XPost: alt.test.fest, rec.arts.sf.written, mn.humor   
   XPost: alt.humor   
   From: invaliddmpyron@austin.rr.com   
      
   [Default] Thus spake Tim Bruening :   
      
   >   
   >   
   >Westprog wrote:   
   >   
   >> "David Mitchell"  wrote in message   
   >> news:pan.2006.06.26.11.45.06.497175@edenroad.demon.co.uk...   
   >>   
   >> > >> I see no reason why its hunger should feel any different, or any less   
   >> > >> real, than our own.   
   >>   
   >> > > There's nothing that we know of that would prevent a robot from having   
   >> > > feelings. However, we have no idea what causes us to have feelings. We   
   >> could   
   >> > > make robots now that look for a plug when their batteries are low, but   
   >> they   
   >> > > wouldn't _feel_ hungry.   
   >>   
   >> > > Fictional robots can feel things, but we don't know, even in principle,   
   >> how   
   >> > > to make such things.   
   >>   
   >> > Again, I disagree. I think that for an artificial mind, emotions could be,   
   >> > essentially, simple variables.   
   >>   
   >> We can make robots like that now. We could write simple programs that   
   >> simulate emotion.   
   >>   
   >> if ( not hungry ) then   
   >>  happiness := happiness + 4;   
   >> else   
   >>  happiness := happiness - 2;   
   >>   
   >> Would a program like that _feel_ emotions?   
   >   
   >So the robot would only get sad if hungry.  How would a robot get   
   >hungry?  They   
   >don't eat!   
      
   Perhaps, but I know of one that drinks quite heavily.  Particularly   
   when he goes on a bender.     :-)   
   --   
      
   - dillon  I am not invalid   
      
   An object's desireability to a dog is directly   
   proportional to its desireability to another dog.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)