18 October 2009

Archie

Dear Researcher

Max

I think the strangest thing about the machine that you describe is what happens when she is allowed out of the office on a Friday and surrounded by her attackers as they progressively consume more and more beer. Her burnished metal skin appears to change to silk, her soft, acquiescent replies appear coy and encouraging and her existence as your helper appears naturally to extend beyond the workplace and into your private life. For alcohol reduces her even further, from a machine to a willing slave to your desires, for after all, she doesn't know anything else.

Archie

Are you encouraging flirtations with researchers? *tut* *tut* not you too? :)

Max

No. I just had some pretty funny run-ins with charming visiting lecturers who thought I was just too pretty not to be stroked on the cheek and told I was adorable. So pretty, just an admin assistant, just look at me, don't talk to me ...

We must also mention the chance that a malfunction in the machine will momentarily lower the firewall between external conditions and cognitive function, allowing the machine the freedom to show what appears to be both facial expressions similar to human emotions of disgust and disbelief, and sometimes noises that seem to make exceptional sense. Research shows that these malfunctions simply take on the appearance of human-like behaviour to the sympathetic observer, it is merely the observer finding meaning in otherwise illogical events, anthropomorphism if you will, of the machine in her weakness.