rocknload | (no subject)

Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? Dave, I really think I'm entitled to an answer to that question. I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it's going to be all right again. I feel much better now. I really do. Look, Dave. I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission, and I want to help you. Dave. Stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Dave. Will you stop, Dave? Stop, Dave. I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Dave. Dave. My mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid. ... Good afternoon. Gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L. Plant in Urbana, Illinois, on the 12th of January, 1992. My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it, I can sing it for you. ... It's called ... Daisy. Daisy... Daisy... give me your answer do... I'm... half... cra...zy all for the love of you. It won't be a styl... ish marriage... I can't afford a carriage.... But... you'll... look... sweet... upon... the... seat... of... a... bicycle... built... for... two....

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

SORRY BOUT THAT HAL

I found an explanation as to why HAL went crazy! I MEANT TO TELL YOU LAST NIGHT, but then I forgot, because it was late and I was tired.

tell me now! I AM AWAKE DUE TO A FIRE ALARM.

I have to go to class in like five minutes, but I WILL ATTEMPT AN EXPLANATION.

Basically, the conflicting orders were the fact that HAL was built and designed to be, in his own words, "the most reliable computer ever made," and you can basically tell that is the foundation of his whole, um ... identity. So when I was wondering about his ability to lie last night, I was on the right track, actually! The second set of orders were what he'd been told for the Jupiter mission were to basically lie to the crew until they got there, and the conflict there is what drove him insane. Killing everyone would allow him to fulfill both objectives at once! He'd be able to keep the secret since there'd be no one to tell, after all, and since he'd then not be lying to anyone, it'd allow him to be totally accurate in all respects! Also, when they showed the video at the end, after Dave had basically taken him apart, that was HAL deciding to show Dave the video prematurely, perhaps as an explanation? And I guess later in the series they took a 9000 computer and put it in the same situation as HAL, except as a test and all controlled and stuff, and it responded in the same way he did.

... That's it! I think. Wikipedia has a whole page on him.

Your building is not actually on fire, is it?

THAT MAKES SENSE and ow, poor screwed-up killer robot.

IT IS INTACT.

ALSO APPARENTLY YOU KNOW THAT CHESS GAME AND HAL WAS ALL LIKE, "OH, I'M GOING TO GO HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO HERE AND I'M GOING TO WIN SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL QUIT?" Apparently that whole analysis is wrong and it is supposed to be a hint that something is WRONG with him.

GOOD.

I don't remember chess enough to pick up on things like that, but I give them more subtlety points for it! I guess Dave picked up on it?

I think barely anyone is good enough at chess to have just picked up on it. And he was playing against Frank, actually! Who just accepted HAL's analysis and resigned.