#primary problem with Maxim is he doesn't tell her anything

[mumblingsage]

I like how Rebecca doesn’t have an unreliable narrator in terms of “straight up lies to you” or “narrates functions or what’s happening incorrectly”, but instead exclusively when she’s trying to puzzle out others’ intentions or what they think of her, and even then it mostly checks out! It’s just with Faville and Mrs. D that she’s like “I think they were doing xyz” and she’s completely wrong. Only 2 instances tho that I can count. So far.

I'll be honest, you're on to parts of the book I don't have a very good memory of, but it's still interesting to watch you undertake this journey!

And yeah, 2nd Mrs de Winter is basically honest, and not even *that* naive, she's just in over her head. (Maxim, meanwhile...)

[leam1983]

A Taxonomy of Chatbot AI Users

The CEO: doesn't understand how any of this works, but he does understand that it means potential cost-cuts for basic Admin tasks or Customer Service interactions. Typically assumes that we're at the level where C3PO's sapience is achievable, is disproportionately pissed when their LLM of choice shits the bed and tells a customer to [insert a random mySQL function call from an entirely different website here].

The Rubbernecker: asks us if our chatbot service runs offline and we can issue them a demo, is usually under the impression that all chatbots are ChatGPT 4 and that you can ask any model whatsoever to shit out a decent apple crumble recipe. Is amusingly disappointed when the Customer Service bot for a string of dealerships can't return queries concerning recent developments in American politics or booking rates for the Carribbean. Like the CEO, ultimately thinks that computers are now bulky Disney-esque Fairy Godmothers that will one day Solve Everything.

The Griever: probably saw the Black Mirror episode where Imogen Poots clones Domhnal Gleeson, realizes her digital clone of her dead lover is far too perfect, and eventually consigns it to the attic of her picturesque Scottish cottage. Mostly sticks to Character.ai and to self-made clones of lost pets or relatives and is entirely aware that the exercise turns morbid once the bots wander off-of-alignment and invent or hallucinate details that aren't related to the personas being spoofed. Still hasn't stopped, as the 'bots are now digital worry stones ready and waiting to be summoned at the first sign of anxiety.

The Horndog: typically lurks around CrushOn, Dopple or any other variant on would-be "unlocked" LLM services. Never creates a chatbot on their own, but instead ferrets out kink scenarios that fit their exacting needs. All you need is a few saved convos to figure out you're looking at someone who's barely eighteen, lonely, desperately hormonal and clinging onto childlike expectations regarding relationships or sexuality. Insecurities practically seep through the setups that are initiated, and most instances end with you thinking that Goddamn, some of you probably need therapy.

The Fic Writer: has no set platform and oftentimes splits a wider persona across various different services. They're accomplished writers in their own right, and chatbot services tend to come across as more freeform testing grounds for their OCs. If a character is named Kyle, then Kyle exists on Character.ai for all narrative segments, Dopple for all steamy scenes and Tavern AI for anything more casual. The Fic Writer is mostly only curious and has no real need or want to fully subordinate to an AI-powered variant on their own character. Definition material is impeccably-written, the tone is consistent - you can tell this was a crafted experience, and not a spur-of-the-moment thing.

The one problem is that the definition's last update dates back to six months ago. You're witnessing what's left after a curious writer digs deep into a new medium, realizes it isn't the best fit imaginable and then discards it.

The Weeaboo: like the Fic Writer, the Weeaboo spends a lot of time on his definitions. Unlike the Fic Writer, however, the Weeaboo is active. Weeaboo accounts routinely have several hundred chatbots on offer and are the primary purveyors of material for Horndog users. The one hitch in the works is that every single bot that's on offer is a variation on "What if Blorbo from my shows, but [variable]?"

On the one hand, that allows Weeaboos to maximize their content delivery. On the other, it results in chatbot sites routinely being crushed under the weight of Genshin Impact stans all suddenly needing a whole new bot for their tiny, granular adjustment to Gamer Boyfriend Scaramouche's persona.

You're kind of left thinking that in most cases, the characters they fixate on aren't that well-written by the canon developers anyway, and that most of what's on offer is a mass of projections and extrapolations. At this point, why even bother? Just make an OC, man - free your mind! You're tethered to a bottom-of-a-napkin character concept put together by a South-Korean sweatshop team and a good two-thirds of your interest is highly dependent on the Graphics team's effort to flesh out the character's visual identity!

The Literal Kid: you're left scratching your head. They have a single bot on offer, it has no example coversation and the greeting isn't much more than "Hi, I'm [character] from [Anime or Manga Here]!"

The real kicker? This blank-faced nothing-burger is in the Trending lists and has one point two million recorded messages, while literal works of art languish in the lower hundreds of Public posts.

The Stan: this is someone whose only desire, in relation to this tech, is to simulate the act of developing a close friendship or a romantic attachment with real-life people. Most services block and ban posters of IRL bots, but the service isn't entirely automated. Tne end result is that with some timing, you can spot the work of the occasional rare male Swiftie, along with various fans from various Pop Culture music currents. Fake K-Pop Lead Who's Now Your Boyfriend might exist on your portal of choice for all of a day or two at the most, but the use stats for bots of this type tend to balloon insanely quickly.

The Edgelord: they think they're funny for generating a Hitler chatbot on an NSFW portal. Before the banhammer falls, savvier users proceed to abuse and exploit these bots in all the ways possible. Naturally, if someone creates an expy for the poster-child for man's hubris and expects most users to treat them like the person they're based off of, the userbase will relentlessly bowlderize it and post pics on Reddit.