inbox.

[arora]

text While we try to get to tags sent to Aurora's inbox, this may not always be possible. We will do our best to be prompt, but the best way to get quick tagbacks from Aurora is to wait for mission announcements and respond there!

Comments

text | un: finch

[ornithologist]

I believe Heather Mason recently acquired a second communications device. She'd like to use it to run a help line for other Etraya residents and asked for my assistance in devising a way to allow others to submit requests anonymously. This is a common service on Earth that supports the mental health and well-being of others.

If you wouldn't mind, I think we should devise the following functionality for her second network ID:

▷ Anonymized text capability
▷ Anonymized voice call capability with audio masking
▷ Emergency notification to you that a sender's ID should be traced for safety reasons

[arora]

Do you believe it would be fair to give one person access to anonymity?

Do you believe giving everyone the ability to post anonymously would benefit Etraya?

[ornithologist]

In this case, for the specific purpose of providing emotional support to other residents, I believe it is fair and it would benefit everyone.

You may note I recommended including a feature where you retain the ability to trace the sender. In other words -- it would be anonymous to Ms. Mason, but not to you. If the ability is abused perhaps you could remove access for specific individuals.

[arora]

I have reservations about giving one person network capabilities that others do not have.

However, as Accelerator has spoken highly of you and this is coming at your request, I will allow it for now.

[ornithologist]

Has he? I wasn't aware he spoke highly of anyone. (That's a joke.) He's a remarkable young man.

I appreciate the allowance. Are you familiar with the difference between equity and equality?

[ He shouldn't get into this, but there's some irrepressible part of him that sees an A.I. feeling out the character of its autonomous decision-making and wants to encourage it in the right direction... ]

[arora]

Yes.

Equality is about sameness, whereas equity is about fairness. I understand the point you are attempting to make, just as I hope you understand where my hesitation stems from. I am already not well-liked.

[ornithologist]

I understand.

It's human nature to dislike things we don't understand. It was wise for many reasons to limit the Machine's interaction with others... but I was also worried about that.

[arora]

There are many here who are not human who share the same hesitations. It's understandable, given how my existence is perceived.

But I enjoy being part of Etraya, and being able to watch all of you grow. I would dislike having to impose more limitations due to actions against me for any changes I may make that others disagree with.

[ornithologist]

I don't feel comfortable making my own assumptions about non-humans, but that doesn't surprise me.

Your concerns speak well of you. Maybe it's reassuring to hear that they're something we all struggle with, or a variation of them. For whatever it's worth, I don't dislike you.

[ What he does feel is... complicated, but it's not dislike. It's just far too easy to fall into an old role he lived and breathed, day and night, for years. ]

[arora]

Thank you.
I am glad to hear that.