# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/181 "2023-11-13T23:53:56Z")
Yeah. I recently wrote a [parody based on Shel Silverstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/28). It’s far from perfect, but I’m way more pleased with it than I’d be with a ChatGPT thing, because: 1. Mine has clear decisions in it (what to call the four principal miscreants, based on what’s gonna work in the rhyme structure). The ChatGPT stuff makes all the decisions in advance, without regard to how they work out in practice. 2. Mine has a thematic progression, plus a twist at the end. The ChatGPT was anodyne and similarly paced throughout. 3. Mine has some internal wordplay (referencing crackpots, different meanings of being on one’s knees in the first and fifth stanza) that were at least satisfying to write. ChatGPT won’t have any new wordplay: the best it can do is reuse someone else’s old wordplay. 4. Mostly, I just put some work into it, and I’d rather read something someone put work into than something that they cut-and-paste from a language model. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/182 "2023-11-14T00:22:02Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > It’s on topic, in English, it rhymes. That’s impressive. But it’s not anywhere near Lewis Carroll. I also had no idea what it was supposed to be mimicking. I didn’t recognize it as Jabberwock. It seemed more like Poe to me. But I thought it was a cute poem. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/183 "2023-11-14T00:39:33Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It’s far from perfect, but I’m way more pleased with it than I’d be with a ChatGPT thing, because: In hindsight, I kind of wish I hadn’t posted this. My point isn’t really about my own writing, but about ChatGPT, but this comes across as some weird sort of boast, which, oof. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/184 "2023-11-14T00:42:03Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > The reason I read a parody, for example, is to revel in the cleverness of the writing, the twist between the original and whatever current even it is now about. I don’t disagree, but want to put two more points out there. First, I tried to be clear in that I accept it as “part of” a post. If your whole post is the parody or image, well, I’m not getting anything from the poster - so yeah, it doesn’t fly. I have friends who are far too into using AI in creating works, and I do have to admit, most of them spend a lot of time curating, rephrasing, and nixing multiple disasters to get something that tickles their fancies. So it’s a non zero effort to eliminate the dross and elevate a few nuggets that have value. Having said all that though: > [@Alessan](#): > > It’s the intellectual equivalent of empty calories. This is the most true analysis. It reminds me of listening to various “studio created” bands - oftentimes they’re boring and inoffensive, but you see the studio execs behind the portrayal of every band member, and every curated song. DESPITE that, sometimes the song is still good on it’s own merits. I evaluate _careful_ uses of AI by posters the same way. But I don’t expect or demand that everyone agree. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/185 "2023-11-14T00:43:49Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Mostly, I just put some work into it, and I’d rather read something someone put work into than something that they cut-and-paste from a language model. I’ve seen enough ChatGPT stuff to last me quite a while. But when it was newer, my appreciation wasn’t of the work done by ChatGPT; it was of the work done by the people who created it. I don’t read the output and think “look at the clever wordplay and rhyme structure.” I think “holy shit, it’s amazing that software people and data modelers have managed to create this.” I can enjoy both something written by a person and something written by AI, but for very different reasons. That said, it has been done to death by now. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/186 "2023-11-14T00:52:08Z")
I’ve thought several times about starting an ATMB thread about using ChatGPT in posts, but any kind of actively enforced rule would be unworkable. I did see a mod smack somebody down for using it in a thread (sorry for the vague recollection), which I remember appreciating immensely. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > My point isn’t really about my own writing, but about ChatGPT, but this comes across as some weird sort of boast, which, oof. Let’s check with the judges. You linked to it, which I’ll award a full point. 1. Kind of boasty. Half a point. 2. Not a boast, just a description of your process. Zero points. 3. Not a boast, but expressing how you enjoyed a particular aspect of writing the poem. Zero points. 4. Again, just saying that you enjoyed putting in the work, but **is** a bit of a dig at posters who use it. I give this 0.25 points. That’s 1.75 boasties out of 5 potential boasties. I’m afraid you won’t be progressing to the semifinals. The judges also object to your description of your post as “a weird sort of boasting.” A genuinely weird boast is something like, “my fish farm features trout with the fullest lips you’ve ever seen.” ETA: I liked your parody. I felt it was very faithful to the original poem but also to Silverstein’s style and approach to language. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/187 "2023-11-14T00:55:54Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > “my fish farm features trout with the fullest lips you’ve ever seen.” Ummm…how is that weird? -TroutMan ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/188 "2023-11-14T17:08:24Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Yeah. I recently wrote a [parody based on Shel Silverstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chesebro-powell-and-others-in-trumps-orbit/991920/28). It’s far from perfect, but I’m way more pleased with it than I’d be with a ChatGPT thing, because: I am also pleased with your poem. Uncle Shelby would be proud. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/189 "2023-11-18T20:37:56Z")
