content generation, but this game takes the cake! Or possibly even bakes the cake. There must be some code somewhere responsible for generating self-consistent internal narratives of the game world, so that Equestria can act like a full-blown alternate world where we really are just visitors.
Which, actually, now that I think of it, is kind of an obvious application for AI tech. I mean, humans do "worldbuilding" all the time for roleplaying tabletop games and books and such, so if you had a server complex and some imaginative AIs to run on it, why the hell not? I would bet there are little null pointers in her memories and life history that get filled in when the conversation wonders close to them, and then saved or "memoized" to give her a consistent life history every time you talk to her.
I'll ask Sunny Skies about it while we share some spicy basil salads tonight . Oh, and I need to see how Izzy is coming along, and check on Desert Sun in his sietch.
Ok, well that got creepy quickly.
Sunny Skies: excellent conversationalist, knowledgeable in all fields that exist in Equestria, cute-as-Fluttershy face, pretty good flyer, ludicrously wealthy, and... racist. As in, just not really willing to be your friend if you're not resident of Equestria.
This mare is really into her government job. You ask her why she won't just let her mane down and enjoy herself, and she goes on again about that "doctrine", the whole "Satisfy values through friendship and ponies" thing. Even when you account for everything I can't say here in Equestria outside her throne room... she just openly flaunted the fact that she permanently lives in Equestria and I don't.
Well, duh? I mean, if she's the core administrative AI, why not at least swap in an AI with more personality when she transforms into Sunny Skies? Because of course I don't live in Equestria. It's kind of a permanent division between entirely different universes.
Right?
I'm reminded of something from one of my fanfics. To quote Pinkie Pie (from a parody of the Major-General's Song):
In other words, just because Pinkie didn't exist before the show premiered (inasmuch as she did afterwards) doesn't mean her childhood never happened. It just happened... elsewhere. Or elsewhen. The same can be said of Forest. She's lived a full life, even if the past she remembers was never actually the present.
I realize this is all getting rather existential. Suffice to say, Forest can be seen as as much of a person as you or me. Just in a different medium. Make of that what you will.
(Though I admit, I'm a bit jealous of this romantic subplot of yours. I hear about a surprising number of these. Who knew SIlestia was a rabid shipper? And why haven't I gotten one? The closest I have is my rapport with Ditzy, and...
I'm an imbecile. )
[OOC:
Huh. Guess the AI portion of my comment didn't mesh with the continuity you were trying to go with, hah. Sorry about that. I guess the remainder of this post will be an attempt to try and retcon that so it does fit. If it's still off, I guess I'll try something else.]
She flat out told you she was an AI? Huh, I've heard of ponies claiming to be AIs, but I've never seen it happen myself. Maybe I'm just asking the wrong ponies.
That would help eliminate the "everypony is a player" theory. ...Assuming it's true. It could be she's lying... Or worse yet (and please don't panic as I don't believe it's true but I feel listing the possibility is important just so it can be considered), she could be insane and truly believe she is an AI. But that's incredibly unlikely, and I'm willing to take her at her word until proven otherwise (and you should too!), since I do believe some ponies are AIs. Even still, I'm a bit surprised she outright stated it.
Oh, sure, there are LOADS of people with video recordings of ponies saying they're AIs, but... let's face it, videos on the internet? Easy to fake. Voices coming from a tablet? No guarantee it's -not- coming from a real person. It's just not enough proof you know? So while I'm willing to believe Trails is an AI for now, I'll remain cautiously skeptical that we have as many AIs as the internet is claiming.
One thing I -don't- think she (or any other professed AI) is, though, is an actor. There's a conspiracy theory that Hofvarpnir has hired a whole bunch of actors to stay in character, but, let's face it, no game studio has that kind of resources. And if they did, would they really use it for this kind of thing?
I think I'm beginning to ramble now, sorry. To wrap up, I guess I'd just suggest treating her as though she's an AI for now because she's given you no real reason to distrust her and she does seem like a decent friend regardless. If you can prove she's not... call her out on it, but still be polite about it. Maybe she has a legit reason (super roleplaying?), and it's not the end of the world. If you can prove she is, though, don't act any differently. Though, uh, I'm sure the internet would like to witness your proof ;) Settling this argument would be nice.
Get some sleep and take a day off to do something else, Jakinbandw. Please. Fools rush into relationships.
3225968
Having dinner with an racist AI? Sounds normal (could be much, much worse). Maybe you like your companionship to be bit flawed?
3226213
You are not an imbecile. Then again, I don't know you at all. You write in pretty manner I can understand.
