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  • M.S. Bellows, Jr.msbellows@c.im
    Oct 13, 2026, 8:36 PM

    My new theory: anyone who actually has feelings of empathy knows that machines simply... don't. However, sociopaths' sense of empathy is muted at best; often, they believe the rest of us are making it up, and they learn to approximate sympathy, concern, etc. based on mimicking outward appearances.

    Therefore, sociopaths may honestly believe that computers can feel empathy, because they process "empathy" the same way. The people claiming computers can have feelings may honestly believe it – because they're sociopaths. #AI #LLM #LLMs

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  • :boo: mivox is mostly-dead :boo2:mivox@mivox.net
    Oct 13, 2026, 8:41 PM

    @msbellows Much like my belief that people who seem to earnestly believe sexual orientation is a choice are likely closeted bisexuals/pansexuals… the only humans who are actively attracted to multiple genders and could therefore ever “choose” which to pursue their attraction with.

    What they all have in common is a disturbingly selfish inability to imagine anyone around them being different from themselves.

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  • Noodlemaznoodlemaz@mstdn.games
    Oct 14, 2026, 12:06 PM

    @mivox @msbellows hard disagree, pls don't throw bi/pan folks under the bus.
    Some homophobes are closeted gay people. Some may be bi/pan.
    Most are just assholes.

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  • Comte Eugène de Phoquegeichel@mastodon.ie
    Oct 14, 2026, 7:17 AM

    @msbellows Humans anthropomorphize everything. There's nothing new here. We seek pleasant social interactions from inanimate objects and animals. Dogs, cars, beer & whiskey, etc. We're wired to be social. The threat isn't with the user. The threat is the supplier. These things are chess strategy masters. If not cautious they will be everything you want then to be. You now have the Obsidian Mirror of Tezcatlipoca in your pocket

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  • Comte Eugène de Phoquegeichel@mastodon.ie
    Oct 14, 2026, 12:33 PM

    @noodlemaz @msbellows no my point is we're all sociopaths. Of course I'm going to anthropomorphize something that is in active dialogue with me. Knowing that it's transactional in the same way that a friendly barista is transactional is my point.

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  • Noodlemaznoodlemaz@mstdn.games
    Oct 14, 2026, 2:07 PM

    @geichel @msbellows well, anthropomorphising stuff isn't what makes a sociopath (or someone with antisocial personality disorder). That's human brains. Sociopathy/APD is aberrant in the lacking of certain emotions and human connection, often making people exceptionally manipulative. Seeing people where there aren't people just isn't that. Pareidolia and tendency to anthropormorphise is stuff all people do.
    Lacking empathy and other emotions is not.

    We're talking about the idea that machines could be people, and whether people who don't see *other people* as people might be more likely to think that's a possibility or real now.
    psychologytoday.com/us/basics/

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  • Yakyu Night OwlYakyuNightOwl@mastodon.world
    Oct 14, 2026, 3:06 PM

    @msbellows My friend had an old VW bus. It was balky in the cold, so we learned to sing "Start Me Up" by the Stones while cranking for the best chance of success.

    Did the old kombi hear the song and feel motivated in their soul? Or was our ritual simply filling enough time to let the starter do the job?

    I'm all for noticing magic, but it always involves living things. Everything else is sparkling coincidences.

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