3 ms·

I don't need a computer to mimic a human. AT ALL As a matter of fact, for the line of work I do (programming, devops, the works) being conscious about the fact

by ericol 2mo ago

I don't need a computer to mimic a human. AT ALL As a matter of fact, for the line of work I do (programming, devops, the works) being conscious about the fact that I am just getting an algorithm outputting text that is probabilistically related to the input I gave it would actually be healthy for me and my mental state. I HATE having to say "you" when working with an LLM.

marcus_holmes 2mo ago
I have the same urge - third-person the LLM is an it, for sure, but I'm not aware of a suitable second-person construction for talking to things. Maybe we need to invent one.
- wpm 2mo ago
  When yelling at the other appliances I own, "you" usually turns into "you fucker" or "you useless piece of shit", so I stick with what I know. "Claude, you useless piece of shit, I already told you..."
  - marcus_holmes 2mo ago
    Always loved the tweet: "I don't know what machine they were raging against, but I'm pretty sure it was a printer" [paraphrased]. We could definitely update that. I'm Australian, so "oi cunt" works about as well as "you" for most things, though I'm not suggesting we adopt that formally.
    - ericol 2mo ago
      ok that cracked me. Could be worth of an update: I don't know what machine they were raging against, but I'm pretty sure it was an LLM
mmooss 2mo ago
Don't say 'you'? One solution is to use commands (imperatives), as you've always done with computers. For example, instead of 'you are an expert in Lisp', say 'function as an expert in Lisp.' Are there use cases where that isn't applicable.
- ericol 2mo ago
  I don't think that works at all times; actually I think it only works when starting a conversation. In the middle, "Why ~did you~ while action as an export in Lisp <this happened>?" needs a certain level of mind gynmastics that is not worth it. I'd rather curse at it.
  - mmooss 2mo ago
    I do wonder if there are circumstances where it doesn't work. But it's hard to believe I'm addressing basic syntax for computer commands on HN: 'Display the cause of the <this prior output>'. > needs a certain level of mind gynmastics that is not worth it. I'd rather curse at it. I guess I knew an LLM's natural language interface made it easier to use for non-technical users. But wow, it's been normalized so quickly. Now the universal old way, needed for every line of code and command line and more, is "mind gynmastics"? Inputting curses seems just odd to me, beyond the initial novelty. It's a distraction, completely unproductive, and sending emotion into a void. Anthropomorphisizing it seems dangerous personally and society-wide.

by ericol 2mo ago

marcus_holmes 2mo ago

I have the same urge - third-person the LLM is an it, for sure, but I'm not aware of a suitable second-person construction for talking to things. Maybe we need to invent one.

wpm 2mo ago
When yelling at the other appliances I own, "you" usually turns into "you fucker" or "you useless piece of shit", so I stick with what I know. "Claude, you useless piece of shit, I already told you..."
- marcus_holmes 2mo ago
  Always loved the tweet: "I don't know what machine they were raging against, but I'm pretty sure it was a printer" [paraphrased]. We could definitely update that. I'm Australian, so "oi cunt" works about as well as "you" for most things, though I'm not suggesting we adopt that formally.
  - ericol 2mo ago
    ok that cracked me. Could be worth of an update: I don't know what machine they were raging against, but I'm pretty sure it was an LLM

mmooss 2mo ago

Don't say 'you'? One solution is to use commands (imperatives), as you've always done with computers. For example, instead of 'you are an expert in Lisp', say 'function as an expert in Lisp.' Are there use cases where that isn't applicable.

ericol 2mo ago
I don't think that works at all times; actually I think it only works when starting a conversation. In the middle, "Why ~did you~ while action as an export in Lisp <this happened>?" needs a certain level of mind gynmastics that is not worth it. I'd rather curse at it.
- mmooss 2mo ago
  I do wonder if there are circumstances where it doesn't work. But it's hard to believe I'm addressing basic syntax for computer commands on HN: 'Display the cause of the <this prior output>'. > needs a certain level of mind gynmastics that is not worth it. I'd rather curse at it. I guess I knew an LLM's natural language interface made it easier to use for non-technical users. But wow, it's been normalized so quickly. Now the universal old way, needed for every line of code and command line and more, is "mind gynmastics"? Inputting curses seems just odd to me, beyond the initial novelty. It's a distraction, completely unproductive, and sending emotion into a void. Anthropomorphisizing it seems dangerous personally and society-wide.