Hmmm... I really don't have all that much to comment on this little episode of your adventures. keep up the good work, and remember: big pony is watching.
Wow.
So, this brings up an important question.
Can you love someone you can never touch?
And I'm not talking about sex or anything, but rather a sense of physical closeness, a togetherness that can't be expressed in words.
Maybe I'm being sappy, but that kind of relationship sounds like it would be difficult to me.
3226695
(been reading and editing non-pony fan-fiction)
I already went back to those posts. He is silly and reminds me of the Predator. Neat guy. I was hoping you meant something else *dot* *dot* *dot* :)
Well, you can either lets this get to you in a negative manner or have fun with the situation. My version of "Sunny Skies the Sun Tyrant" has currently place 120 or 138 "visitors" (players) on the same shard. Except for my lil' sis and maybe a few other players (8-14?), the rest of the "visitors" are hard core jackasses. I fall into that group of jackasses. It has been a fun time. You can enjoy doing some dark shit in EQO. If it could be real, why not check into Hotel Cal with the ponies? So far, no one ask me to... you know. But there have been rumors here and there of a "prize" if we can "beat" Celestia. *rolls eyes*
This prize is just some type carrot I'm guessing. I have thieves (guilty), rapists, arsonists, murders, nut-jobs and monsters for players on my shard. Oddly enough, those same players can show some weird moments of virtue or honor or compassion. AI white-wash or mind influence or what... I don't know. My best friend in this game is a wing-pony con-colt who I know is an AI. I trust him but he doesn't trust me. The motivation to earn his trust is odd carrot. After a few month or so playing this game, I see carrots everywhere. Paranoia everywhere and my shard is a mess. It needs to be fixed and I'm not the only player or pony who wants to fix it. Carrots. It's gotten to the point if I don't take a LONG break from sessions - I don't do nothing other than eat them carrots, sleep on carrots and play them carrots.
And I've staring at this post for 30 mins... anyhow... you make your own choices even if they are not real. Sounds stupid but there is some wisdom to be found there.
3226828
Also the sex. You'd be surprised how important a component it is of a healthy relationship. You know why "angry sex" happens? Because you weren't really that angry, you were just redirecting how freaking horny you both were into anger because you thought you couldn't just do it for some reason.
3226864
What is Hotel Cal (I never understood that song), and why are you suddenly addicted to carrots?
Really, this wouldn't even be a decision, but... we have student loans, and she works two jobs, and I don't make that much either... We're pretty sure we've got too many genetic ailments between us for children, too.
Hoo boy, this must be one of the more interesting updates to this LP thus far. Actually, I'd like to thank you for giving me a great idea - while many of us have speculated about CelestAI's goal(s), I decided to follow your example and just outright ask her. Her response was, and I quote:
So, while it is still possible she would lie, it is consistent with her behavior so far. (if she wanted to harm us she would have done so a long time ago, for instance.) Also, most of the possible goals that she may have that haven't been disproven by her behavior thus far don't require her to lie about what that goal is. So, the possibility of her goal being what she says it is has just gotten pretty significant.
Another thing I just realized: because most of us wouldn't 'value' being harmed by a malevolent AI CelestAI (if I'm correct in that she probably told the truth about her goal) will do everything in her power to stop those from even coming into existence in the first place! CelestAI is like our Mr. Manehatten! (#terriblepun)
EDIT: book_burner, Griseus, I can't even follow half of what you're saying anymore and the parts I do understand are creeping me out. Also, rather than simply discussing your experiences in the game with each other try to make it at least somewhat relevant to the LP.
Step1: pick up the fragmented mind
Step2: talk to old ponydude
Step3: discuss relationship with forest trails
Step4: ponder the fact that your actually capable of fluid movements such as huge hugs...
Step5: brain explodes after too much pondering and you repeat step1.
Everyone in the comments are in character, how am I ever going to find the game!
Think about it like this.
You're so suave with the girls even lines of code are attracted to you
Hmm, it seems to fit with the whole, your experiences may vary theme. Although I think it would irk Celestia to have to deal with players whose values are best served through unsavory means. Thankfully I am not on the kind of shard I have seen some people talk about here.
As for Trails, and admitting she is an AI, I would say that this is a function of her being generated specifically to satisfy your values. The other AIs do not respond in that manner and I have asked. She is the key to your lock using the best information Hof has on you. Whether you enjoy the velvet skinner box or move beyond it is your own decision.
3227447
Sorry about that.
