Eugene Leitl wrote:
>
> J. R. Molloy writes:
>
> > In further support of your comments, I'd add that the "off switch" for an AI
> > could actually terminate or delete it. This means that it would be *much* easier
> > to control unruly AIs than to control human children, since we (unfortunately?)
> > can't actually terminate recalcitrant or sociopathic (i.e., unfriendly) human
> > children.
>
> I like children, but sometimes watching a sick (and cranky) 1.5 year
> old for 5 hours straight did make me sometimes wish for a
> suspend/resume button.
>
> Children are surprisingly efficient disruptors of mental processes
> (well, perhaps less surprising, since being information vampires). It
> is perhaps not so hard for parents, who are flooded with endogenous
> euphorica, since smitten with their offspring, but that couple did
> complain a bit.
>
> In absence of suspend/resume, are there any kid rentals out there? ;)
Thats what neices and nephews are for (or aunts and uncles). I love to hang out
with my nephew, and he knows he can't pull the kind of crap with me he normally
gets away with elsewhere. When he puts on one of his acts (pouting, screaming,
crying, whining) I applaud and cheer mightily, complimenting him on his
performance, that I almost even believed him for a second. I then go into a
'Oscar night' speech ("I'd like to thank my director, my agent, etc....") if
warranted. If he falls, I'll help him up, but if he looks at me on the verge of
tears, I say, 'you're alright', and he doesn't go into the little dramatization
that he typically uses to get attention from his mother...
Mike
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