In IN

[lydamorehouse]

Okay, we survived the trip to Valpariaso, Indiana. It was, as usual, a VERY long drive, however, we entertained ourselves by letting the .mp3 player choose the music. Our only rule: NO SKIPPING.

We have long believed that the device has had its own agenda. Now we're certain. We probably have thirty or forty big band/40s tunes on the thing out of thousands of songs. What did it play? EVERY SINGLE one. No, it wasn't stuck in genre, because ocassionally it would bust out with some opera, zydeco, or Patsy Cline (or Ella Fitzgerald or other jazz era/old-timey country). We also got some classical. One or two rock songs, but the .mp3 player picked very "easy listening" options.

Given how much rock and blues we have in comparison, this is a pretty clear indication that our .mp3 player has become an AI, complete with its own personality. (I'll double-check, but I don't THINK the brand name is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyNet.)

We have decided to name our .mp3 player "Cap" in honor of Captain America, since it clearly prefers music that Steve Rogers would appreciate.

Comments

[john jackson (from livejournal.com)]

I have no doubt you are right. I had a music player that favored, not only 1940s swing music, but Tommy Dorsey in particular. Loved Tommy and especially those tracks when Frank Sinatra was still the singer.

The one I use now seems much more ecumenical in its tastes.

[lanyn.livejournal.com]

Glad you made it down safely. And yes! My family is also convinced our iPods are AIs as well. It is fascinating what they will play on complete shuffle mode, and it sure as heck doesn't seem random. It seems chosen.

[princejvstin.livejournal.com]

Your MP3 player reminds me of another friend's device, which seems to have similar properties in terms of choosing music on its own initiative...