5 ms·

The name “mechanical turk” comes from a fake chess-playing machine that hid a person inside of it, whom actually operated said machine. So I think the name is q

The name “mechanical turk” comes from a fake chess-playing machine that hid a person inside of it, whom actually operated said machine. So I think the name is quite appropriate for this service. Anyway, I don’t like that service either. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_Turk https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_Turk

klyrs 5y ago
I think GP knows that. The name is uncomfortable and it's honest. Which... kinda says something about the people using it for scientific research.
- asciident 5y ago
  What does it say about people using it for research?
- 01acheru 5y ago
  Why would it be uncomfortable? Those hidden inside the (original) machine were not exploited by the machine owner edit: I see that wearywanderer explained what I mean as a sibling, that’s why I think GP didn’t get precisely what the MT was and how it was operated
  - webmaven 5y ago
    > Why would it be uncomfortable? Those hidden inside the (original) machine were not exploited by the machine owner Do you have a source for that assertion? As far as I can tell, several of the chess players known to have operated the Turk had substance abuse (chiefly alcoholism), health, and money problems (the words 'debt', 'penniless', and 'destitute' come up a few times). While not proof of abuse, it does suggest a strategy of recruiting the vulnerable.
    - 01acheru 5y ago
      In late 1700 and early 1800 Europe being a heavy drinker, having some kind of health issue and/or being penniless were the norm for most of the population. If performing a task because of those issues means being exploited then we must assume that almost everyone in Europe at those times were exploited in one way or another. I understand what you mean if we judge it from modern western standards, but I don’t agree if we judge it by the standards of that era. It’s all a matter of context IMHO.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]

klyrs 5y ago

I think GP knows that. The name is uncomfortable and it's honest. Which... kinda says something about the people using it for scientific research.

asciident 5y ago
What does it say about people using it for research?
01acheru 5y ago
Why would it be uncomfortable? Those hidden inside the (original) machine were not exploited by the machine owner edit: I see that wearywanderer explained what I mean as a sibling, that’s why I think GP didn’t get precisely what the MT was and how it was operated
- webmaven 5y ago
  > Why would it be uncomfortable? Those hidden inside the (original) machine were not exploited by the machine owner Do you have a source for that assertion? As far as I can tell, several of the chess players known to have operated the Turk had substance abuse (chiefly alcoholism), health, and money problems (the words 'debt', 'penniless', and 'destitute' come up a few times). While not proof of abuse, it does suggest a strategy of recruiting the vulnerable.
  - 01acheru 5y ago
    In late 1700 and early 1800 Europe being a heavy drinker, having some kind of health issue and/or being penniless were the norm for most of the population. If performing a task because of those issues means being exploited then we must assume that almost everyone in Europe at those times were exploited in one way or another. I understand what you mean if we judge it from modern western standards, but I don’t agree if we judge it by the standards of that era. It’s all a matter of context IMHO.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]