Some Very Emotional Robots (Blog5)

“Reason”

By Isaac Asimov (1941)

A real life-like robot, check it out

I feel as though the fact that QT experiences human emotions can represent a few different ideas and fear in man about technology. Humans have been the top of the food chain, the smartest out of all species, for so long, there is a fear that technology will one day replace everything that we are.

“’Look at you!’ he said finally. ‘I say this in no spirit of contempt but look at you! The material you are made of is soft and flabby, lacking endurance and strength, depending for energy upon the inefficient oxidation of organic material-‘”-p.165

While I was reading “Reason” by Isaac Asimov, I was under the impression that this robot was meant to symbolize a parent-child relationship. I’m not sure how everyone else interpreted the story, but that is mine. Especially when QT talks about being a newer, better, version of Mike and Donavan. That’s almost how it is with kids, as we grow older, we grow weaker and our kin take over what we’ve built. They become the future leaders and providers for this world. It is our job as parents to guide them into doing the right thing and following the right moral objectives. Sometimes our parents, are not what we had hoped they would be. Growing up, most kids have their Mom’s and Dad’s up on a pedestal, when we realize they are just human, we begin to question as to why they are superior to us. They make mistakes just like we do, why should we listen to them?

As a teenager, I rebelled against my parents, to the ultimate extreme. Not saying it was without good reason but when I did, it was after I had found someone else’s footsteps to follow. I had become friends with someone that had no problem taking control of my life and I had no problem letting her. So, I relate to QT in this story in that retrospect, when he finds someone he feels is worthy enough to be his “master”.

“’I like you two. You’re inferior creatures, with poor reasoning faculties, but I really feel a sort of affection for you. You have served the Master well, and he will reward you for that. Now that your service is over, you will probably not exist much longer, but as long as you do, you shall be provided food, clothing and shelter, so long as you stay out of the control room and the engine room.’”-QT p. 169

The QT models of robots were new, and this was the first of its’ kind thus far. Meant to take over for man, too dangerous of a job, the robot soon doubts and questions every little thing that the “earthmen” say. QT asks about his existence and doesn’t accept the answers given to him from Donavan and Mike.

While growing up, I questioned why I was here. What was the point of my own existence? I believe we all question that at one point in time. Though, it’s a very “human” question to have for a hunk of metal. I believe a lot of us can relate to some of the questions QT is asking. Some people get brought into this world as an accident or even planned, but not everyone understands why they were brought into existence. What’s the bigger picture as to why we all exist? Are we actually here to build things such as QT, to help Earth go on striving, even if the human race does not?

“Cutie continued imperturbably, ‘And the question that immediately arose was: Just what is the cause of my existence?’”-p.165

“Super-Toys Last All Summer Long”

By Brian W. Aldiss (1969)

“In Mrs. Swinton’s garden, it was always Summer.”-p. 444

Does the author mean this in a literal sense? I found myself questioning the very first line of this short story.  Another peculiar line is,

“She had tried to love him.”-p.444

Talking about a three year old little boy, which at this point I’m guessing is her child. How do you try to love your own child?

When I first started taking notes on this story, that is as far as I’d gotten before I just got consumed in the tale. This whole story is about social interaction with technology. It’s about humans relying on technologically-made beings for just about everything. Food, weight control and even companionship.

At first, I was thinking, all of this technology has made this mother stone cold and deadpan. Come to find out that her husband created this life, even if it’s in the form of a technological robot, and now they don’t bother to nurture or care for it. There’s something very disgusting about a child that gets ignored and cast aside. I believe it’s relatable to every day occurrences. Bad parents are everywhere, not just in stories to robot-children. It stems back to the question, why create a responsibility that you are not willing to care for? Why have a child, robot or not, that you will not bother to consider your own. As sickening as it is, there are too many children out there that can, unfortunately, relate to little David.

I feel the worst part about all of this is the fact that the little boy doesn’t even know he’s not real. It’s heartbreaking. It relates back to society today because every day I see mothers and fathers not paying attention to their kids because they’re too busy texting or talking on the phone or taking a selfie. Since when did spending time on your phone become more important than spending time with your child? Also, what kind of self-worth issues will that create for the child, much like little David’s, when a fake conversation on the phone or social networking through social media sites takes precedence over being a parent? The fact that this story was written in 1969 and it contains as many similarities to issues people are facing today is remarkable and very, very scary.

Another thing, completely unrelated to my point on technology, but I was very much reminded of the movie “Ted” (2012) when Teddy, the robot teddy-bear began to talk and could walk and act on his own free will.






UPDATE:

Is it ethical to stop the progress of technology?

This is a very gray-matter question. There is no black and white answer. I feel as though there are pros and cons to both sides. I believe continuing could possibly result in loss of jobs, laziness, and who knows? Maybe even unprecedented consequences in regards to human development. I also believe that if we hadn't continued to advance and research technology the ay we have we wouldn't have all the benefits we do today, such as medicinal research.