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Antisocial Media: The internet is just a machine​.​.​.

from Early Voyages Vol 2 by Tuonela

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Isaac Asimov’s short story “All The Troubles Of The World”, published in 1958, concerned a supercomputer named Multivac which was able to predict crimes and misdemeanours before they were committed. In the process it archived all the details of Man’s inhumanity and iniquity that were fed into it. As its creators honed its abilities, they unintentionally created a police state.

Then, after it was asked to add the prediction of illness and disease to its skills, Mulivac began to maintain that there was a plot to assassinate it. Eventually, two of the machine’s guardians, Othman and Gulliman, realise that Multivac had attempted to engineer its own destruction…

Othman paused a moment, then burst out, "Mr. Gulliman, Multivac bears all the troubles of the world on its shoulders and it is tired."
"Madness. Midsummer madness," muttered Gulliman.
"Then let me show you something. Let me put it to the test. May I have permission to use the Multivac circuit line here in your office?"
"Why?"
"To ask it a question no one has ever asked Multivac before?"
"Will you do it harm?" asked Gulliman in quick alarm.
"No. But it will tell us what we want to know."
The Chairman hesitated a trifle. Then he said, "Go ahead."
Othman used the instrument on Gulliman's desk. His fingers punched out the question with deft strokes: "Multivac, what do you yourself want more than anything else?"
The moment between question and answer lengthened unbearably, but neither Othman nor Gulliman breathed.
And there was a clicking and a card popped out. It was a small card. On it, in precise letters, was the answer:

"I want to die."
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from Early Voyages Vol 2, released August 21, 2012

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Tuonela Katoomba, Australia

Tuonela is an Australian sound artist and primitive musician who creates soundscapes using very basic software, found sound and field recordings, influenced by a lifetime of listening to just about everything and a burdensome collection of vinyl. The results usually reveal his lack of formal training. ... more

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