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Old 08-07-2015, 23:53
Prince Monalulu
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I think she was deliberately made subtly 'robotty'. If she'd been completely indistinguishable from humans it would have been ultra creepy and probably a step too far when you look at where the technology is.

So I think the actress was directed to make some expressions/movements synth-like. Several people had already been questioning her and saying there was something a little odd about her.
I thought that was a red herring, the clues were so obvious, even I picked up on them.
I thought there was going to be an Autism or similar reveal, to explain away her 'oddness'
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Old 09-07-2015, 12:08
Robin Armitage
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Shame they arnt Amazon
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Old 09-07-2015, 20:07
striing
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I thought that was a red herring, the clues were so obvious, even I picked up on them.
I thought there was going to be an Autism or similar reveal, to explain away her 'oddness'
A couple of things (mainly in this thread) have made me think about autism in relation to this show but I don't think they'd go there. When some of the key ideas are around what makes us human - empathy, recognsing emotions etc - adding in autism would just make it far too messy.
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Old 10-07-2015, 08:34
varsas
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Mattie sees synths as nothing more than machines and demonstrated her anger at them and lack of caring when shooting Odi and trying to shoot Anita. Yet when it came to the party scene she suddenly went all protective and, normal.
When did she shoot Odi? I remember her shooting a neighbours synth.

I didn't understand this either - but maybe Odi isn't only 6 years old. Maybe it's just that the paperwork George has says he's owned him for 6 years but really he was around much longer?
From what we've seen so far I think standard Synths only have a relatively short life span; Anita with the other special Synths are clearly more 'bespoke' or 'handcrafted' and so may have significantly longer life spans.

If she considered the synths objects she would not have
considered it akin to date rape but she might have objected to the idea that it was akin to simulation of date rape. Just being disgusted that they were planning to act out some perverse fantasy with a doll.

Personally I think it was more than that. I think her exposure to Anita is changing her mind about synths. She's started to see them in a new light.
Indeed, her view has changed especially after her attempt to hack Anita.
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Old 10-07-2015, 10:14
Doctor_Wibble
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If she considered the synths objects she would not have considered it akin to date rape but she might have objected to the idea that it was akin to simulation of date rape.
I thought about reactions to this one and think that if the robots were not much better-looking than the standard comedy inflatables or were 'obviously robot' then it would be viewed by everyone as having sex with a domestic appliance (switched off, is an inanimate object) i.e. really weird though with less risk of a visit to A&E.

But because these look so much like actual people, a synth - in particular one that you were just talking to and have just switched off - does not look any different from a human and I think that would cross the line in any case, regardless of whether or not one was aware of the machine having simulated (or even real) 'feelings'. An entirely inanimate shell I think would be different - still a bit weird though...

When did she shoot Odi? I remember her shooting a neighbours synth.
I suspect a case of mistaken identity - 'their kind all look the same' (etc) has a familiar ring to it, and certainly referenced and hinted at in numerous robot-related writings, even if that isn't necessarily the primary focus of this particular show.

Indeed, her view has changed especially after her attempt to hack Anita.
A very definite wake-up call which on the one hand might be dismissed (after heart-rate goes back to normal) as a programmer's joke or easter egg but on the other would be disturbing enough to be the proverbial 'this changes everything'.
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Old 10-07-2015, 17:53
Twinkle toes no
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Oh sod off Anita, you glorified Dyson!
God I think you need to stop watching you weirdo
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Old 10-07-2015, 21:30
striing
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Either watch the flippin' programme or try something else, but don't waste forum time asking damn fool questions!
I've watched it properly now and it was actually quite good. (Though the Tom G-H knobbing Anita was still pretty yuk.)

Funny thing is the way I feel this evening, as I was watching it I thought I wish I could be a synth. Wouldn't it just be nice to not have to sleep, eat, be able to just switch off. And not have to deal with people's crappy emotions. That's what a week at work does to me.
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Old 10-07-2015, 22:17
Prince Monalulu
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I think she was deliberately made subtly 'robotty'. If she'd been completely indistinguishable from humans it would have been ultra creepy and probably a step too far when you look at where the technology is.

