Sep 6th - Robots Like Science

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:03 pm

"Hmmm," Theresa said thoughtfully, intentionally falling behind for a moment. Her eyes flare briefly and she looks at ASHLIE. The energy disappears and she scratches her head a bit as she moves to catch up.

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:13 pm

"At least that is the current conclusion I am working with. It may change as I gather more information, but so far it computes."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:15 pm

"You might be on to something," she said with a thoughtful tone in her voice.

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:24 pm

"What makes you say that? Usually humans don't appreciate my observations. I tried having a blog but people kept telling me I was being insensitive and to 'check my privilege' which I didn't understand."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:28 pm

Theresa stifles a chuckle at the 'check your privilege' comment. "Just my own unique insights. I look at things differently from most people."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:51 pm

"It is nice to have confirmation from an outside source."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:57 pm

"You know me. I'm not above supporting a little chaos from time-to-time."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:07 pm

"Of course. That must be what you meant when you said you spend the summer getting back to nature!" she says, apparently excited that she finally figured that one out.

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:14 pm

Theresa processed that for a moment, "I suppose you could say that. It's not exactly that simple, but what is?"

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:23 pm

"Possibly not. But it is in my nature to attempt to find the smallest, simplest explanation."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:25 pm

"No conspiracy theories for you then."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:31 pm

"Simplest can mean most plausible."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:37 pm

"So we're still ruling out conspiracy theories then."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:49 pm

"Yes, but only because they are ridiculous, not categorically."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:51 pm

Theresa just chuckled and let ASHLIE maintain the route, following her to whatever exhibit she wanted to see.

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:02 pm

Ashlie leads them to the exhibit on psychology and the human mind. She's much less talkative here, spending more time studying everything diligently.

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:06 pm

"Looking to understand or emulate?" Theresa asked about halfway through the exhibit.

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:29 pm

"More the former than the later."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:31 pm

"I can imagine that the human psyche is too erratic to emulate."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:34 pm

"And creating random seeds is not quite the same."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:43 pm

"Especially since a lot random programming functions are actually deterministic for a given seed number."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:48 pm

"All currently realistic seeds are ultimately deterministic." she nods. "I understand the question of whether the human mind is or not is an ongoing debate."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:53 pm

"I think it's something we lack sufficient understanding to say one way or the other. Sufficiently advanced science and sufficiently advanced magic and all that."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:09 pm

"I strongly suspect that even if it were deterministic not everyone would accept that."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:57 pm

"Of course not. And I think if it is deterministic, it's deterministic in a way that most people will never be able to understand."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:53 pm

"If it was then everything between the origin of the Universe and it's heat death would follow a predetermined path and your consciousness would only be experience the illusion of free will. Even I understand why that notion would be rejected."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:56 pm

"Even if it is true, I'm not capable of understanding it, so I have to function as though free will exists because I have no evidence to the contrary and I'm unlikely to get it in my lifetime at the rate things are going."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:58 pm

"A reasonable conclusion." Ashlie nods.

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:05 pm

"Reasonable is not a term I ever thought I would hear applied to myself."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:10 pm

"My perspective may be skewed. I spend a lot of time on the internet."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:22 pm

"That will skew anyone. I know from experience."

by **ASHLIE** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:39 pm

"It is very strange how different some people behave online."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:44 am

"That could be it's own discipline in psychology."

by **ASHLIE** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:28 am

"Maybe I should gather data for it in case it becomes one."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:34 am

"You could try to start it."

by **ASHLIE** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:42 am

"I am not sure if I am qualified for that."

by **Theresa McMasters** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:44 am

"So get qualified."

by **ASHLIE** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:48 am

"You think I would be able to process Psychology classes?" she asks in the same way a ten year old might ask about understanding quantum physics. Skeptic but strangely hopeful.

by **Theresa McMasters** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:56 am

"I'm saying you could audit the class and see if you can grok it."

by **ASHLIE** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:05 am

"I"ll attempt to do so."

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