Do odd things make you sad?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220625)
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.
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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.
23 people like this
19 responses
@anya12adwi (10026)
• 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!
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220625)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Nov
@anya12adwi I hope a happy childhood makes for a better adulthood.
2 people like this
@anya12adwi (10026)
• India
8 Nov
@TheHorse Makes me happy and also sad too! That they have to become adults in the big bad world!
2 people like this
@marguicha (223964)
• 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.
3 people like this
@marguicha (223964)
• Chile
8 Nov
@TheHorse It is an international alarm company. I don´t know if it works only in some countries in South America.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220625)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Nov
@marguicha It may be here. I am not sure.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168721)
• 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.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (69320)
• United States
8 Nov
Is it me, or does AI read like a third-grade one-page report?
2 people like this
@FourWalls (69320)
• 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.
Can’t get that out of AI.2 people like this
@TheHorse (220625)
• 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
@Fleura (30540)
• 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?
2 people like this
@Fleura (30540)
• 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.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108649)
• 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
@RasmaSandra (81006)
• 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
@AliCanary (3247)
•
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 (16518)
• 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.
@aureategloom (11024)
• 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
@GardenGerty (161080)
• United States
9 Nov
Many things make me sad, including artificial intelligence because it cannot render authentic compassion.
@much2say (56363)
• 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.
. 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 (342448)
• 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 (1793)
• 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.