So I think the actress was directed to make some expressions/movements synth-like. Several people had already been questioning her and saying there was something a little odd about her.
I thought that was a red herring, the clues were so obvious, even I picked up on them.
I thought there was going to be an Autism or similar reveal, to explain away her 'oddness'
A couple of things (mainly in this thread) have made me think about autism in relation to this show but I don't think they'd go there. When some of the key ideas are around what makes us human - empathy, recognsing emotions etc - adding in autism would just make it far too messy.
I haven't a bally clue what you're on about here.
I'm talking about Female copper who's now been revealed to be a synth.
I thought the clues in her behaviour were too obvious and it would be a red herring and she'd turn out to be autistic.
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Old 10-07-2015, 22:35
striing
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I haven't a bally clue what you're on about here.
I'm talking about Female copper who's now been revealed to be a synth.
I thought the clues in her behaviour were too obvious and it would be a red herring and she'd turn out to be autistic.
Yes I understood what you were saying. I just don't they would go there.
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Old 11-07-2015, 16:12
brangdon
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but in the end there is no real difference between a blow up doll, and a rampant rabbit, both do a similar thing, im not sure why some find one gross, but not the other, seems to be a double standard.
I think it's mostly because one of them goes further in trying to emulate a whole person. Most dildos don't go out of their way to look like real penises, and don't bother at all with the rest of the man. They are mechanical surrogates rather than emotional ones.

Mattie sees synths as nothing more than machines and demonstrated her anger at them and lack of caring when shooting Odi and trying to shoot Anita. Yet when it came to the party scene she suddenly went all protective and, normal.
I don't think it was sudden. She's changed gradually, largely though getting to know Anita. She knows Anita saved her brother's life. She knows Anita is different, and may suspect she has Mia inside because of that outburst. If even some synths have an inner life, that makes abusing any synth a risky thing to do.
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Old 11-07-2015, 16:22
Charnham
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I think it's mostly because one of them goes further in trying to emulate a whole person. Most dildos don't go out of their way to look like real penises, and don't bother at all with the rest of the man. They are mechanical surrogates rather than emotional ones.
I agree with your review of dildos, however I disagree that synths are emotional subtitles, they offer nothing themselves, any emotion is projected onto them by the owner.
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Old 11-07-2015, 16:30
brangdon
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I agree with your review of dildos, however I disagree that synths are emotional subtitles, they offer nothing themselves, any emotion is projected onto them by the owner.
We were talking about real sex dolls rather than synths, and those are even less good emotional surrogates. And that's why we look down on people for treating them as such. There's a feeling there must be something wrong with a man who'd rather have a doll than a woman.
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Old 11-07-2015, 16:40
Charnham
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We were talking about real sex dolls rather than synths, and those are even less good emotional surrogates. And that's why we look down on people for treating them as such. There's a feeling there must be something wrong with a man who'd rather have a doll than a woman.
agreed the choice of doll over woman is wrong, but when you dont have a woman, doll maybe considered a valid option.

for the record i have neither
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Old 11-07-2015, 16:45
Captain Stable
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I agree with your review of dildos
Nothing to add to the discussion, other than that comment simply cracked me up (in the context of the conversation)
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Old 11-07-2015, 23:35
striing
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agreed the choice of doll over woman is wrong, but when you dont have a woman, doll maybe considered a valid option.

for the record i have neither
Who would have thought a thread on the Sci-fi sub-forum would bring about this line of conversation.

Nothing to add to the discussion, other than that comment simply cracked me up (in the context of the conversation)
Me too. "I agree with your review of dildos" was certainly not something I had anticipated reading. The chances of anything beating that to post of the thread must be pretty remote.
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Old 11-07-2015, 23:50
speedy_gonzales
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i wonder why they haven't made child synths,they could be for people that can't have children or as a play friend for another child.
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Old 11-07-2015, 23:54
striing
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i wonder why they haven't made child synths,they could be for people that can't have children or as a play friend for another child.
Gosh I don't think that is where they are going with it at all. That sounds very creepy.
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Old 12-07-2015, 00:03
Charnham
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Who would have thought a thread on the Sci-fi sub-forum would bring about this line of conversation.


