When We're Rollin Through the Wild Wild West

[geonomy]

Who: Everyone! EVERYONE!
Broadcast: IF YOU WANNA
Action: Everywhere! EVERYWHERE!
When: Mid-September - Mid-October

[How's your ship doing, pardners? Is it still pretty damaged? Is it glitching out hardcore? Well, there is one place to land to take care of all that, and that's on a dusty old moon in front of a planet that no one wants to go to. On this moon, you'll find a civilization that looks a lot like one's stepped into a wild west movie, hardened cowpolk and mutant horses and all. Will you become a vigilante, hunting bounties and stopping gangs from doing their dirty work? Will you go exploring planetside, with a cowboy hat and a stalk of wheat in your mouth to complete the look? Good luck with that; there is no wheat. This town ain't big enough for all you flooters, but make it so! For the ratings!

In other words, it's a planet mingle! Get 'er done!]

[September Planet info here]

Comments

[thezerothlaw]

Then perhaps I'm not sufficient for your purposes.

[Seriously, no offence taken if so.]

[unfulfilledpotential]

[Headtilt.]

Why? You're a person to me. A person-shaped robot, but... still a person.

[thezerothlaw]

[Ah. He's confused now. This is getting into philosophical territory.]

As you wish, then. I admit that's not the sort of opinion I'm used to encountering, though it is more common lately.

[unfulfilledpotential]

[The confusion is very, very mutual.]

Really? I mean, if it's common to have robots, I guess they'd separate you from humans, but... you can think for yourself, and you're not trying to kill me, so that's enough for me.

[thezerothlaw]

I could not harm you.

[He's shocked, or at least as close to shocked as he can be.]

The First Rule of Robotics states that a robot must not harm a human, nor through inaction allow a human to come to harm.

[unfulfilledpotential]

[Now that causes Shawn to laugh, not maliciously but out of surprise.]

There's a whole rulebook for you guys? What other stuff's in there?

[thezerothlaw]

I'm not certain it is an entire book, but they do govern my behaviour. The Second Law states that a robot must obey a human, except where doing so comes into conflict with the First Law. The Third Law states that a robot must protect its own existence, except where doing so comes into conflict with the First and Second Law. That is all of them.

[unfulfilledpotential]

[He's not going to insult the rules from someone's world, he's not going to insult...]

Okay, as far as I'm concerned? You don't have to obey the rest of us humans. So if you don't want to do this photoshoot-thing, you let me know, and we'll head back to town.

[thezerothlaw]

[Well, that gets a curious tilt of his head.]

The Laws are inviolate. But in this case, why should I not want to participate in this? It pleases you, after all.

[unfulfilledpotential]

Well, yeah, it makes me happy... but does it make you happy, man? Most people kinda shy away from the camera.

[thezerothlaw]

[That's such a hard question.]

It... it pleases me to know that I am pleasing you. I do not mind being the subject of photography, but neither does it itself cause me pleasure. However, if photography causes you pleasure, and I can help with that, then this is something of value, and my response is at least analogous to what you think of as pleasure. Do you understand?

[unfulfilledpotential]

Ugh, you're serious...

[Shawn groans, tempted to run a hand down his face. He actually likes philosophy a lot, but today wasn't exactly his day for a deep conversation.]

Okay, so it doesn't cause you pleasure, but does it make you mad? Or angry? Or anything unpleasant? Because if it does, then that won't please me.

[thezerothlaw]

It does not.

[Really. Truly. This is a robot who is utterly in earnest.]

You cannot harm me with photography. While there are certainly positronic responses that are unpleasant, none of them are analogous to anger. Pain, perhaps, or discomfort. They are not applicable here.

[unfulfilledpotential]

[Shawn gives him a thoroughly befuddled look, before he glances down at his camera and then at Daneel again.]

If you're sure, man. I guess I can't say no with that kind of logic.

[Even if he doesn't GET half of what just happened.]

[thezerothlaw]

I am sure.

[It's okay if he doesn't understand. Most humans who aren't roboticists don't understand.]

What would you like to take pictures of?

[unfulfilledpotential]

Not sure. See, I take pictures to remind myself of all the stuff I've seen, and the people I've met, and now the places we visit.

There's no "real goal," you know? Just pictures to remember everything by.