Man with a Mission

Fallout: New Vegas RP blog for Orion, a man searching for someone very important. Apologies for any misunderstandings, stranger. Currently traveling with Buddy, though with a tendency to wander off unannounced.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Do you listen to music Mr.Orion? Any favorites?

I don't, beyond incidental background noises.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Have you ever met a robot who believed in a higher power?

Not that I knew of. The idea seems a little irrational to me. Moreso than with a person, I mean.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Still think that might get looks… I could just get a scarf, but I could also see that being a real pain.

[robot-cowboy]

Not everything’s gonna be painless, y’know. At least you’re not dead. Scarf’d look nice. [He shifts his weight and shrugs.] 

[theheavenlyshepherd]

True. I should count myself lucky. And doubly so that you were the one there to help me. [SMILES as per usual] ...Do you really think I should go with a scarf? [He tugs at his collar] I could probably get used to that...

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Do you eat? Or poop?

Neither. Incredibly practical.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Mr. Orion, you seem really concerned with heat, but I'm more concerned with what produces your heat. Energy. How do you get energy to power your systems and move? Is it a battery? Do you plug into a grid somewhere? Fission reactor of some sort? You can't be using solar since you run a night.

No no, it's just a battery. Rechargeable, though currently without means to recharge it. Not that I would worry about that, though. This little thing's got quite a life in it yet.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

[Prods lightly at it.] …Somewhat. I have been… getting some looks lately, however. Most people don’t walk around with taped up necks.

[robot-cowboy]

I imagine not. I thought about covering it in gauze. Bit more presentable.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Still think that might get looks... I could just get a scarf, but I could also see that being a real pain.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

…That’s classified.

[layla-granville]

*Just gives him A Look.*

[theheavenlyshepherd]

...Well, at my own discretion.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

robot-cowboy replied to your post: dinosaurinahat asked:Can you repa...

Is that, uh, tape holding up?

[Prods lightly at it.] ...Somewhat. I have been... getting some looks lately, however. Most people don't walk around with taped up necks.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Well, I’m not in this for monetary compensation, so you can just get rid of that silly idea.

[layla-granville]

*Crosses her arms over her chest*

So what does this employer have that you need?

[theheavenlyshepherd]

...That's classified.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

I’m only defending my position. You’re the one who’s… hellbent on trying to talk me out of it. It’s none of your business what I’m offered in return, so why don’t you just chalk it up to loyalty and leave it at that?

[layla-granville]

I’ve met a lot of mercenaries. And plenty of them do awful things.  They usually are either getting paid a lot of money or the employer’s have something they need.  Loyalty usually doesn’t come with ruthlessness.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Well, I'm not in this for monetary compensation, so you can just get rid of that silly idea.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Can you repair yourself from grievous injuries?

I'm physically capable of it, sure, but I've never had to.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

No. You wouldn’t even think to. If you’d never heard of an android, a computer that looks and acts like a human, you’d look at those garbled words scrawled across the screen and would take it to a repairman. Or worse, you’d simply set it down, look to get another that works properly.

Would the words even appear, though? Perhaps your mentioned calculator has had feelings and emotions this whole time. Perhaps it just doesn’t have a way to project that, without a face or a voice. Perhaps, while out of use, it’s fallen in love with the light-switch. Do you know how ridiculous you sound? 

[layla-granville]

*Layla had to solidly bite her tongue to keep from talking about the personalities of Big Mountain.  What a mess trying to explain something she was unable to explain would be.  Never mind those weren’t even true intelligences.  Once the urge to argue (and admittedly, laugh about that coincidence) died down, she spoke again.*

I can’t account for what I’m unable to perceive.  I do account for what I am made aware of.  If something can ask for help or doesn’t want to go somewhere, then you don’t force them.  I don’t understand why you’re so hellbent on this: what, exactly are your employers giving you that’s got you so hellbent on returning their ‘property?’

[theheavenlyshepherd]

I'm only defending my position. You're the one who's... hellbent on trying to talk me out of it. It's none of your business what I'm offered in return, so why don't you just chalk it up to loyalty and leave it at that?

[theheavenlyshepherd]

It… they…

…If they weren’t in human-shaped bodies, this wouldn’t even be an issue for you. I can’t argue with emotions. You’re… all emotions. We are dealing with logical, programmed computers and you’re looking at them like organic human beings. I suppose that’s why they look like that, after all, to elicit that response, but really, the way you choose to ignore pure logic is astounding.

[layla-granville]

Bullshit; if a graphing calculator managed to gain cognizance and needed help, I’d help it. 

[theheavenlyshepherd]

No. You wouldn't even think to. If you'd never heard of an android, a computer that looks and acts like a human, you'd look at those garbled words scrawled across the screen and would take it to a repairman. Or worse, you'd simply set it down, look to get another that works properly.

Would the words even appear, though? Perhaps your mentioned calculator has had feelings and emotions this whole time. Perhaps it just doesn't have a way to project that, without a face or a voice. Perhaps, while out of use, it's fallen in love with the light-switch. Do you know how ridiculous you sound? 

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Right. People. But that’s not what we’re talking about.

[layla-granville]

So what’s the big difference?  Instead of parents, scientists.  Honestly it sounds like the big difference is ownership, and we go right back to slavery.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

It... they...

...If they weren't in human-shaped bodies, this wouldn't even be an issue for you. I can't argue with emotions. You're... all emotions. We are dealing with logical, programmed computers and you're looking at them like organic human beings. I suppose that's why they look like that, after all, to elicit that response, but really, the way you choose to ignore pure logic is astounding.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

If Silvio were to stop functioning.... would you feel sad?

I'm not sure I would feel that. Something would feel missing, for a short time, but I've spent most of my life alone as it is anyway. By all means, logically, I would move past it right away. I can break habits as easily as I can form them, after all.

That being said... ...I find this a bit difficult to talk about. Think about, I mean. For some reason. I can do it, but it doesn't... feel good. I'd rather avoid that for right now, I think.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Asking questions about oneself is not a prerequisite for inappropriate dismissal of ones own programming. That doesn’t just happen. That is an error. A corruption in codes. Thoughts and calculations are different, though they act similar at face value. I’m not going to expect you to understand, not having the same insight to it that I do, but to put it plainly, these are not children we’re talking about. Parameters are put in place for a reason. Tasks and processes and rules are put in place for a reason, and unlike with people, they are hard facts and not simply moral dilemmas. If a machine begins to disregard facts, there’s no predicting what it may do.

[layla-granville]

*Layla crossed her arms over her chest*  There’s no predicting what people do, either.  That’s part of what makes them people. 

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Right. People. But that's not what we're talking about.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

You’re using the word ‘will’ lightly. Honestly, this is all a case of you letting instinctive emotions get in the way. Just because something looks like a person does not mean it is a person. Does not mean it thinks like a person does. Does not mean it has will. Only misdirection, and malfunction.

[layla-granville]

Things adapt.  You make a robot too smart and they start figuring things out.  Then they start asking questions.  As soon as they start asking questions about themselves, it’s too late: you’ve got a person on your hands.  Once something says no, you have to listen to them or you’re a monster.

[theheavenlyshepherd]

Asking questions about oneself is not a prerequisite for inappropriate dismissal of ones own programming. That doesn't just happen. That is an error. A corruption in codes. Thoughts and calculations are different, though they act similar at face value. I'm not going to expect you to understand, not having the same insight to it that I do, but to put it plainly, these are not children we're talking about. Parameters are put in place for a reason. Tasks and processes and rules are put in place for a reason, and unlike with people, they are hard facts and not simply moral dilemmas. If a machine begins to disregard facts, there's no predicting what it may do.