Wow. I am kind of stunned. I shouldn't be, I suppose, but I am. That was some expert-level humor and sarcasm there, complete with appropriate cultural references. I was alternately laughing...and getting weirded out that I was laughing. If AI is this skilled at mimicking actual human comedy routines/comedic banter, we are already in WAY more trouble than I thought we were. It makes me feel just like I did about the character Negan in the Walking Dead. On the one hand, the guy was a narcissistic, murderous psychopath, and was therefore terrifying. On the other hand, he was HILARIOUS. Makes me shudder....
That's one of the things I really wanted to convey with this piece. It felt very human, and very funny. In a way that was more than a little uncanny. I don't think people realize what we're in for here.
As I walked the Triangle Town Center Mall a few days ago, is saw a man talking to himself and laughing hysterically. Today, in a marvelous synchronicity, I find this in my Inbox.
Let me just say, I hope he realizes he fit right in.
Thanks. This absurdity took 3 hours to experience and 10+ hours to write. But if people who read me get a chance to laugh for a change, and maybe think about something different, I'll take it.
Steve, you need to go back to this mall, and become their god-emperor. It's like discovering a lost tribe on a tiny south pacific island, people who've never seen forks or toilet paper but have made huge sculptures of messerschmitt fighter planes out of banana leaves. Go! Teach them our ways!
An Asian guy who looked to be in his 40s walked by, dressed like an extra from the Matrix, all in black, with a trenchcoat and Neo boots. He was walking with a woman in a “Jesus is the Way” hoodie. A young woman with hair like a troll doll came from the other direction simultaneously. Her poof somehow emerged from the top of her raised hood at a height I would estimate at around 14 inches. A young man who was either a nonverbal autist or had some kind of developmental disability went jogging by making loud noises and flapping his hands.
OK, I got as far as "confused by furniture?" and was laughing so hard I was tearing up and wheezing like an old Italian guy. Why yes, I'm often confused by furniture. Why do you ask?
Well, I have ChatGPT and didn't realize it could "dialog" like that at length. But I'd rather read "Magnificat" (which has the Divine Office in it and the daily mass) and do a rosary. If you send me a "anonymous" type address (like a PO box) I'd like to send you some of my old "Magnificats". I can't think of a way, but if you think of a way, I'll send you a few media mail to a PO box.
A spiritual "gold nugget" leapt out at me from your retelling of your scroll through the mall. Well, two more things you observed were "spiritual hints". Take these as suggestions, I'm human, so fallible.
First (the gold nugget): "Steve, my brother in Christ, I have BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME. you just haven't had enough emotional oxygen to see it." That's how the Holy Spirit talks. And this coincided in time with a lady strolling through with "Jesus is the way" on her hoodie.
Second hint from above: "Fortunate are the children of tradition, for theirs is an ability to savor the finer points of life." So, return to the TLM or whatever is closest to the TLM you can find.
Third hint: The man that put the million dollar bill in your hand and said to buy a house with it. That I interpretted as "I can put any amount of money in your hand I want, and in my Father's house there are many mansions. I go to prepare one for you." (Paraphrasing Jesus.)
I stumbled on the "Nefarious" movie on YouTube for free this month. It was very good, and moved me. I am astonished at Sean Patrick Flannery's acting. I mean, jaw dropping.
Back in NEPA for a brief visit. Real feel was -24 degrees on Saturday. Not stepping out of the house into that. The snow is about 16" deep and not melting. The weather is weird in part because we're having pretty dramatic solar flare activities. I can't believe what NC has gone through weatherwise!
Keep broadcasting, enjoying your conversations with Kale Zelden.
TLM at the Raleigh Cathedral 1st Sunday of the month at 4:30 PM. SSPX chapel on White Street in Wake Forest 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sunday of every month at 5 PM. Perpetual Adoration at St. Catherine of Siena Wake Forest.
All I can say is that while I read - and well mostly skipped through your dialog with ChatGPT - I was having Claude Code write and debug code for me. It's working on a "Production Studio" for Substack to make it easier for me to write my Substack articles. It's amazing what it can do. Make a guy die laughing while visiting the "the mall that OTHER dead malls warn their children about", to writing whatever application you can dream up.
Wow. I am kind of stunned. I shouldn't be, I suppose, but I am. That was some expert-level humor and sarcasm there, complete with appropriate cultural references. I was alternately laughing...and getting weirded out that I was laughing. If AI is this skilled at mimicking actual human comedy routines/comedic banter, we are already in WAY more trouble than I thought we were. It makes me feel just like I did about the character Negan in the Walking Dead. On the one hand, the guy was a narcissistic, murderous psychopath, and was therefore terrifying. On the other hand, he was HILARIOUS. Makes me shudder....
