text

[makesitcool]

What a hectic week that was... I can scarcely remember most of it, but I had enough cognitive capacity left in me to understand that I had been changed into a Tangrowth and shifted priorities completely. Whatever may have come of that to produce negative results, I must apologize. Cress was rather... clingy.

Brushing that aside, may I bring up an issue that has been bothering me since the day it was instated? I understand the necessity of an alternate means of governance to suppress the riots, but surely there remains enough stability to call off martial law by now... I have been observing the news almost religiously, and the levels of mayhem have decreased significantly over time. Moreover, the robot force, while successful in getting the public dissonance to simmer down, appear to have unintentionally created side-effects. In times of crisis, it is natural for some freedoms to be limited by necessity, but some of them are completely arbitrary to keeping the public at rest and, as such, uncalled for. While efficient at taking commands and carrying through their duties without question, robots aren't the best at using discretion, I have come to find. All they can do is what has been programmed into them, so they fail to use their best judgment when apprehending people. It is as though they have no common sense. Arresting a man for honking at a non-human pedestrian for jaywalking? Detaining a girl for bringing unsealed food items into the city? Disallowing my brother and I to return home? Worse yet, injuring people over senseless law enforcement that shouldn't have anything to do with current tensions.

This is ludicrous. It's too much. It's stifling. The robots must go. I am fed up with living in fear. As a matter of fact, I am sorely tempted to hose down any and all mechanical menaces that so much as cross my path! Why should I let them have their way with me? At the very least... I, Cress, will request that they be removed from campus. I can't be the only one who feels this way.

Comments

MYSTERIOUS ANONYMOUS TEXT???

[testgasm]

yes but what about the ones who were here first and aren't bothering anybody and want to stay without fear of being attacked with a hose

that makes you just as bad doesn't it

what about them

WHOA AN ANGRY ANON (cress ain't anon)

[makesitcool]

It was a slight exaggeration. However, I don't see why I shouldn't have the right to defend myself in the case of robo-hostility. No one likes to be endangered, especially by unsympathetic machines.

[text]

[voltecpower]

Mister Cress, I'm glad to see that you are well, and that you are a human again. I apologize wholeheartedly for anything I might have done to frighten you while you were not a human, as well as for almost setting you on fire. That was an accident, entirely unintentional, and I am deeply sorry.

I have also noticed the complaints about Eggman's robots. While they have done a fair job at reducing the crime rate, they have also crossed the line rather frequently. I felt that it was a bad idea from the start, and now I remember why it is so. A simple AI such as an attack robot will eventually start redefining "crime" when the previous parameters of what it looks for as far as actual "crime" become absent. They will attempt to stop anything that even resembles a characteristic of assault, theft, and so on, until it is ordered to stop function altogether.

I don't have anything against robots in general, but I know from experience that robots can be terrible at law enforcement, unless they can receive direct, constant influence by human operators who can alter its justice matrices when necessary. As for the human in charge of these robots, I don't believe he is fit for the job. As far as I'm concerned, he and his robots are obsolete.

[That last word still felt extremely profane to him. He hated to use it, but he really couldn't think of a better term to describe someone who seriously needed to go.]

[text]

[makesitcool]

Why, thank you. I understand. None of us were in complete control of our bodies, so I hold nothing against your blunder. After all, Cress should apologize for whipping you like that. We can both forgive and forget our embarrassing moments.

A thoughtful and informative comment! I am aware that not all robots are the same, and as far as the robots I have encountered go, the ones on duty seem especially primitive and ill-suited for the job. Perhaps, if we are to push for any progress around here, we should confront him. Professor Eggman, was it?

[iamtheeggman]

If you have a PROBLEM with how my robots are performing, direct your complaints to the COMPLAINT BOX.

[The complaint box is a paper shredder with a label on it that reads "INSERT COMPLAINTS"]

[makesitcool]

How convenient. Cress will make sure it is filled to the brim, then.

[operatingbuddy]

Do not extend your distaste for Dr. Eggman's militia to a hatred for all robots.

[makesitcool]

Hatred is a powerful word to use. Perhaps 'apprehensive' would be a more suitable word for my tastes. At any rate, please do not classify my apprehension as indiscriminate.

[shyhacker]

I can't say I am in complete disagreement with you, but their programing- their AI is not sufficiently advance enough to know where discretion and limit lies.

If someone is to blame, I suppose the developers should be. I'm really sorry on their behalf.

[makesitcool]

Now, now. There is no reason for you to apologize for someone else's oversights. If he will not do something about these robots, then I don't intend to remain stagnant about my position. I simply think this robot rule has gone on long enough, so it's either he packs up and steps down or modifies their performance. I, Cress, vastly prefer the former.

[richasshole]

I completely agree.

[makesitcool]

I am glad you are in agreement. We must keep an eye out on the situation and stop it before it gets out of hand.

text

[superior_archer]

I think the fool is drunk with power. He is probably busy manipulating the leadership of this town to cause the remainder of us to feel oppressed and severely overruled, all to feed his obviously oversized ego.

text

[makesitcool]

It does worry me that he has such a widespread army of robots at his beck and call. He alone is calling the shots? That is too much power delegated to one man. Imagine what else he could do...

[monotreme_101]

Yeah, I agree with gettin' rid of this stupid Martial Law business. But be a little more careful with how you word this stuff. Not all robots are mindless or lackin' in common sense. Some robots are sentient with as much a right to be here as you or me.

Eggman's bots are called Badniks. When it comes to hosing down Badniks, I gotta agree with you.

[makesitcool]

Understood. However, the great majority of robots Cress has encountered don't lend themselves to that assessment... Whatever the case, it is nice to have a term to use so as not to confuse unaffiliated robots with "Badniks".

[text]

[itsjustrats]

funny thing about power: once somebody has it, they arent too keen on giving it up without something more than a sternly worded letter.

[text]

[makesitcool]

What I hope to achieve is rapport for my cause. One person alone may not be able to change the world if they are dissatisfied with it, but when banded together, many more channels of possibility open up. I wanted my voice to be heard.

[text] did someone say strong feelings about ai

[forgetbeam]

The ones on campus are not a menace.

[EXCEPT RICK]

[text]

[makesitcool]

Some of them, that much is true. However, I find them difficult to trust.

[text; private]

[makesithot]

Is anyone giving you too much crap about this?

[text; private]

[makesitcool]

Wheatley.

[text]

[icequeen_aran]

[She likes the cut of your jib, Cress.]

You aren't. I wouldn't trust Eggman and his drones as far as I could throw him.

...never mind that I could probably throw him really far if I wanted. I can't believe the mayor approved them at all to begin with. What a desperate, foolish notion.

[text]

[makesitcool]

From the sounds of it, few trust him. That is both a comforting and a fearful thought at the same time.

[text]

[explosion_day]

you know why you're living in fear?

cause you let yourself. you gotta man up and FACE THE FEAR. punch it in the face, take a bite outta it!!! for example you could punch wheatley. he's a robot. it's a lotta fun, i promise.

fair warning though, you try to pull a fast one on me and punch me in my face i will punch you right back. wouldn't recommend it unless you like fat lips and black eyes.

[text]

[makesitcool]

If punching your problems away counted as solving them, we wouldn't have any problems. If anything, it just creates even more.

text

[mohawk_tomahawk]

i cannot agree more in regards to martial law

i do not trust the doctor who initiated it.

text

[makesitcool]

I, Cress, have yet to see someone who does.

[will_be_god]

I as well seek to bring an end to this reign of tyranny. May I trust in your alliance?

[makesitcool]

You may. There is nothing I want more right now than to be rid of this rule of cold metal.