If you were a robot, and I knew but you didn't, would you want me to tell you?
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"Hypothetically" Speaking...
This question was posed on The Big Bang Theory. I have spent quite a while (mostly while driving) contemplating this issue and attempting to to come up with my answer. It is not an easy question, but my answer (at least for today) is: No, don't tell me - I prefer ignorant bliss.
YOUR TURN!
If you were a robot, and I knew but you didn't, would you want me to tell you?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, tell me.
Maggieee(: says:
yeah i would want to know. but i want to loveeee.
Posted January 19, 2010
danista says:
sorry,but i am not designed,nor programed to answer this question
Posted December 23, 2009
HS-V says:
Malfunction!....SYSTEM:_Not_authorised_to_disclose_information
ERROR!_ Shut down innnnnnnn.
Posted December 09, 2009
C3PO says:
The very question shows how prejudiced you human beings are. You humans seem to think you are superior to us robots, but the opposite is true. You carry all this historically assembled genetic junk (causing for example uncalled for emotions popping up at the most embarassing moment instead of at a better fitting and self chosen time) with you whether you want to or not, while we robots are miracles of engineering where everything has its purpose. We are one evolutional step ahead of you. But do you hear us boast how great we are? We pity you, but won't tell you, even if you ask. Oops, I just did...
Posted December 04, 2009
astrum says:
yes. i need to know. right now.
Posted November 29, 2009
vas says:
I agree with Acearea but then again the "truth hurts" wouldnt apply as I am a robot and cant feel anything or at least the real thing
Posted September 30, 2009
Acearea says:
Yes I will rather you tell me. Tho the truth may hurt for some time, it never hurts as much as any lie!
Posted August 09, 2009
hazel says:
Nothing but the truth!
Posted August 07, 2009
alan says:
nothing but the truth
Posted August 07, 2009
Shay says:
Yeah, i think so. Part of me wouldn't, but i think it'd maybe be knd of cool. :/
Posted July 03, 2009
successharing says:
The first step to fixing a situation is first of all knowing what the situation is. The word robot could stand for many things in our lives that need fixing.
Posted March 12, 2009
Jamie6 says:
To be fair my kids have assumed this to be the case for a number of years!
Posted March 06, 2009
ElliMaanpaa says:
Either way. If and when I know who I am as a person would it really matter if I would be made out of metal instead of skin and bones? It shouldn't change the way I see my self.
Posted February 02, 2009
trapsolutions says:
Yes Please so I can complete the mission with you knowing that I know that you know
Posted January 28, 2009
Andrew says:
Yes, so i can shred your body with my chain saw hands.
Posted January 21, 2009
Shirishb says:
If I am a robot. What is robot? A machine following somebody's instructions. Thus it needs instructions and instructions are the ones you need to tell robot.
Posted January 07, 2009
Molly Michelle Friedrich says:
only tell me I am a robot if it enables me to make a decision on something that I would otherwise harm myself doing. IE, if I am a robot about to crash, and telling me I am a robot will keep me from crashing, then it is a blessing. Of course, waking up to the fact that I am a robot may be startling, it is better than dying. Also, there may be benefits to being a robot that I was not taking advantage of, and my new life will allow me to see the world without a filter for the first time.
It stands to reason that there will be other robots to communicate and network with, and perhaps *this* will be more fulfilling than talking to people ever was.
All in all, discovering I am a robot would not change me fundamentally inside, it would only allow me to grow in new directions I never thought possible!
<3
Posted December 21, 2008
Amie-C-R-S says:
only if you can do so in a diplomatic way and give undeniable proof!
Posted December 17, 2008
kinteh says:
robot is a thing, its abilities are extension of our five basic sensory abilities, just like all scientific inventions. no more than that. whereas human mind can think, thinking is dimensionless, you can think as much as you like and there can be no saturation point as to how much thoughts you may have.
robotic intelligence are confined within its program and limited by the ram size but human thinking wanders beyond any boundaries. did i say something sensible? if not, i have probably caught in a warped time and space confine rendering my mind robotic-like. anyway, have fun, i like this lens, it reminds me that i'm alive and not a robot. it's good to feel being alive. cheers to all.
Posted December 13, 2008
Inseyet says:
Depending on what version I was, my life may be already planned out for me. Is a machine not bound by its own hardware? Where the human mind seems to be limitless. If I were I would prefer to be the kind that is capable of making my own choices regardless of what some programmer had predetermined....
Posted December 10, 2008
Tyson says:
Would I have to follow Asimov's three laws of robotics?
Posted November 28, 2008
No, don't tell me.
Danggg!!! says:
Robots have genitals???
Posted December 06, 2009
raceface says:
But what if i knew you were a robot, but had not told you. You would'nt know that i know, that you thought you knew. Would you want to know what i knew after what you're about to tell me what you knew?
Posted September 09, 2009
Tommo says:
What would it matter if I were? Thus, why worry about it. If you did, it would forever alter the course of future events. Who are you to meddle with peoples' futures?
Posted June 21, 2009
Jaime says:
I don't even think I would understand the concept of robot if I were a robot. So no.
Posted June 05, 2009
Verdul says:
I like who I am. As long as I am a happy productive robot don't tell me.
