Questioning Ethics, Lies, Morals, Rules, and A.I.

 

“Before we work on artificial intelligence why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”

-- Steve Polyak

What is the relationship between resource loss, resource gains, and job satisfaction during Covid-19?

Bad, but all things being equal, not as bad as it’s been during the reign of Biden. Recovering from Covid would have happened in short order. Recovering from what Biden is doing to us will have economical consequences that might stretch on for years, if not lifetimes.

Why does your boss often give you more salary than you should get?

She wanted me, and I was constantly weak?

What is loyalty, and why is it important?

It is a moral ethic. If you cannot be loyal, you have a moral prerogative to be honest (another moral ethic) and to step away from whatever you pledged loyalty to. To do anything else would be lying by omission, and, at this point, you become a disloyal lying traitor with no ethics you can speak to… honestly.

Why would a grown man randomly start squeezing a teen boy's bicep while talking to his parents about something irrelevant?

Why would a parent not question it?

What is your opinion on the phrase "you can't change people"?

Most people have no idea they're being manipulated. Even blatant manipulation escapes them. If they can be manipulated, they can be changed. You just have to work on the weak mind.

What is the feeling when everything seems right?

Elation?

How do I develop the community into a sustainable area for all the vulnerable people?

You have to convince the community by bringing them into the process.

Which people are the most deceptive?

Liars. Is this a trick question, or did I not understand it? 

Can one become less wise over time? Aging is generally thought to add wisdom.

Yes, but living life over time, is a good key to wisdom. If you don’t live life, you learn very little about the ways of life. Sitting at home and vegetating is not conducive to creating wisdom.

Everyone has crazy ideas that sometimes you are afraid to share with others. What's the coolest idea you've had and would like to implement?

Develop an open-minded meditation/spiritual center, with a small auditorium, cafe’, and garden to walk through that has shaded contemplation areas and an 8-foot wall for privacy and noise abatement. Yeah, the recent $1 billion dollar lottery would have funded it. Oh well, better luck next time.

Reader comment:  Nah. You can take a trip to one for way less than that.

My reply:  Yeah, but there isn’t one locally, and if it’s fully funded the rest of the money would make it sustainable into the future.

“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.”

-- Robin Sharma

How many different doctors will you begin to see as you move into your sixties?

I’m almost 70, and I see a dentist, an optometrist, a chiropractor, a general practitioner, a urologist, and a gastroenterologist. I have had this list since I was in my late forties, and it has served me well.

Is an omission of a truth a lie?

It’s why they call it a “lie by omission.”

What causes some people to be afraid of failure and others not?

Failures and mistakes are opportunities life presents us so we can learn. Why fear something that life is teaching you so you can learn from it and move forward? Society has conditioned us to fear mistakes and failures, yet those who are successful in life see the lessons for what they are and have learned from them. We should all be more receptive to mistakes and failure, well, at least once. If you constantly make the same mistake or failure, there is a deeper problem.

Is the most valuable lesson learned from Hitler that an entire population can be easily mind controlled and not know it, and to always question WHY you're doing what you're doing instead of going along with status quo and collective expectations?

I think Joe Biden being voted in as President is evidence of this.

Life is so not fair sometimes! Y can't society treat me as the version of loony that I am instead of wanting me to be a dangerous paranoid loon? Has anyone considered I actually like the version of loon that I identify with best?

If you aren’t a “dangerous paranoid loon” then you should ignore the segment of society that considers you to be dangerous and paranoid and be the loony toon you choose to be. What you need to do is stay on this side of the law, however, and not give them a reason for “commitment” proceedings.

Which literary work can serve as an antidepressant for a reader?

“The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh” by A.A. Milne

If you are tasked with mentoring someone to become more compassionate, what would you teach him or her? How would you approach this with someone who finds this concept difficult to grasp?

I’d find something in their life that needs compassion and hammer home a non-compassionate attitude until they balk. When they balk is the time to explain how they felt while receiving no compassion. If they didn’t appreciate it, how do they think others would?

How do you deal with inconvenient market situations?

It is what it is. I don’t fret about those situations over which I have no control. The market will, more than likely, correct itself. It always does. Even Joe Biden can’t permanently screw this up. 

Why is it so hard for me to make a choice and stick to it?

You are what we used to call “wishy-washy.” You want this, but you also want that, and, God forbid, you might just want something else if someone offers it.

Why is it natural that people and governments lose interest in conflicts as they drag on?

