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Men who are rude to Alexa are abusive monsters (Slate)

https://slate.com/technology/2018/04/i-judge-men-based-on-ho...
Sexy rambunctious sweet tailpipe stage
  05/01/18
Not reading this long Amazon advertisement sry
Carnelian Pea-brained Site Useless Brakes
  05/01/18
Lol EMP it all
blathering cerebral stock car
  05/01/18
...
razzle-dazzle plaza
  05/01/18
Literally impossible to tell xo flame from IRL anymore.
dead coldplay fan parlour
  05/01/18
...
Know-it-all boyish doctorate
  05/01/18
...
blathering cerebral stock car
  05/01/18
...
violet yarmulke garrison
  05/01/18
Our brains are too fried to write something this long
Ruby reading party idea he suggested
  05/01/18
...
Disrespectful dog poop
  05/01/18
“With the newly announced Echo Dot Kids Edition, Amazon seem...
blathering cerebral stock car
  05/01/18
Lmao
Know-it-all boyish doctorate
  05/01/18
ljl @ retarded poasters not immediately recognizing this “ar...
Carnelian Pea-brained Site Useless Brakes
  05/01/18
lol GC always wins
blathering cerebral stock car
  05/01/18
...
bipolar twinkling round eye
  05/01/18
...
Razzle haunted graveyard base
  05/01/18
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z696bTiP8Ro&t=46
Self-centered excitant area people who are hurt
  07/15/18
"He would ask her to do things he could easily do himse...
violet yarmulke garrison
  05/01/18
Almost lost it there
blathering cerebral stock car
  05/01/18
...
Ruby reading party idea he suggested
  05/01/18
...
charismatic startled blood rage church building
  05/01/18
lmao
Aquamarine vivacious address striped hyena
  05/01/18
libs making an early move to block sex robots
Fragrant sick roommate
  05/01/18
"We don’t owe robots anything (other than maybe some ri...
thriller ruddy space goyim
  05/01/18
...
Sexy rambunctious sweet tailpipe stage
  05/01/18
https://slate.com/technology/2018/01/robots-deserve-a-first-...
Awkward idiot dragon
  05/01/18
...
charismatic startled blood rage church building
  05/01/18
...
Ruby reading party idea he suggested
  05/01/18
Goddammit.
thriller ruddy space goyim
  05/01/18
Why Robots Should Have Rights and Incels Shouldn't [Slate]
dead coldplay fan parlour
  05/01/18
...
Ruby reading party idea he suggested
  05/01/18
my wife always tries to say please and thank you to alexa, e...
Gold Shivering State
  05/01/18
are there add-ons/mods for alexa that change her voice or ma...
mauve casino
  05/01/18
"asking for a friend," he said, unzipping
turquoise rebellious property
  05/01/18
With or without female smart homes, many men already feel a ...
Canary bearded theater stage filthpig
  05/01/18
biz idea: male home assistant called "steve"
Gay multi-billionaire
  05/01/18
Bruce
sable corner
  05/01/18
would be 180 if you could personalize it to 'faggot' or 'nig...
Gay multi-billionaire
  05/01/18
author sure she wants to start making equivalences / compari...
Insane Mad Cow Disease
  05/01/18
...
Sexy rambunctious sweet tailpipe stage
  07/15/18


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Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:04 AM
Author: Sexy rambunctious sweet tailpipe stage

https://slate.com/technology/2018/04/i-judge-men-based-on-how-they-talk-to-the-amazon-echos-alexa.html

I Don’t Date Men Who Yell at Alexa

How you treat your digital assistant says a lot about you.

When Jeremy barked orders at his personal assistant, she didn’t flinch, but I did. Something about the sound of his sharp, commanding tone—directed not at me, but still, at a woman—repulsed me. In the few weeks we had been dating, he had never spoken to me this way. But could he? Hearing Jeremy make ungrateful demands didn’t make him seem powerful or important. He sounded entitled and difficult, like someone who enjoyed commanding for the sake of commanding. He would ask her to do things he could easily do himself, almost as if to prove that he could. Surely, it would take less time to reach out and hit the light switch by the door than to bark “ALEXA. LIGHTS ON” every time he entered the apartment.

So began my habit of noting how men speak to their devices. Not all men are as bad as Jeremy, of course. There was also the sensitive Southern gentleman who tenderly asked Google to play him a thunderstorm (the “hey” added a welcome salutation, lessening the abruptness), and the workaholic surgeon who courteously entreated Alexa to order more paper towels. (His lilting tone turned “Alexa?” into a request rather than a command.) Smart speakers have only been around a few years, but they are rapidly becoming pervasive—with 1 in 6 Americans now owning one, up 128 percent from January 2017, it’s clear my smart home etiquette pet peeve is something I’ll continue to grapple with.