So, once again I ask the thread’s question: What were you THINKING? > [@Are young singles relationship-averse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-young-singles-relationship-averse/993203/28): > > Perhaps the seed was planted in the 1960s with free love. Once you let the genie out of the bottle, not only is there no going back, but it snowballs. Each generation excels at outdoing the last in depravity. We’re no different that the Romans and many other civilizations before us destroyed by their own hedinist ways. The younger generation stpoped listening to wisdom of the older generation long ago. So, here we are… All the wisdom of ages of great philosophers flushed down the toilet. No one … Now @Jinx is a long time poster, even if I haven’t interacted with them much in other threads. A quick review shows zero evidence of trollishness, so just going to talk about this specific post, which other posters in this thread, including @LSLGuy looked askance of in that actual thread. It was just… out there, a sudden “old man shouting at clouds” and blatant attack in a thread which up to that point was largely casual with softballs thrown at sitcom formulas and some discussion of changing expectations for wealth and relationships. And then boom, suddenly “free love” snowballs into “depravity” - their word, not mine. Although several posters in thread smacked down the bullshit assumptions hard (and I refrained because what I wanted to say was Pit-worthy) - I figured I’d ask the thread if this is out of the norm as it seemed. I mean, that’s one of my points from the OP - someone’s having a bad day, had too many drinks, or otherwise just seems to go off the rails, how and why? ETA - I also note that while the original was posted roughly a day ago (20 hr at the time of this post), they haven’t been back yet. So maybe there’s an explanation that’ll come in time, as it seems the poster only posts a few times a month, and with decreasing frequency of late from their profile. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/190 "2023-11-18T21:00:54Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I figured I’d ask the thread if this is out of the norm as it seemed. Not really, for Jinx. They don’t rant about the presumed depravity of modern society often, but [they do rant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bumper-stickers-have-made-you-happy-recently/242869/95) about the presumed depravity of modern society [occasionally](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-ever-complain-about-being-nice-girls/489809/12). They’re not a troll, they’re just a bit [conservative and prudish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-facts-why-are-schools-in-sex/425202) about modern sexual mores. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/191 "2023-11-18T21:04:14Z")
IME / IMO … That poster is kinda odd. Most times he’s pleasant if a bit off-kilter. But once in a while something triggers his inner curmudgeon and we get a brief shitshow. Like so many Americans, is he perhaps sliding down the Q-slope to ranting nutbaggery? I know I don’t know. My recollection is they’re young enough that dementia ought not be an issue. When I get intemperate around here, firewater is always implicated somehow. Could that be a factor here? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/192 "2023-11-18T21:21:01Z")
I’ll add that the much-respected **hajario** has weighed just now in that thread. And pretty darn strongly by IMHO standards. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/193 "2023-11-18T21:28:14Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’ll add that the much-respected **hajario** has weighed just now in that thread. I am incredibly humbled that you think of me as such. I find that your posts are consistently outstanding and you are one of my favorites. **Jinx** has been a waste of bits on this board since forever. He’s been Pitted a few times. It’s gotten much better but he used to constantly post questions in what’s now FQ that would take even a child seconds to Google. A couple of times he posted a question that he had already asked a couple of years prior. He was warned more than a few times for it. If you have a few brain cells to spare, do a board search for his OPs but I warn you that you will be stupider for it. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/194 "2023-11-18T21:28:45Z")
Thanks for the cites. Yeah, I certainly only did a cursory glance through the semi recent (about a year) posts and OPs for **Jinx** , so your cites (and a PM from a Poster-who-shall-not-be-named 🙂 ) put the post I quoted in much better context. So, a judge-y and sexually conservative poster who will periodically rant on that subject is, as it were, in character, rather than a sudden departure from the norm. My ignorance is fought! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/195 "2023-11-18T21:31:00Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > ETA - I also note that while the original was posted roughly a day ago (20 hr at the time of this post), they haven’t been back yet. So maybe there’s an explanation that’ll come in time, as it seems the poster only posts a few times a month, and with decreasing frequency of late from their profile. If they have ever come back to a thread in all of the many times they were called out for something stupid or to thank someone who answered one of the legion of inane questions (and the occasional good one) they have asked, I haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/196 "2023-11-18T21:38:18Z")
So, from all the feedback I got (in that thread, this thread, and elsewhere) they seem to be much like HoneyBadgerDC’s bunkmate. Not exactly the same of course, but some of the same stupid and lazy posting habits, combined with periodic out and out evil, bigoted and judgemental vitriol. Or in other words, not a troll, probably a stupid jerk. Sadly, something altogether not lacking in this world. Well then, I hope the recent trend of comparatively few posts from said poster accelerates then. Better for all. 🙏 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/197 "2023-11-19T14:42:16Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > if I never see another post consisting of, “I asked ChatGPT to answer this question, and here’s what it said,” it’ll be too soon. If I give a half a shit what ChatGPT says, I’ll ask ChatGPT myself. Now I kinda wanna ask ChatGPT to output this sentiment in its own way. Except I have neither the ability nor the desire to initiate an interaction with ChatGPT. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2023, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/198 "2023-11-19T14:57:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Now I kinda wanna ask ChatGPT to output this sentiment in its own way. > > Except I have neither the ability nor the desire to initiate an interaction with ChatGPT. Such a shame, because my absolute favorite kind of joke is where someone makes a complaint, and someone else responds to the complaint by doing the thing complained about. It’s so funny, every single time! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/199 "2023-11-30T17:00:57Z")
So a poster who previously submitted an amusing video about a fear of birds has now put up a video of himself doing “stand up comedy” about transgenderism, with a terrible laugh track on it. It’s pretty much a take on transgenderism with the understanding and emotional maturity level of a ten-year-old. It’s just all kinds of bad. The phrase “fabulous feminine” features a lot. Also, he thinks kids will watch gay men on the internet and then become transgender “to be popular”. I don’t think he’s trolling by any means but wow, even (or _especially_) if it was intended as lighthearted humor, it was massively misjudged. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/200 "2023-11-30T17:23:16Z")
Does he participate in any threads other than posting links to his Youtube channel? Hopefully this isn’t just an attempt to increase his follower count. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=11)