Re: Ansible 455 -- June 2025

On 5/31/25 10:33 AM, Keith F. Lynch wrote:

Gary McGath <garym@mcgath.com> wrote:

David Langford wrote:

... the prompt fed to ChatGPT began:  'Using the list of names
provided, please evaluate each person for scandals.  Scandals
include but are not limited to homophobia, transphobia, racism,
harassment, sexual misconduct, sexism, fraud.'

 

Considering that most of the terms in the list are routinely used to
smear people, the chances of the query returning trustworthy results
are extremely close to zero.

 I'm surprised they didn't ask if they had a reputation as Nazis.
That's the most common random accusation.
 I was once asked about my opinion on public restrooms.  I said I
didn't care who uses the men's room as long as they don't interfere
with my use of it.  And as for the women's room, I didn't feel I
have standing to have an opinion on that.  So of course I now have
a reputation as a transphobe, since that was the wrong answer.
 Is there any point in even trying to be politically correct?  The new
unofficial motto seems to be Cardinal Richelieu's "Give me six lines
by the best of men, and I will find in it something to hang him."
No wonder Trump got elected.

I am reminded of one of the many truly excellent speeches in A CASE OF
LIBEL (script by Henry Denker):
"You do not want to be called onto the witness stand to defend your
character.  A good lawyer could destroy the character of Jesus Christ
Himelf.  'Mr. Christ, isn't it true that you are frequently seen in the
company of known prostitutes and criminals?  And haven't you often been
seen drinking?  Oh, only wine?  And only at weddings?  And didn't you
cause a riot in the Temple, destroying the property of law-abiding
merchants?'  If He fares that way, how do you think you'll do?"
--
Evelyn C. Leeper, http://leepers.us/evelyn
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a
child, I thought as a child: and when I was a man I decided
how foolish it would be to give all that up." --Mark R. Leeper