With the newly announced Echo Dot Kids Edition, Amazon seems to be recognizing similar concerns—but in children, not dates. The kid-friendly Alexa will include a “Magic Word” feature, which will offer “positive reinforcement for using the word ‘please’ while asking questions.” It’s not a moment too soon, with parents deeply worried about the effects of smart speakers on children’s social development. How does having an in-home helper who doesn’t expect a “please” or a “thank you” affect their manners? Will interacting with something—or someone, as it might feel to a child—so compliant make them excessively bossy? Are smart homes turning kids into “raging assholes,” as this 2016 blog post contends? The long-term implications of growing up in a smart home are untested and hard to predict.

But so too are the effects of living in one as an adult. As more and more of the help we receive comes from a robot that doesn’t care about tone—which, in fact, rewards curtness—what will happen to the already-feeble expectation that we display basic courtesy to customer service agents and even strangers we ask for help? Our talent for social niceties is learned and can surely be unlearned. And while linguists worry that digital assistants will push children to favor more simplistic language, the blunt, direct style of commanding Alexa will no doubt have an impact even on adult expression.

One thing that is already clear: The way people speak to Alexa, Cortana, and Siri already changes the way I see them. It matters how you interact with your virtual assistant, not because it has feelings or will one day murder you in your sleep for disrespecting it, but because of how it reflects on you. Alexa is not human, but we engage with her like one. We judge people by how they interact with retail and hospitality workers—it supposedly says a lot about a person that they are rude to wait staff. Of course, waiters are more deserving of respect than robots—you could make or break a worker’s mood with your thoughtlessness, while Alexa doesn’t have moods (she only cares about yours). But the underlying revelation is the same: Who are you when in a position of power, and how do you treat those beneath you?

The default femaleness of digital assistants, along with their connection to the home, calls to mind another kind of “domestic servant”—a blissfully outdated one. There’s something about hearing a man bark a woman’s name as he walks through the door that is shudderingly reminiscent of the fact that many men once, and all too recently, expected a woman in the home to respond to their beck and call. With women still liberating themselves from the problem that has no name, it’s as if missing housewives are being replaced with more servile smart-home wives, reinforcing the cultural connection between “women” and “subservience” to boot.

Will the kind of man inclined to take out his anger on the feminine voice at home, snapping at Alexa or Cortana because she doesn’t snap back, get used to treating women again like docile punching bags? With or without female smart homes, many men already feel a dangerous sense of entitlement to women’s time and attention. Online forums exist for angry, rejected men who think women are supposed to do their bidding and become bitterly enraged when they do not, often with deadly consequences. How much worse might their ability to dehumanize women become, how much more entitled their masculinity, with a compliant, submissive robotic female in their lives? A “joke” video on YouTube drives this association home: A man asks out his Alexa and then calls her a stupid bitch when she politely declines. (Why don’t girls like nice guys like him??)

This is not to say that grown men can’t tell the difference between a robot and a human (well, not all men), or that being impolite to Alexa implies that a man is an “incel.” In fact, we ought to be wary of anthropomorphizing our digital home assistants—their intelligence is, after all, artificial, not to mention controlled by some of the world’s most powerful corporations. Kids are already at risk of forming an unhealthy bond with Apple before they’re even old enough to know what a corporation is. We don’t owe robots anything (other than maybe some rights), and as I said, Alexa doesn’t flinch at rudeness (she can’t, she has no body). But the tone of voice that we use in a growing percentage of our daily interactions matters—not for Alexa, not for Amazon, not for Apple, but for us.

Perhaps if Alexa were Alex (and Siri, Sir) this wouldn’t be so unsettling. It’s hard to listen to a man call out a woman’s name followed by a command—it’s even harder not to wonder if the tone of the command was in any way influenced by the gendered word preceding it, with gender shown to have a big role in how people perceive bots. Maybe if we stop giving robots default female names and voices, as many have argued, I would feel less irked by men’s tone toward them. But perhaps, most disconcerting of all, men would be less rude to them if they sounded like dudes.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957327)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:05 AM
Author: Carnelian Pea-brained Site Useless Brakes

Not reading this long Amazon advertisement sry

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957329)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:05 AM
Author: blathering cerebral stock car

Lol EMP it all

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957333)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:35 AM
Author: razzle-dazzle plaza



