Emotional yet Rational
When reading Chapter 9 of Fogg’s Persuasive Technology, the idea of an ethical issue arising because of computers’ lack of emotions struck me as odd. I completely agree with Fogg that we are “emotional beings.” However, I feel that we are also, for the most part, rational and logical beings. Thus, are we really at a disadvantage to a piece of machinery? Do we really “expect ethical persuasion to include elements of empathy and reciprocity” when coming from a computer?
6 Comments:
I think we understand that people make computers, and feel that computers should work in our world, not the other way around.
This makes me think of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey who took on too many human traits for his own good. Have we gone too far in making objects too human? I'm curious to know if people talk to their computers like they do plants...
I think Fogg’s book is great, but I didn’t agree with his six points to evaluate ethics of persuasive technology. I just wrote a post on this as well.
I think that trying to understand the nature of technology in order to understand its ethical implications are the wrong way to go. We must always hold the owner of the content accountable. Fogg’s six points are certainly valuable information, but I don’t believe they are the foundation for evaluating ethics of persuasive technology.
I also think you posed a great question – do we really expect emotion to come from the computer? I personally don’t think so. If there’s any content that the computer allows you to access that has a great deal of emotional appeal, then that is coming from the author, not the computer!
Well, has it come to this? I mean, do people really believe that computers think. I don't even believe the author believes his own words. If he has an emotional connection with his computer, well what can I say.
Computers, in a sense, are rational. They make decisions based on weighing the positives and negatives. However, there is no way that a computer could show empathy or reciprocity on its own.
Only in the "world of education" does one have the time to even discuss such topics... the real world is made up of PEOPLE building relationships with other PEOPLE... not with computers and machines... at least I hope not. Next thing you know the ACLU will be filing a law suit to protect the rigths of Bill and Susie DELL...why even the great state of Mass. can open the door for them to get "hitched" and have some little DELLS. Let's hear it for common sense!!!!!
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