It takes a toll on finances, the number of soldiers they can throw away, the amount of equipment they can produce, the interest of their population, and world sentiment. This is a primary reason governments form alliances. A “world war” where the lion’s share of everything benefits one side over the other, usually dictates the winner.

Concerning Ukraine:  

“It’s not that people really like what Putin does. No, but they feel frustration and depression because they cannot change anything. It’s like bad weather. They realize that it’s going to rain every day. But what can they do about it? The mood in Russia now is that ‘We want this to be over as soon as possible because we just can’t live like this any longer. We want to get back to normal life."

-- Fyodor Krasheninnikov

Will morals change?

The good ones or the bad ones? Probably not. There must be a balance of opposites - good and bad, light and dark, sweet and sour, or we forget there is another side. There will always be good and bad morals.

We might bend a “good” moral to meet societal expectations, and that bending might be seen by some as bad. The original moral is still good, but our interpretation is bad. This argument of good and bad is playing out with the abortion of human life; those who think it is fine to choose death, and those who think it is appalling not to choose life.

Once again, I find myself waiting the arrival of the League fo the Perpetually Offended.

Can other people's motivation affect your own?

Yes, if we’re working against each other toward the same goal.

Who agrees with me and my friend Mohammed when we say that your prime years are from 18 to 40 and after that are your wisdom years?

There are exceptions, but I can get on board with this.

Are programmers who engage in 'promiscuous mode' in their personal lives more effective than their conservative peers?

This doesn’t just hold true for programmers. I think everybody in “promiscuous mode” is more apt to be more effective than other people. Can you really call them your “peers” if they aren’t engaged in the “promiscuous mode”?

Why do you have no desire to be social?

Not.

Would you define kindness as altruistic, or is it fundamentally selfish?

If it is “altruistic” it can’t be seen as fundamentally selfish for the simple reason that altruism is defined as “the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.” It can’t be selfless and be seen as selfish. Just saying.

How do I evaluate an ethical dilemma?

Ask, why the dilemma is ethical. The reasons become, for the most part, the evaluation. 

Can we consciously control motivation?

Yes. We choose to be motivated or not. We choose what we want to be motivated for and we also choose why. If I am in a race, I am motivated to win. Why? Because it is a contest, and I am not motivated to lose. We can also be subconsciously motivated when it comes to an emergency or survival. There is a “knee jerk” reaction that kicks in.

What is a good question to ask and answer about yourself?

What is my opinion of “organized” religion?

Why should we refuse the ambition to become Hitler?

If you want to be responsible for the murder of 15,003,000 to 31,595,000 people in the world, it is a questionable ambition that will end in your eventual suicide. Vladimir Putin is currently dabbling with this notion, but, then, he is an idiot the Russians should do away with.

“Brutality is respected. Brutality and physical strength. The plain man in the street respects nothing but brutal strength and ruthlessness. Women too, for that matter, women and children. The people need wholesome fear. They want to fear something. They want someone to frighten them and make them shudderingly submissive.”

-- Adolf Hitler

Has anyone ever theorized an optimum ratio for being selfish vs. being selfless?

Is there an “optimum” ratio for anything that is wrong? There shouldn't be. It validates "wrong" as an option. It really isn't.  The optimum would be “0” over “100” in favor of good if anyone concerned with being “right” theorized it. How can anyone come up with an honest ratio of how much “selfishness” is acceptable for society? If we accept the theorized ratio, we have approved selfishness up to that point, but no further? I am not an advocate of approving selfishness for no good reason. 

Reader comment: Look at it this way: you could be 100% selfish or you could be 100% selfless. Neither extreme is optimal for you AND society. Is there a theoretical percentage that could be considered the ‘sweet spot between doing enough for yourself and doing enough for society?

My reply: Again, an “acceptable” amount of selfishness is approved of (I know I'm typing, but no one is reading). 

"Fear of failure leads to failure."? Can you justify it?

No, because it doesn’t always hold true. Fear of failure may make you work harder to mitigate that failure. 

Is worry necessary for success?

Worry keeps you checking to see that you haven’t wandered from the path to attain your goal. “Success” in life is making a conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, including attaining your goals, regardless of your circumstances.

How do I eliminate my desire for social interaction?

Become a member of the League of the Perpetually Offended and learn to hate everyone. Your desire for “social interaction” will be viewed as offensive.

What was easier at the age of 20 but difficult as you get old?

Getting up out of a low chair.

Are we obligated to return a favor?

Only by societal standards. But doing a “selfless” favor, by definition, requires no return of the favor in kind, and should not be expected.

