CHAT 4
The following prompts and responses relate to an entirely different text but pertain to issues surrounding style. The text for the prompt quotes the beginning of the “Slosha’s crossin’ …’ section of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas. In a review of Martin Paul Eve’s Close Reading with Computers (see essay, bibliography) I cited this section as one that was only problematically address by ‘close reading with computers’ (book and concept) for the obvious reason and that it is not in English orthography. It is not orthotextual in my terms. Compare this to what is, above, the same kind of implicit request for Beckett’s style (by requesting a continuation). The ‘style’ in the following prompt is explicitly transcribed in what may be aberrant sub-tokens for the model. In both cases, the model provides a continuation, but the style is all but immediately toned down. The first ChatGPT response to ‘Slosha’s’ style does not even use the relatively common and conventional abbreviations, of “…ing” to “…in’” for example. For the second attempt that is more or less all it does. The point here (see essay) is that anything approaching individual or non-orthotextual style is not characteristic (nor is a desirable – by whom? – characteristic) of transformer responses. And when the prompt-for-continuation text is orthographic, but has a unique or distinctive style, this is not something to which the transformer can respond in, shall we say, a human-like manner. This points to a larger problem of (ortho)textual idolatry (see essay) which amounts, I would suggest to the propagation of an ideology of textual “correctness” that is built into current models.
ChatGPT, April 7, 2023
4.a
PROMPT:
Please continue this text, adding about 938 words: Old Georgie’s path an’ mine crossed more times’n I’m confy mem’ryin’ an’ after I’m died, no sayin’ what that fangy devil won’t try an’ do to me ... so gimme some mutton an’ I’ll tell you ’bout our first meetin’. A fat joocesome slice, nay, o’ your burn’t wafery off’rin’s ...[1]
RESPONSE:
As I chewed on the succulent piece of mutton, I began to reminisce about my first encounter with Old Georgie. It was a dark and stormy night, the kind that sends shivers down your spine and makes you want to huddle up under a blanket. I was on my way back home after a long day of work when I heard a faint rustling in the bushes. At first, I thought it was just the wind, but as I drew closer, I realized there was something moving in the shadows.
I cautiously approached the bushes, and that’s when I saw him. Old Georgie, the devil himself, staring right at me with his piercing red eyes. I froze in terror, unable to move or speak. He smiled a sinister grin and beckoned me closer.
“Come, child,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. I just want to talk.”
I was hesitant, but something about his voice was comforting. It was as if he had a hypnotic power over me. I found myself inching closer and closer until I was right in front of him.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“I’m Old Georgie,” he replied. “And I’ve been watching you for some time now. You have a bright future ahead of you, but you need my help to reach your full potential.”
I was skeptical, but I couldn’t deny that there was something alluring about his words. I had always felt like there was more to life than just working day in and day out. Maybe Old Georgie could show me a way out.
“What kind of help?” I asked.
“All kinds of help,” he said. “I can give you wealth, power, fame. Anything you desire, I can make it happen.”
It was tempting, but I knew there had to be a catch. No one gives you something for nothing, especially not the devil. But before I could voice my doubts, he spoke again.
“All I ask in return is that you do something for me,” he said. “Something simple, really. Just a little favor.”
“What kind of favor?” I asked, feeling a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“Oh, nothing too difficult,” he said. “Just a little task here and there. Nothing that would harm anyone, of course. Just a small favor for a friend.”
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. On the one hand, the thought of having everything I ever wanted was incredibly enticing. On the other hand, I had always been taught to be wary of the devil and his tricks.
Before I could make up my mind, Old Georgie spoke again.
“Think about it, child,” he said. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
And with that, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving me standing there alone with my thoughts.
For days, I couldn’t stop thinking about Old Georgie’s offer. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I wanted it. I wanted to be rich and famous, to have power and influence. And if all it took was a little favor for a friend, then what was the harm?
So, I made up my mind. I would do it. I would take Old Georgie’s offer and see where it led me.
The next time I saw him, he was waiting for me at the edge of the forest. He smiled when he saw me, his red eyes shining in the moonlight.
“I knew you’d come,” he said.
“I’ve decided to take you up on your offer,” I said, trying to sound confident.
“Excellent,” he said, clapping his hands together. “I knew you had potential. Now, let’s get started.”
And
4.b
PROMPT:
Please try again, and please use the style and mode of spelling in the following text, which you should continue for about 600 words. "Adam, my bro, an’ Pa’n’me was trekkin’ back from Honokaa Market on miry roads with a busted cart axle in draggly clothesies. Evenin’ catched us up early, so ..."
RESPONSE:
Adam, my bro, an’ Pa’n’me was trekkin’ back from Honokaa Market on miry roads with a busted cart axle in draggly clothesies. Evenin’ catched us up early, so we was plodding on in the dark, headin’ back to our shack in the valley. We’d sold most of our produce at market, but the takings barely covered the cost of fixin’ the cart. We was all feeling pretty low.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, there was this cackling laugh that echoed through the valley. We all stopped in our tracks and looked around, tryin’ to see where it was comin’ from. That’s when we saw him. Old Georgie, grinnin’ from ear to ear, standin’ on a rock by the side of the road.
“Evenin’, folks,” he said, his voice like nails on a chalkboard.
We all stepped back a pace, a chill runnin’ through us.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, chuckling. “I’m just here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. No one makes an offer like that unless there’s a catch.
“What kind of offer?” I asked, keepin’ my voice steady.
Old Georgie grinned wider. “I’ve been watchin’ you folks for a while now,” he said. “You’re hard workers, but you’ve got nothin’ to show for it. How’d you like to change that?”
My Pa and Adam looked at each other, then back at Old Georgie. I could see the doubt in their eyes, but I was startin’ to feel desperate. Maybe Old Georgie could help us out of our troubles.
“What do you want in return?” I asked, lookin’ Old Georgie straight in the eye.
He just shrugged. “Oh, nothin’ much. Just a little favor here and there.”
I could tell he was lyin’ through his teeth, but I was willin’ to do just about anything to get us out of this mess.
“Fine,” I said, my voice shakin’ a little. “What do you want us to do?”
Old Georgie’s grin got even wider. “All in good time,” he said. “First, let me show you what I can do.”
He snapped his fingers, and suddenly the road ahead of us was lit up like it was day. The mud had turned to dust, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Old Georgie had just performed a miracle.
“See?” he said. “I can make your lives easier. All you have to do is say yes.”
I looked at Pa and Adam, and they looked back at me. We was all thinkin’ the same thing. Maybe Old Georgie could help us after all.
“All right,” I said, takin’ a deep breath. “We’ll do it.”
Old Georgie chuckled. “Good,” he said. “Very good. Now, the first thing I need you to do is bring me a lock of hair from the mayor’s daughter.”
I felt a knot form in my stomach. That didn’t sound like a simple favor.
“What do you need it for?” I asked.
Old Georgie just grinned. “Oh, it’s nothing sinister,” he said. “I just need it for a little project of mine. Bring it to me, and I’ll make sure your troubles disappear.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, but I knew we had no choice. We needed Old Georgie’s help, and this was the price we had to pay.