Alexa, Did You Just Do That?
By betlynfrnds
@betlynfrnds (4069)
United States
August 7, 2019 7:45pm CST
My husband and I were at a client's home. They had one of those Alexa Echo Dots on the family room table.
So the man showed us how this technology worked by asking Alexa to turn on the radio. Alexa turned on the radio. Then he had Alexa turn on the lamp on the end table. On went the lamp.
That was cute and fun. Technology is amazing isn't it?
Well now things started to get interesting. The radio was a bit loud and we were all trying to talk about work. So now the wife asked Alexa to turn off the radio. Alexa did not turn off the radio but instead, turned the volume up!
Now I'm starting to laugh. The wife got up off of the chair, went right up to Alexa and commanded again, this time in a louder voice, "Alexa turn off the radio." This time she turned off the radio. Then the wife asked Alexa to turn off the light. She turned off the light.
By this time I was laughing so hard that my sides hurt and I was in tears. It's one thing to follow a command but to be a sort of cyber smart aleck. I developed a whole new appreciation for Alexa. I never knew these gadgets could have such a great sense of humor.
Thankfully I was able to gather my composure and continue on with out business.
18 people like this
17 responses
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Aug 19
I guess if it was so mechanical all of the time, people would get bored. Technicians have to spice things up once in a while to keep the consumers interested and even entertained.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
8 Aug 19
Maybe modern technology isn't so foolproof!
5 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Aug 19
You may be right, I don't think it is. It was actually almost a little scary but much funnier than scary.
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Aug 19
I have her on my fire stick TV--she makes a lot of mistakes and I don't think she means to!!
3 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Aug 19
I think I should change my name to Alexa. When I make mistakes that I don't mean to, some people don't think it's too funny! LOL
That makes perfect sense. Technology is not always perfect all the time. There are little glitches here and there.
I remember the Garmin GPS. Sometimes she wanted us to turn right when we clearly needed to turn left. I tried to correct her but she would have nothing to do with that.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
16 Aug 19
Maybe that is what happened; it couldn't hear the command. At any rate it was very funny.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
18 Aug 19
@just4him It has been well over a month ago, maybe 2 months and I still laugh when I think about it. The whole experience was therapeutic.
2 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Aug 19
@betlynfrnds I'm sure it was funny.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (102812)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Aug 19
That story reminds me of a Three Stooges video where the boys came to Jamestown during the time of the settlers when Vernon Dent who played one the lead characters in the story yelled at a machine that was playing a tune when the boys were dancing with three young ladies to "Quiet". The machine which looked like a small machine that is aw wind up toy then went silent on cue. I think that short was called "Back To The Woods."
3 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
15 Aug 19
I'm going to look up that episode. I have seen so many of these shorts but it's been ages ago. That one sounds like my experience.
Thank you for your feedback.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (102812)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
15 Aug 19
@betlynfrnds You are welcome.
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
8 Aug 19
I would never have one of those things but my family does. I think it's kind of creepy.
3 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
15 Aug 19
Technology can have it's dark side.
1 person likes this
@kareng (59117)
• United States
9 Dec 19
@betlynfrnds Yes, it is about out of hand here. It also makes people lazy!
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
9 Dec 19
@kareng I had so much fun as a kid. Between riding my bike, roller skating, swimming in my pool, playing sports and so many other things I think I was much happier and healthier than the kids today who, in many cases are glued to a computer screen of some sort. What a mess!
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Dec 19
I was just on the phone with a good friend of mine a few minutes ago. I was telling her that technology can be a real pain. I like technology to some extent but I think it is going way too far in some respects.
This was a funny experience but at the same time I always try to stay one step ahead of trouble.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
11 Apr 20
Well, we need to adjust with the gadgets. Still, they perform most of their functions really well !!
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
11 Apr 20
I agree; there is usually a learning curve. Anytime I get a new device, I go into it understanding that there are always going to be new things to learn.
Yes, for the most part they do what they are designed to do and as such, they are wonderful tools.
I just really enjoyed have such a good, hard laugh with 'Alexa'.
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
15 Aug 19
Sometimes I find myself acting like Alexa did in this instance. I'm thinking of changing my name to Alexa. LOL Just kidding.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
9 Aug 19
That's what I'm seeing to be the case which is why I am not in any hurry to add that form of technology to our home. It's a novelty, it's fun but it can also be time consuming.
And yes, you do run the risk of getting sore throats along the way.
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
12 Aug 19
@LadyDuck I just enjoy being a spectator of somebody else's gadgets.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
10 Aug 19
@betlynfrnds It can surely be interesting with someone with physical problems, if you cannot walk, it is interesting to "ask Alexa", but it's not something I am ready to buy.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
11 Oct 19
Smart choice. She apparently can be a bit unpredictable; funny as all get go but unpredictable.
My husband and I were just talking about this very experience a day or two ago with another of our clients.
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
7 Dec 19
That is why I hate Alexa. Sometimes it just won't listen
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Dec 19
@amitkokiladitya Many people just like to have the latest, greatest gadget, no matter what it is. Once the interest wears off, there's not much need. They may be good for some things but I'm a little old fashioned.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
8 Dec 19
@betlynfrnds yes...am.nd I can't figure out any use of theem as well
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Aug 19
It was quite funny. From what I understand, they're available on Amazon and are inexpensive. My husband may want one but I'm not sure I do. Right now, I just want to enjoy them in other people's homes.
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
8 Aug 19
@Ladanger Neither did I. That's probably why I almost busted a seam in my side when the radio got louder. I was completely caught off guard. It was so worth it and I'm glad I got to experience it.
2 people like this
@Ladanger (14578)
• United States
8 Aug 19
@betlynfrnds i would have never thought that they are so funny like that
2 people like this
@WriterRuth (268)
• Waialua, Hawaii
12 Oct 19
When I was sleeping in the living room at my daughter's house, Alexa turned the TV on at 3am. I told her about it the next day and she said it's happened before. We decided to unplug it at night when we all went to bed. I told them if it happened again with it unplugged, that I would run into her and her husband's room and sleep with them.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
18 Oct 19
Ha ha. That is very funny. If Alexa were unplugged and things turned on by themselves, I would have to leave the house.
@snowy22315 (180678)
• United States
17 Aug 19
Alexa did something funny here once too, but I can't remember what it was. I think it said "Hey" or something.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
11 Oct 19
Tee hee hee, sorry Alexa. That's funny. My husband and I have agreed that we're not wanting one either.