Why isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery? How did you arrive at your conclusion?

If it is truly and purposely insulting to the target of the imitation.

Why do people value labor over ideas?

Ideas are pretty easy. Labor, on the other hand, usually requires, well, labor. People are willing to pay other people to do the labor for them. It’s an “idea” that saves them time and effort. 

What do successful people believe about failure?

It exists and they are constantly on the lookout for it. Being prepared can mitigate the effect.

What's a rule you strongly dislike?

Just because your car has a handicap indicator, anyone driving it can park in handicap parking. I dislike when rules allow abuse as much as I dislike those who feel they have the right to abuse.

I’m retired military, and I know vets who have the handicap indicator on their vehicles because they meet the VA "requirement." They meet it, but they don’t need it. They abuse a system struggling to support vets as it is. Again, rules are designed to be abused by people who love to abuse them.

I’m almost deaf in both ears, but I can still hear. I don’t use the VA medical care, and I don’t milk them for hearing aids. My hearing is so much less important than amputees who can’t get the quality care they really need from the government. Yeah, these rules really piss me off.

“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules.”

-- Banksy

What was easier at the age of 20 but more difficult than you at the age of 40?

Dating, though the quality of the women definitely went up a bunch, I think my quality didn’t really keep up until after 50 when I realized I’d not been paying attention. Divorce will clear your head a bit, and put you back on a good path.

Is “workaholism” widespread in the US?

No.

What would you do if you received a call from your future self?

I'd probably mess myself.

I'm thinking of becoming a "femcel" should I do it?

I had to look this one up. If you feel you meet the definition to become one, I suppose it is a matter of choice. As a choice, you have the right to change it if it doesn’t work out for you. For instance, many people have vowed celibacy only to change their minds when the right person came along.

Romantic relationships are now accepted between women, as is sex. The abuse can also be found in “same-sex” relationships. The definition provided by “TruFemcels” needs some work so they don’t sound like my favorite hate group, the League of the Perpetually Offended.

What happens when you don't make an effort at work?

You are the recipient of a “pink slip.”

What are the chances of success without hard work and luck?

Slim to none. Casinos make mega cash off of people relying on luck to attain their goals. Knowledge and hard work usually work out in the end. If you rely on luck you’ve already failed.

What do nice guys deserve?

Nice girls. Or, nice guys, depending on your preference. 

Does the internet make us more suspicious of each other? Why or why not?

Because we aren’t communicating face-to-face, there is no guarantee people are who they say they are. It is also much easier to lie when people can’t see your expression or your body language.

How easy is this? I once told a woman, over the phone, I could make her do anything. She balked at this so I hung up and looked at my watch. About 15 seconds later she called back and chewed me out for hanging up. I waited for her to finish then I said, “Made you call me back.” She hung up. Funny, I never heard from her again.

What will happen when AI meets morality?

Nothing, if AI is programmed appropriately.

What did S. Hawking mean by saying “AI’s impact could be cataclysmic” unless its rapid development is strictly and ethically controlled?

His concern was one Asimov had, as well:

“The Three Laws of Robotics (often shortened to The Three Laws or known as Asimov's Laws) are a set of rules devised by science fiction author Isaac Asimov. The rules were introduced in his 1942 short story "Runaround" (included in the 1950 collection I, Robot), although they had been foreshadowed in some earlier stories. The Three Laws, quoted from the "Handbook of Robotics, 56th Edition, 2058 A.D.", are:

First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

These form an organizing principle and unifying theme for Asimov's robotic-based fiction, appearing in his Robot series, the stories linked to it, and his Lucky Starr series of young-adult fiction. The Laws are incorporated into almost all of the positronic robots appearing in his fiction, and cannot be bypassed, being intended as a safety feature. Many of Asimov's robot-focused stories involve robots behaving in unusual and counter-intuitive ways as an unintended consequence of how the robot applies the Three Laws to the situation in which it finds itself. Other authors working in Asimov's fictional universe have adopted them and references, often parodic, appear throughout science fiction as well as in other genres.

The original laws have been altered and elaborated on by Asimov and other authors. Asimov himself made slight modifications to the first three in various books and short stories to further develop how robots would interact with humans and each other. In later fiction where robots had taken responsibility for government of whole planets and human civilizations, Asimov also added a fourth, or zeroth law, to precede the others:

Zeroth Law: A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

The Three Laws, and the zeroth, have pervaded science fiction and are referred to in many books, films, and other media. They have affected thought on ethics of artificial intelligence as well.”

-- Three Laws of Robotics

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com