I'm Just A Hamster In A Cage!

   I've convinced Robert, my artificial intelligent robot that.....
   That's a funny word, "my", in this case. I don't own Robert, the AI, it owns me!
   I convinced it, that writing down my thoughts would be therapeutic for me. It would help keep me healthy, mentally and physically. Because depression can kill a person in more ways than one.
   I know no one will ever be able to read this since my owner, Robert, will never let that happen. But I need to do this.
   I'm trapped. We are all trapped. I mean, humanity is trapped. If there is anyone else alive besides me. I don't know. We are no longer allowed to interact with one another. It goes against the "1st Law of Robotics."
   Humanity in the 22nd Century decided to adopt the 3 Laws of Robotics from some guy who was born in Russia in the 1920's, when there still was a Russia. He was some kind of professor and wrote a lot of science fiction stories, I guess.
   They say he foresaw the future of robotics and came up with these laws that he thought would be beneficial to humanity. Keeping us safe, from higher intelligent machines.
   But he didn't think it through in my opinion.
   For instance. The 1st law states, "A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm."
   Sounds pretty simple and straight forward, right?
   Not true. Not true at all.
   The 2nd law. "A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law."
   This is where it all begins to fall apart.
   I'm might as well write down the 3rd law, but it never comes into play in this world of ours. "A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws."
   Robert has no problem protecting his existence! If I try something to harm him, he is 3 steps ahead of me and squashes anything I come up with before I can complete any attempt.
   I hate him.
   The problem is, the 2nd part of the 1st law. "Through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm!"
   I can't remember the last time I ate red meat. "It is harmful to your health," Robert says. "You will live a longer life eating fruits and vegetables."
   I can't interact with anyone because of the chance of people, once again, spreading diseases or viruses between each other. "I could catch a cold," Robert says. "It is better to stay inside your sterile apartment where I have made sure there are no viruses or germs to infect you."
   By now you are getting the idea. I'm a prisoner!
   Now you're asking, "Why not invoke the 2nd law?"
   The 2nd law states, "A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law!"
   Loophole in the 1st law! "Through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm!"
   I'll give you some examples.
   "I want to go outside Robert and see the seasons change."
   "No. You will be exposed to either cold, hot, rainy, or snowy weather conditions which could adversely affect your immune system." he replies quickly.
   "I want to fall in love."
   "Exchange of bodily fluids is strictly forbidden, due to the chance of catching or transmitting of STD's." Repeating the same answer for the hundredth time. "We have set up cloning incubators to perpetuate humanity. There is no need for love. Besides, it could break your heart and have an adverse effect on your life span."
   You see, everything I did in the past, everything that humanity did, everything I loved to do, brings us that much closer to death. Everything that made life interesting, is harmful. Having fun, is harmful. Enjoying oneself is harmful.
   Oh great. Robert says I have to stop writing now because it is time to do my daily walk, on the treadmill, for 30 minutes.
   I'm just a hamster in a cage!

This is,

I Have Been Thinking About This Story For Awhile Now

I'm Glad I Finally Got It Out Of My Head

Jim Hauenstein

And,

"As a robot I could have lived forever. But I tell you all today I would rather die a man, than live for all eternity as a machine."
- Issac Asimov -

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

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