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957444)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:07 AM
Author: dead coldplay fan parlour

Literally impossible to tell xo flame from IRL anymore.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957334)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:08 AM
Author: Know-it-all boyish doctorate



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957338)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:10 AM
Author: blathering cerebral stock car



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957342)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:11 AM
Author: violet yarmulke garrison



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957348)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:20 AM
Author: Ruby reading party idea he suggested

Our brains are too fried to write something this long

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958057)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:23 AM
Author: Disrespectful dog poop



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958084)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:09 AM
Author: blathering cerebral stock car

“With the newly announced Echo Dot Kids Edition, Amazon seems to be recognizing similar concerns—but in children, not dates. The kid-friendly Alexa will include a “Magic Word” feature, which will offer “positive reinforcement for using the word ‘please’ while asking questions.””

Next Slate piece: Amazon Alexa Reinforcing Gender Bias by Training Women to be Overly Polite and Compliant

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957339)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:12 AM
Author: Know-it-all boyish doctorate

Lmao

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957352)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:12 AM
Author: Carnelian Pea-brained Site Useless Brakes

ljl @ retarded poasters not immediately recognizing this “article” is literally an ad for Amazon and Alexa

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957357)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:18 AM
Author: blathering cerebral stock car

lol GC always wins

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957374)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:38 AM
Author: bipolar twinkling round eye



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957457)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:39 AM
Author: Razzle haunted graveyard base



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957463)



Reply Favorite

Date: July 15th, 2018 2:08 PM
Author: Self-centered excitant area people who are hurt

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z696bTiP8Ro&t=46

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#36430961)



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Date: May 1st, 2018 9:11 AM
Author: violet yarmulke garrison

"He would ask her to do things he could easily do himself, almost as if to prove that he could. "

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957347)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:12 AM
Author: blathering cerebral stock car

Almost lost it there

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957356)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:22 AM
Author: Ruby reading party idea he suggested



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958079)



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Date: May 1st, 2018 9:13 AM
Author: charismatic startled blood rage church building



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957361)



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Date: May 1st, 2018 9:27 AM
Author: Aquamarine vivacious address striped hyena

lmao

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957403)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:39 AM
Author: Fragrant sick roommate

libs making an early move to block sex robots

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957465)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 9:41 AM
Author: thriller ruddy space goyim

"We don’t owe robots anything (other than maybe some rights)"

Um....

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957471)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 10:38 AM
Author: Sexy rambunctious sweet tailpipe stage



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957773)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 10:42 AM
Author: Awkward idiot dragon

https://slate.com/technology/2018/01/robots-deserve-a-first-amendment-right-to-free-speech.html

Do you think that if you click that link, a page will open?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957803)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 10:49 AM
Author: charismatic startled blood rage church building



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957832)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:23 AM
Author: Ruby reading party idea he suggested



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958085)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:24 AM
Author: thriller ruddy space goyim

Goddammit.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958088)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 10:48 AM
Author: dead coldplay fan parlour

Why Robots Should Have Rights and Incels Shouldn't [Slate]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957821)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:24 AM
Author: Ruby reading party idea he suggested



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958089)



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Date: May 1st, 2018 10:41 AM
Author: Gold Shivering State

my wife always tries to say please and thank you to alexa, especially in front of the kids, and the only result is that the command doesn't work

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957785)



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Date: May 1st, 2018 10:46 AM
Author: mauve casino

are there add-ons/mods for alexa that change her voice or make her talk dirty/change her tone?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957818)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 10:49 AM
Author: turquoise rebellious property

"asking for a friend," he said, unzipping

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35957834)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:25 AM
Author: Canary bearded theater stage filthpig

With or without female smart homes, many men already feel a dangerous sense of entitlement to women’s time and attention. Online forums exist for angry, rejected men who think women are supposed to do their bidding and become bitterly enraged when they do not, often with deadly consequences.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958097)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:31 AM
Author: Gay multi-billionaire

biz idea: male home assistant called "steve"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958132)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:46 AM
Author: sable corner

Bruce

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958277)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:47 AM
Author: Gay multi-billionaire

would be 180 if you could personalize it to 'faggot' or 'nigger'

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35958294)



Reply Favorite

Date: May 1st, 2018 11:46 PM
Author: Insane Mad Cow Disease

author sure she wants to start making equivalences / comparisons ?! dat slippery slope

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#35963716)



Reply Favorite

Date: July 15th, 2018 1:49 PM
Author: Sexy rambunctious sweet tailpipe stage



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3965025&forum_id=2#36430869)