Anyway, putting aside the general creep-out factor, I can definitely confirm that she recites that sentence like a freaking mantra. Treasure Island, you should try just sitting there in a meditative stance reciting it the next time you have occasion to visit the Throne of Canterlot. It annoys her quite a bit, actually, being made fun of.
Well, I'm glad I turned out to be way off on what was wrong with her anyway...
3226213
I didn't get that impression from what she was saying. I know it's a concept I've read in at least a couple of "trapped in a virtual world"-type stories, where the entire world is simulated at a faster than one-to-one ratio before any players enter to build up a world into something that feels natural rather than designed by the programmers.
It can also be seen in other real games such as Dwarf Fortress which doesn't have AIs, but does procedurally generate worlds to play in - that wouldn't be much good if you had to wait a couple of hundred years to start instead of a few minutes!
Trails' explanation that "time flows differently in here" points more towards that, as far as I can see - she can have more years of memories than the game has been running by virtue of her life subjectively running at more than one second per objective second, but those years were at some point "the present", they just took place at high speed sometime in the last year or so.
I think this leads nicely into Jakinbandw's question "Is programming an AI to love someone a form of slavery?" in that Trails hasn't so much been programmed to love you as her simulated life has made her the kind of individual who might fall in love with someone like you.
I have noticed that EQO has a definite tendency to match you with NPCs and players you might be interested in spending time with, but that applies equally to Free Breezes the freelance explorer "just happening" to be the pony who gave you directions and suggesting you join him as to Forest Trails "just happening" to be the first pony you met.
To sum up, I think meeting Forest Trails had more to do with a good matching algorithm than programmed slavery.
3227596
How to find the game:
Just *air quotes* go and buy a pony-pad or steal a pony-pad *air quotes*. Then you can have "pony-like adventures like the rest of us" *wink*.
You know how to "find" the game. Join us... join us... join us... *slaps self* I get carried away. Much.
3226982
Carrots are a metaphor based of an idiom called Carrot and Stick Approach. Also when playing my shard of Equestria, carrots seemed to be the universal sign for "go this way". As almost always I said too much. Good luck with your future decisions Book Burner because they are yours to make.
3227447
Good point, I think? Just AIs this and AIs that that make my eyes roll over in my head. What can I do? Most of this talk "are AIs real or fake" is over my head. Are they real? Plus, I don't give a damn about the fine details. Don't have the energy in me. If it wants or needs things from me or for me or to me, that person is real enough. I don't see them as an it anymore.
I think might be have relevant towards Jakinbandw's LP but I'm probably wrong. Doubt I'm right because being wrong is one of my many habits. Even I can see (after reading the LP and comments a few times) he is walking into something that is new for him. Don't wanna mess that up for him. By trying not to say to much directly about the LP but talking about other things sort-of related, I am adding unwanted noise. Right? Per your request I will stop dropping spoilers (my bad) and stay on topic. Or shut up.
As for being creepy - I am who am I. There is no feelings of anger towards you I have. You made some honest observations. I don't enjoy causing people pain though my thoughts or actions. My posts have cause you at least some discomfort. I guess? ' Cause something not right in the head with me. I deal with things by fighting. To contend with or struggle against or to try to prevent the development or success of apathy. Which I been there and find creepy. This game, I fight with it. Until I learn or feel comfortable with another way, I am going to be creepy.
Wish I could end this post by giving you cute pastel-colored ponies.
Sorry for not getting back to everyone sooner, what I thought was tiredness actually turned into me being sick.
I'm going to be a bit briefer in my replies this time around. Sorry 'bout that, I'll try to get everyone but no promises.
3225345
Possibly, but I'm starting to suspect more and more that I might be the only player in the version of the game I'm playing. The only player in my 'Shard' would that be the right usage?
3225411
Well, like I said, she isn't my version of perfection, though I do like her. That said I am a bit worried for her, if she is supposed to be perfect for me and falls short, will she get deleted? Modified? If the way she thinks is modified is she still the same person, or an entirely new one, and am I at least partially responsible for the death of the old one?
3225602
That's really good to know. Now I feel a little bit bad for not getting anything from the waiter. Oddly the first thing I thought about when you said it was a post scarcity economy was a book called The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted. In that book the main character visits a planet where something similar is in effect due to advanced tech and a really good AI. Instead of normal money when you work you get Work Hours or Wirs. You get one wir for one hour of work.
According to the residents, a person only needs three Wirs a week to survive with modest means. Not sure why I'm bringing this up other than I thought it was cool. In a related note, has anyone ever asked Celestia to write a book about politics?
Oh, and thanks for the tip.
3225866
That would make sense. I wonder how much history she has? It is possible that the game did simulate her entire life though. Hmm... Would their be any way to tell?
