Do odd things make you sad?

@TheHorse (218326)
Walnut Creek, California
November 8, 2024 10:50am CST
Someone I know recently called a suicide prevention hotline. She has been really depressed lately, and just wanted someone to talk to. She was put on hold by a bot voice. "You call is important to us." After half-an-hour on hold, she hung up. She did not commit suicide. She called me, and we talked for an hour or so. This morning, I was trolling eBay and came upon a listing for the Magnavox tube stereo console my parents had when I was very young. I was amused! I hoped the text of the listing would be heartwarming and personal. Maybe even a little bit funny. Those old "boxes" are actually more "musical" than many modern stereos. I will attach what I read in the "item description" below. It was AI driven, with fill in the blank specifics, taken from drop-down menus. I have seen this kind of thing on eBay before. I think he we humans are programmed for interaction with other humans, not Interaction with bots. I shook my head, felt a wave on sadness, and wrote this post. ----- This vintage Magnavox stereo console is the perfect addition to any music lover's collection. With the ability to play records, 8-tracks, and radio, this console offers a unique listening experience. The brand of this console is Magnavox, and it is a vintage item that has not been modified. It is featured in the Vintage Stereo Console category and is perfect for those who are looking for a classic audio experience. This console is a pick-up only in New Jersey and is sure to be a treasured addition to any vintage audio and video collection.
22 people like this
19 responses
@anya12adwi (9144)
• India
8 Nov
There are many odd things that make me sad or feel gloomy! Like winters, children or teens playing and having supportive environment, realising how I spent my youth in an unproductive way and realising how I ran after marks and did not enjoy friendships!
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
Sorry to hear that. Hearing young children at play makes me happy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
@anya12adwi I hope a happy childhood makes for a better adulthood.
1 person likes this
• India
8 Nov
@TheHorse Makes me happy and also sad too! That they have to become adults in the big bad world!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222680)
• Chile
8 Nov
The ADT here has a bot to answer all calls I discovered. When I had a fire, after a long time a bot asked me for my name and password. It took me over 4 months and I had to pay them to end the contract.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
What is the "ADT"?
2 people like this
@marguicha (222680)
• Chile
8 Nov
@TheHorse It is an international alarm company. I don´t know if it works only in some countries in South America.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov
@marguicha It may be here. I am not sure.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166485)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Nov
Yes, like Lenore said thank goodness you answered. This person needed some human contact. Your question I am not sure about. If an object has some sentimental aspect, I think it might make me sad.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
It would have been fun to discuss the stereo console with a fellow sentimental human. "My grandma loved listening to that thing" Or something like that. But the bot listing made me feel cold.
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
I am glad I was there to talk to the young lady. I may call her to check in on her after Guitar Center.
@FourWalls (67617)
• United States
8 Nov
Is it me, or does AI read like a third-grade one-page report?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
Or a fill in the blank exam.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (67617)
• United States
8 Nov
@TheHorse — oh, that’s where the intelligence of 8-year-olds shines!!!!! I like the meme where the teacher says “Who wrote Tom Sawyer” and a kid sticks his hand up and says, “Rush!” Can’t get that out of AI.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
@FourWalls I like Calvin's responses to teachers' questions. Calvin and Hobbes is my favorite "funny" these days.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (60884)
• Centralia, Washington
8 Nov
Thank God you were there for that person. Health care is so freaky and frightening now. Fifteen minutes to see a human though robot like Doc. Just nasty.
2 people like this
@sallypup (60884)
• Centralia, Washington
8 Nov
@TheHorse Gone.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
What ever happened to "bedside manner"?
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30312)
• United Kingdom
8 Nov
Those AI-generated descriptions just make me laugh. They basically just elaborate on the basic attributes given, with a few extra words thrown in to make sentences. Utterly meaningless. Incidentally, have you bought or sold anything on eBay recently?
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30312)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov
@TheHorse I used to sell odds and ends on eBay, it was great for obscure things that maybe only a few people in the country might want. Normally I would expect some strange item to get a few dozen views but only one or two bids - but that was fine. But now I can list something and it gets 0 views, It just gets automatically relisted time and time again, over months and months, with not one single view.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov
@Fleura Interesting. The only thing I buy and sell (usually) on eBay is/was stereo gear. Those auctions still seem pretty active.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
I have not. I recently sold something on Craigslist, but not on eBay. Actually I may have bought some wood filler on eBay within the last year. Is it changing?
1 person likes this
@amnabas (13973)
• Karachi, Pakistan
8 Nov
Communication is the key for ending depression and anxiety .Thanks you saved.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
Sometimes we just need some human contact to know we're a part of something good. And bigger than ourselves as individuals.
@wolfgirl569 (105674)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Nov
I am glad she was able to call you. That's one thing that needs to find a way not to put people on hold.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov
Pretty remarkable.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79558)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Nov
I have interacted with bots online but never got the help I needed. Even real people are not helpful. I want to cash out on gift cards it helps me with pet food on Amazon, Now talking with customer support by email online I was informed that nothing could be done either I have a phone for verification or now gift cards, I have no one to call and cannot afford an extra subscription on anything online. What I need is a simple mobile phone for just calls and texting. Do you have any ideas?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov
I do not.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26656)
• Singapore
9 Nov
What upsets me is that those who are not up to the task are stealing the limelight from those who have the goodness to improve our world. Division and hatred trump unity and humanity. We seem to be forever caught in the vicious cycle.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov
It sure seems that way. "those who are not up to the task are stealing the limelight from those who have the goodness to improve our world"
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3224)
9 Nov
That is TERRIBLE that your friend was placed on hold long enough to make her stop waiting. I read an article the other day that a lot of 988 workers receive obscene phone calls from people who know they can't hang up for a certain amount of time - it's so distressing to the operators that some of them have quit, leading to a shortage of folks to take these calls. That could be one of the reasons your friend was placed on hold. I'm glad you were there for her!
@aninditasen (16370)
• Raurkela, India
9 Nov
I feel sad with the situation that most old parents in India have to stay alone because their children have to go out to work which was not the case earlier.
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
8 Nov
i'm glad you were there for your friend. i hope she gets some help... and about the rest - yes, it does make me kinda sad. it can make things easier at the time, but still - we need human interaction.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218326)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
I have spent so much time on hold, or without results, over the past 15 years. It is frustrating to me.
@grenery8 (10020)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
10 Nov
You wrote this review very well;i sense nostalgia. Sorry for your friend.30minutes,even 5minutes is too much when you just want to talk to someone when you're not feeling great. I'm glad she called you
@GardenGerty (160594)
• United States
9 Nov
Many things make me sad, including artificial intelligence because it cannot render authentic compassion.
@much2say (55427)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Nov
I'm sure talking to you made a huge difference for your friend . A bot can say whatever it wants, but it can never empathize. Sigh on the AI . Sounds rather "mechanical", doesn't it? I think real estate descriptions have gone that way too. I know AI has made a big headway with visuals, but it's not my thing . . . in fact I get this sort of sick feeling more than sadness.
@JudyEv (339199)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Nov
I'm glad your friend had you to talk to. Fancy being put on hold by such a place but I guess maybe they are snowed under with calls.
@SIDIKIMPOLE (1785)
• Eldoret, Kenya
9 Nov
Sure, bots cannot help a person the way humans do. In fact, they should never be used in any other area apart from entertainment.
@Dreamerby (4412)
• Calcutta, India
9 Nov
How is that friend now? Is she doing okayy mentally now?