Me too. "I agree with your review of dildos" was certainly not something I had anticipated reading. The chances of anything beating that to post of the thread must be pretty remote.
im not going to try to.

i wonder why they haven't made child synths,they could be for people that can't have children or as a play friend for another child.
I think parents tend to hope for the best with their children, that they will get friends, and develop social skills, to buy a synth for you kids seems like you think that wont happen.
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Old 12-07-2015, 02:06
Doctor_Wibble
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i wonder why they haven't made child synths,they could be for people that can't have children or as a play friend for another child.
We already have those talking dolls, complete with swearing and internet search capabilities even if they haven't yet made one that can run around screaming and burn down the shed. At what point does a child genuinely distinguish between 'real person' and 'talking toy'? If a child has always had a talking toy, they know it's different but if it's good enough, when do they start to realise that it's not a real person?

Even if they don't, if it's the source of knowledge and guidance instead of parents, nanny etc then what response does "Teddy, I'm going to kill a man" get...?

Who hacked your synth nanny? Why does your child suddenly think it's OK to shout "Bogies!" in the supermarket queue?
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Old 12-07-2015, 10:49
striing
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im not going to try to.

I think parents tend to hope for the best with their children, that they will get friends, and develop social skills, to buy a synth for you kids seems like you think that wont happen.
Exactly. And as for giving them to people who can't have children - bit insulting to suggest you can replace not having a child with something that has to be charged overnight. Anyway don't we have pets for that? And they have genuine interactions with their owners (so I'm told).
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Old 12-07-2015, 11:01
Natarhi
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I agree with your review of dildos,
I love this forum
however I disagree that synths are emotional subtitles, they offer nothing themselves, any emotion is projected onto them by the owner.
But surely it doesn't matter if the emotion is projected? If a person was choosing to have a relationship with a synth, instead of trying to have one with another human, I think it would be fair to say that they were using it as an emotional surrogate.

I think parents tend to hope for the best with their children, that they will get friends, and develop social skills, to buy a synth for you kids seems like you think that wont happen.
Exactly. And as for giving them to people who can't have children - bit insulting to suggest you can replace not having a child with something that has to be charged overnight. Anyway don't we have pets for that? And they have genuine interactions with their owners (so I'm told).
Agree with both these points. I can't see how there would be a big enough market for child synths to make them worthwhile, I think the vast majority of people would be unsettled by the very idea.
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Old 12-07-2015, 11:23
striing
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Actually I got the idea the father had bought David back from the dead as part human part synth. It to do with the flash backs for the drowning scenes which could have happened 14 years ago. This was the next stage that George disagreed with and left the program, a total human/synth hybrid. David was the first and he was working on the other 5 but only got as far as making them self aware.
You were right Leo is obviously part synth as he was able to run the programme that was 'for a synth's mind'. (David was the dad.)
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Old 12-07-2015, 13:03
dodrade
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Agree with both these points. I can't see how there would be a big enough market for child synths to make them worthwhile, I think the vast majority of people would be unsettled by the very idea.
We've seen child robots done before, remember Haley Joel Osment in AI?
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Old 12-07-2015, 13:17
koantemplation
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We've seen child robots done before, remember Haley Joel Osment in AI?
And they have a child robot in Extant.
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Old 12-07-2015, 15:14
brangdon
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agreed the choice of doll over woman is wrong, but when you dont have a woman, doll maybe considered a valid option.
Yes, but then the fact that no woman will have him is itself a reason to think there must be something wrong with him. All the more so as he has given up trying.

At the risk of being sexist, maybe there's an element of defensiveness about it. Maybe women feel more threatened by sex dolls than men do by vibrators; even more than pornography.
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