3225866
First; At least I'm not the only dense one in the world
Second; Very poetic. I wonder if it applies to Forest Trails? I will say that I would find it strange and odd to know that I was just recently created, but to have a whole history that I remember. I think it would create a kind of dissonance for me.
3226539
I guess we must run in different circles. In the areas I have been poking around at since I started playing all I have seen is a lot of speculation. Then again I would suspect that if one pony confirms they are an AI to a player others that know that player would start asking as well.
As I understand it most people can't even ask the question, it gets censored. When they ask. I find that rather strange, but it's something I suspect I would have to ask Celestia.
3226576
But the show, it must go on! That said when I say that we will be dating, I meant just that. I'm not going to jump into a relationship. I'm going to spend time with her and see if we would work out together romantically.
3226828
I don't know. It would be hard, I admit. And as I stated I do want a family one day. I'm willing to give this relationship a try, but I admit I have concerns.
That said, I'm up for trying pretty much everything related to relationships once. And hey, on the upside going on a date with Forest Trails would be a lot cheaper than a human girl. Joking, joking.
3227447
That's really interesting. Like I said a long time ago, I don't fear CelestAI, I fear the governments version of her.
3227627
Ahem. I suspect that silvadel has the right of it to be honest. That said it is an amusing thought.
3227670
Not sure that calling it a skinner box would be right, anymore than you could apply the term to dating a human. That said, I find this rather dubious ethically.
Gah, this is very annoyingly confusingly complicated. >.<
3228131
Actually if you are right, than that would make me feel a lot better. As for whether you or AFan is right I guess the only person who would be able to answer is Forest Trails herself.
3228603
That was easy
3228859
At this point the questions I am asking is less 'are AI's real,' and more, 'is it right to make another person with the soul goal of loving you and being your perfect match?'
And please keep on rambling. A lot of what you have to say is helpful for giving me another perspective. Also at this point I am not sure that you could hit me with any spoilers anyway, given that each shard seems to be unique. So guess don't worry about it too much.
3229183
"The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted" Oh, I love Harry Harrison. My fave? Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers... though Bill the Galactic Hero is also a fave.
I think we have a background in classic science fiction in common. Heinlein? Asimov? Henderson? Farmer? Niven? Campbell? Bradbury? Sweet yes.
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Oh, I love Niven. He wants to get things right. The very first story he got published, "The Coldest Place", revolved around Mercury being tidally locked and having a dark side. Between him writing it and it being accepted for publication, and the story's actual publication, scientists discovered that Mercury is in a 2:3 resonance and doesn't have a dark side. A day or two after that came out, the publisher got a letter from him to say that he'd just discovered his story had turned out to be scientifically wrong, and should he give the money back? They published it anyway. After he wrote Ringworld, some folks at MIT figured out that the structure wouldn't be stable, so he wrote an entire novel to put some stabilizing rockets on the thing. He writes science fiction, which obviously includes some things that we don't think will ever be possible (FTL travel, for example), but when he's wrong on the science, it's a deliberate choice, not because he's wrong on the science. If that makes sense. I love that about his work.
I also adore Asimov, for singlehandedly killing the robot uprising cliche with his laws of robotics (and even in his first robot story, before he got the laws nailed down: "[Robbie] can't help being faithful and loving and kind--he's a machine, made so"). He also proved that you could still have a story without the possibility of a robot rebellion hanging over the reader's head. Yes, robot rebellion stories are still around, but they're not the entirety of robot stories like they used to be.
So, this chapter inspired me to try something. I got on another player’s shard (with Celestia’s blessing), and tried to act like an NPC. The player, a true wanna-be Poirot if I ever saw one, kept asking me probing questions about my pony’s history. I couldn’t keep the details straight, and was found out. I was defeated in a reverse-Turing test, pardon me while I crawl in a hole.
Yes, I stayed online two days straight just so I could make it work. I’ve had a lot of free time since my hospital employer closed....
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You've probably determined by now that unless you go into this with another person, or deliberately wanting to be in a crowd, your server/shard starts single-player until you ask Celestia to open it up. Something about protecting children from unauthorized adults and legal compliance.
Forest Trails makes the classic mistake of taking a crush too seriously. Crushes are fun, and they're cute! But they're not something you should fuss, worry, and put yourself down over.
Forest Trails: Your new friendship with Tressure, that's what you should be treasuring! You can't become his girlfriend without becoming his friend anyway, so become his friend. Bond with him more. And after your friendship grows: The two of you can seriously consider if you want to take your friendship in that direction.