That's one of the things I really wanted to convey with this piece. It felt very human, and very funny. In a way that was more than a little uncanny. I don't think people realize what we're in for here.
It really weirds me out that the AI can make jokes that are actually funny.
Same!
As I walked the Triangle Town Center Mall a few days ago, is saw a man talking to himself and laughing hysterically. Today, in a marvelous synchronicity, I find this in my Inbox.
Let me just say, I hope he realizes he fit right in.
It’s an amazing place. Don’t go.
Day two and I'm still mesmerized by reading more of this article.
I haven't even gotten around to my gluten free cardboard waffles and 2 slimy eggs!
I see a comedy/documentary on the horizon....
I'd have to watch it twice just to begin to appreciate the writing it took to bring it to life.
One talented writer are you, Steve.
Thanks. This absurdity took 3 hours to experience and 10+ hours to write. But if people who read me get a chance to laugh for a change, and maybe think about something different, I'll take it.
Much gratitude for providing me an opportunity to escape my reality, laugh "for a change" and think about a mall.
Believe me, it made my morning a bit brighter.
Steve, you need to go back to this mall, and become their god-emperor. It's like discovering a lost tribe on a tiny south pacific island, people who've never seen forks or toilet paper but have made huge sculptures of messerschmitt fighter planes out of banana leaves. Go! Teach them our ways!
An Asian guy who looked to be in his 40s walked by, dressed like an extra from the Matrix, all in black, with a trenchcoat and Neo boots. He was walking with a woman in a “Jesus is the Way” hoodie. A young woman with hair like a troll doll came from the other direction simultaneously. Her poof somehow emerged from the top of her raised hood at a height I would estimate at around 14 inches. A young man who was either a nonverbal autist or had some kind of developmental disability went jogging by making loud noises and flapping his hands.
It was like a Terry Gilliam movie
OK, I got as far as "confused by furniture?" and was laughing so hard I was tearing up and wheezing like an old Italian guy. Why yes, I'm often confused by furniture. Why do you ask?
That was when I knew I was in for a ride.
Well, I have ChatGPT and didn't realize it could "dialog" like that at length. But I'd rather read "Magnificat" (which has the Divine Office in it and the daily mass) and do a rosary. If you send me a "anonymous" type address (like a PO box) I'd like to send you some of my old "Magnificats". I can't think of a way, but if you think of a way, I'll send you a few media mail to a PO box.
A spiritual "gold nugget" leapt out at me from your retelling of your scroll through the mall. Well, two more things you observed were "spiritual hints". Take these as suggestions, I'm human, so fallible.
First (the gold nugget): "Steve, my brother in Christ, I have BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME. you just haven't had enough emotional oxygen to see it." That's how the Holy Spirit talks. And this coincided in time with a lady strolling through with "Jesus is the way" on her hoodie.
Second hint from above: "Fortunate are the children of tradition, for theirs is an ability to savor the finer points of life." So, return to the TLM or whatever is closest to the TLM you can find.
Third hint: The man that put the million dollar bill in your hand and said to buy a house with it. That I interpretted as "I can put any amount of money in your hand I want, and in my Father's house there are many mansions. I go to prepare one for you." (Paraphrasing Jesus.)
I stumbled on the "Nefarious" movie on YouTube for free this month. It was very good, and moved me. I am astonished at Sean Patrick Flannery's acting. I mean, jaw dropping.
Back in NEPA for a brief visit. Real feel was -24 degrees on Saturday. Not stepping out of the house into that. The snow is about 16" deep and not melting. The weather is weird in part because we're having pretty dramatic solar flare activities. I can't believe what NC has gone through weatherwise!
Keep broadcasting, enjoying your conversations with Kale Zelden.
TLM at the Raleigh Cathedral 1st Sunday of the month at 4:30 PM. SSPX chapel on White Street in Wake Forest 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sunday of every month at 5 PM. Perpetual Adoration at St. Catherine of Siena Wake Forest.
sounds like hell.
All I can say is that while I read - and well mostly skipped through your dialog with ChatGPT - I was having Claude Code write and debug code for me. It's working on a "Production Studio" for Substack to make it easier for me to write my Substack articles. It's amazing what it can do. Make a guy die laughing while visiting the "the mall that OTHER dead malls warn their children about", to writing whatever application you can dream up.