A Very Absurd Debate

The class debate was this; Why or why not was Ash creepy to you?

This is a hypothetical conversation held by two people named Extremely Confused Self and Unconfused Self. Unconfused self represents my rationalization of the arguments being presented, and Extremely Confused Self represents the arguments that sprung to mind while developing an opinion on Ash’s technology.

This conversation starts after Dr Johnson argues that Ash was only weird because we are not used to him yet.

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“Professor Johnson has a point, " Unconfused Self Started. " Why is it that connect with our loved ones would be ostracized  as though it were more unnatural than say … using still photographs and or voice messages to connect with our dead loved ones? 

Extremely Confused Self responded, “Well it’s because Ash the ugly robot thing was right there in her face which makes him a bid absurd don’t you think?”

Unconfused Self paused for a moment to ponder this statement before replying.

“First of all, Ash was quite handsome for a replica. Secondly, I believe it to be of human kind’s dearest interest, to rid ourselves of this tendency to put things up in the attic (pun ) for being “absurd”. 

Extremely Confused Self fell silent while Unconfused Self launched into yet another tangent.

 “The word absurd is defined as having no rational or orderly relationship to human life.  

I would like to point out that Ash technically fit into this category. He was rational in the sense that his presence could be explained or reasoned to another human being, which we began to see towards the end as Ash was introduced to the daughter. One could assume that this is because his technology was becoming accepted in the society.

One might also argue that Ash’s technology was still not “ rational “ because he was not accepted. The main character DID hide him in the attic instead of displaying him in her window like a Christmas tree, and it is somewhat implied that he is still taboo, despite the daughter's limited access to him. 

Although that is a fair point, I encourage those who take that argument to ask yourself, is every thing that is rational displayed ?  Are new ideas always seen as rational at first before they prove themselves to be quite the opposite?

Think about the laws of gravity. At the time I am sure that Newton’s ideas were seen as “absurd “, and certainly no one who may have slightly agreed with him was shouting their allegiance with him from the rooftops. It is the same with 3d technology, if not worse. Physical manifestations of ideas ( aka technology ) are harder to integrate into the world’s laws of what is rational and what is not due to the time it takes to test and assess results and testimonies of the targeted manifestation. The title of absurdity or weirdness is not given to its true heir, but rather to anything that has not yet been introduced or is not yet understood. And furthermore… “

Extremely Confused Self interjected , “No ! Ash was absurd because he WAS truly irrational. How can a robot meant to imitate the dead be rational at all ? “

Unconfused Self asked, “Imitation is not irrational, as long as it is stated clearly that it is in fact just that ... an imitation. Ash’s robot was very open about his true nature , and never tried to trick the main character into believing he was anything other than what he was. "

“ Well what about that time he started crying on top of the cliff?”

“ You can’t really consider that as an unclear imitation. He only showed that much emotion because his activator told him that he was being unlike Ash,” was the reply. 

“ So that mans he faked it ! “

“ No that means that he obediently served his purpose. Her response to him does not change his rationality, it only intensifies the story line.

 Also , how is a machine that is meant to imitate the living any more rational? Is that idea not WORSE if anything since they will inevitably replace our drive to perform our natural abilities? … “ Unconfused Self concluded.

“ That is actually a good question …” Extremely Confused Self agreed.