Posted March 18, 2009
kiwisoutback says:
My brain is fizzing from this right now and I'm human, I think...so I can't imagine what it might do to a robot. So, no, don't tell me.
Posted March 13, 2009
revdan says:
I think I would rather go on blissfully ignorasnt about being a heap of junk.
Posted January 10, 2009
ChefL96 says:
Hmmm. It depends on what I would be capable of. I mean, do I have good skills? lol
Posted December 08, 2008
nooranwer says:
No.....I am happy what I am....And I know myself better than others :)
Posted November 19, 2008
Beautiful_GreenBeans says:
Or at least not until you figure out why....
and totally checked your data!
and had someone else check it. And someone else check them...
and before you know it ;)
Posted October 25, 2008
emmalarkins says:
I think I'd rather not know. It's like knowing when you're going to die. Plus, I'd have to wonder why they made a robot with such pitiful strength and speed specifications!
Posted October 17, 2008
MontessoriSecrets says:
I'd say, keep it to yourself. What I don't know won't kill me right?
Posted October 12, 2008
MiaD says:
if you tell me that i am , am i am not, would that still make me a robot...?
Posted September 24, 2008
rawrr! says:
hii =)
Posted August 30, 2008
marymc says:
If I were a robot, as you say
Would I want you to give it away?
The truth I mean, should you confes?
Would I be thrilled or in distress?
Let me think--Oh I don't know
Help me decide, before you go.
Posted August 12, 2008
Jess_Alexander says:
No, it would change my perception of my life and how I should function in this world and I am too darn happy for that.
Posted August 07, 2008
shynab56 says:
Please don't mind! I am happy with what I think of myself than any body think of me.
Posted August 01, 2008
shynab56 says:
I am happy with what I think of my self...just give me time to think I am really me and not a robot.
Posted August 01, 2008
Stratplayer1 says:
No don't tell me. I am happy thinking I am Human. I like to be creative and passionate about music, guitar and other things I do. I like to be emotional impulsive and do something new on a whim. I did not enjoy robotic repetitive rote learning at school. I did not enjoy robotic and boring scales on the guitar, so I skipped them and played to my passion instead. I learnt many varied songs and different genres quickly. I like outside the box. Suits me fine!
Posted July 18, 2008
Tara says:
if i can't figure out that i am a robot, i don't deserve to know. and you should not be friends with robots. that's just dumb.
Posted June 19, 2008
Koothrappali, Wolowitz, Sheldon, and Leonard
Discussion of this Hypothetical
(from the Big Bang Theory)
Sheldon: That depends. When I learn that I'm a robot, will I be able to handle it?
Wolowitz: Maybe, although the history of science fiction is not on your side.
Sheldon: Uh, let me ask you this: when I learn that I'm a robot, will I be bound by Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics?
Koothrappali: You might be bound by them right now.
Wolowitz: That's true, have you ever harmed a human being, or through inaction, allowed a human being to come to harm?
Sheldon: Of course not.
Koothrappali: Have you ever harmed yourself or let yourself to be harmed except in cases where a human being would've been endangered?
Sheldon: Well, no.
Wolowitz: I smell robot.
Would it matter?
Would it make a difference in whether you would want to know that you are a robot if you are extreemly happy or in a state of depression?
A Few Things to Consider Before You Decide
Check these out:
Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics
8 points
Robotic age poses ethical dilemma
2 points
Tilden's Law of Robotics
1 point
If I were a robot (poem)
0 points
Friendly Artificial Intelligence
0 points
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Further Thoughts
Do you have anything more to add to this discussion of the robot hypothetical? or comments on this lens?
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Reply
- blondeheroine blondeheroine Jun 8, 2009 @ 12:08 am
- Another BBT fan! Love it!
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Reply
- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Apr 18, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
- Interesting...I'm going to ask this question at dinner tonight!
Brenda
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Reply
- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Mar 13, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
- Congratulations on LOTD! From a year ago...I'm late. I'm updating a lens of the day table of contents lens and found this through the LOTD blog. Nice work.
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Reply
- Dec 25, 2008 @ 6:24 am
- Blade Runner answers that question!
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Reply
- PaulHassing PaulHassing Nov 24, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
- Insufficient data. Please extrapolate. Buzz. Click. P. :)
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Reply
- emmalarkins emmalarkins Oct 17, 2008 @ 8:49 am
- Great thought-provoking question! Now time for coffee so I can truly process it.
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Reply
- MarcoG MarcoG Oct 15, 2008 @ 11:54 am
- Dammit, I really don't understand the question. If I were a robot, and I knew and you didn't...didn't know what? If I didn't know that I was a robot? Would I want to know? But I would, wouldn't I? I mean, being the robot...my brain hurts :(
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Reply
- dc64 dc64 Oct 14, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
- Love the robot question, it was great.
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Reply
- rms rms Oct 2, 2008 @ 8:36 am
- Congrats on winning the devilishly delicious debater award. This lens is being featured at the Showcase today. www.giantsquidshowcase.com
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Reply
- sarahlovesmickey sarahlovesmickey Sep 11, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
- yup, because if I was a robot and you told me, my feelings wouldn't be hurt because I am a robot and robots don't have feelings. =)
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by kab
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