In one criminology class, our professor said that 80% of people are honest 80% of the time; about 20% of the goods on the market have no clear title.
Back in 1968, at my small liberal arts college, at the end of the school year, several of my classmates found themselves faced with a final paper in world history that some of them could not complete. At least one of them had done (most of) the work. He gave his pals his paper to copy, which they did, apparently verbatim in small or large passages. However, our school had an Honor Code, a Pledge, which was to be written in full at the top of each examination or paper. (Usually, for quizzes and such, we just wrote "Pledged" at the top.) Also, as it happened, the center of the conspiracy copied a section directly from the assigned textbook without attribution. The textbook was a reference for our benefit. We never read from it in class; we had no assignments from it. So, at least one of my classmates may have assumed that the professor would not recognize the passage or passages. In any case, it did not occur to them that their nearly identical papers would betray them. Of course, they should have been expelled and of course they were not. The story is not unusual in any way.
We have one day a month assigned away from the workplace and on that day, we receive a task from a manager. They call this "Mental Spa Day." My work away from work included completing an introductory class about ChatGPT and then having ChatGPT write a story. "Use a favorite character from two of your favorite tv shows/movie/book – so, you have two characters; Have them meet while on vacation in ____________(location of your choosing); Have them describe the location surrounding them; Have them go on two adventures." This is the result.
My instructions to ChatGPT: Write a story in which the character of Temperance Brennan from the televisions series "Bones" meets the character of Sherlock Holmes as played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the television series "Sherlock." They are separately on vacation in Austin, Texas. They meet on a tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center. While admiring the plants and other wildlife, they see a foot under a bush and discover a body. Call this "Intro One."
Title: Botanical Bones: An Unexpected Encounter
Intro One: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
In the heart of Austin, Texas, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center sprawled with vibrant colors and the fragrant scents of nature. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist known for her meticulous attention to detail, found herself on vacation in the Lone Star State, seeking solace amidst the blooming wildflowers.
Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes, the enigmatic detective with a penchant for deduction, had chosen Austin as his destination for a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of London.
Their paths converged unexpectedly on a guided tour of the Wildflower Center, where they found themselves admiring the indigenous flora and fauna.
As they strolled along the meandering paths, Brennan's keen eye caught sight of something out of place beneath a bush. She knelt down for a closer look, her forensic instincts kicking in.
"What do you see?" Holmes inquired, his curiosity piqued by Brennan's sudden focus.
Brennan gestured towards the bush. "There's something under there. It looks like a foot."
Holmes raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her observation. Without hesitation, he joined her, his keen powers of deduction already at work.
Together, they carefully moved aside the foliage to reveal a grim discovery—a human body, partially concealed beneath the undergrowth.
Brennan's forensic mind immediately went into overdrive as she assessed the scene, noting the position of the body and any potential evidence.
Holmes, ever the astute observer, took in every detail with a sharp eye, his mind racing through the possibilities.
"Murder, undoubtedly," he remarked, his tone matter-of-fact.
Brennan nodded in agreement, already mentally cataloging the clues surrounding them. "Yes, and the state of decomposition suggests the body has been here for some time."
Their unexpected encounter had turned into a collaborative investigation, as they worked together to piece together the puzzle of the victim's identity and the circumstances surrounding their demise.
As they delved deeper into the case, Brennan's scientific approach complemented Holmes' deductive reasoning, resulting in a formidable partnership.
Despite their differences in methodology and demeanor, they shared a mutual respect for each other's abilities, recognizing the value each brought to the investigation.
Together, Temperance Brennan and Sherlock Holmes embarked on a quest for truth amidst the wildflowers of Austin, unraveling secrets hidden beneath the beauty of nature.
And as they uncovered the dark truths lurking beneath the surface, they forged a bond forged in the crucible of investigation—a bond that transcended the boundaries of time and space.
For in the world of crime-solving, where logic met intuition, anything was possible.
User: In the story above, called "Intro One" the characters are surprised and kidnapped.
ChatGPT -- Title: Botanical Bones: An Unexpected Twist
However, before they could make any further progress, a sudden commotion erupted nearby. Without warning, masked assailants emerged from the surrounding foliage, their faces shrouded in darkness.
Brennan and Holmes barely had time to react before they were surrounded and forcibly restrained, their hands bound behind their backs.
"What's the meaning of this?" Holmes demanded, his voice laced with authority.
But the assailants remained silent, their intentions shrouded in mystery.
Before Brennan or Holmes could formulate a plan of action, they were blindfolded and whisked away, leaving behind the tranquil beauty of the Wildflower Center for the unknown depths of danger that awaited them.
You: They outwit the kidnappers.
ChatGPT -- Title: Botanical Bones: Outsmarting Danger
As the blindfolds were secured over their eyes and the kidnappers led them away, Temperance Brennan and Sherlock Holmes exchanged a glance, wordlessly communicating their resolve to overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead.
Despite their precarious situation, Brennan's analytical mind raced, cataloging every detail of their surroundings—the texture of the ground beneath her feet, the sounds of their captors' footsteps, the faint scent of the surrounding foliage.
Holmes, ever observant, listened intently, his sharp senses attuned to the slightest nuances of their environment. With each step, he pieced together clues, formulating a plan of action.
As they were ushered into what seemed to be a dimly lit building, Brennan and Holmes remained outwardly calm, biding their time until an opportunity presented itself.
Their chance came when they were left momentarily unattended in a small room, their captors seemingly preoccupied with other matters.
With practiced efficiency, Brennan began to work on loosening her restraints, her fingers deftly manipulating the knots.
Holmes, meanwhile, surveyed their surroundings, searching for any potential means of escape. His keen intellect assessed every angle, every possibility, until finally, he spotted a ventilation grate near the ceiling.
"Up there," he murmured to Brennan, nodding towards the grate. "I believe that may be our way out."
Brennan nodded in agreement, her fingers working faster as she redoubled her efforts to free herself from her bindings.
With a final tug, Brennan succeeded in loosening her restraints, silently urging Holmes to follow suit.
As Holmes wriggled free, they exchanged a silent nod of determination before Brennan hoisted herself up towards the ventilation grate, her muscles straining with effort.
With Holmes' assistance, she managed to pry the grate open, revealing a narrow passage beyond.
Without hesitation, they crawled through the cramped space, their hearts pounding with anticipation as they edged closer to freedom.
Emerging on the other side, they found themselves in a deserted corridor, the faint sounds of their captors' voices echoing in the distance.
With stealth and precision, they navigated their way through the labyrinthine corridors, avoiding detection at every turn.
Finally, they reached the building's exit, the cool night air washing over them as they stepped out into the open.
With a shared glance of triumph, Brennan and Holmes knew that they had outsmarted their captors, turning the tables on those who had sought to imprison them.
As they disappeared into the darkness, their minds already racing towards their next move, they knew that no obstacle was insurmountable when faced with the combined intellect and determination of Temperance Brennan and Sherlock Holmes.
For in the world of crime-solving, where danger lurked at every turn, their partnership was an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.
And as they vanished into the night, they left behind a trail of mystery and intrigue, their adventure far from over.
To be continued...
The work needs editing. Among the weaknesses was the use of the same key word in a sentence: "...they forged a bond forged in the crucible of investigation..." However, it is a good beginning for someone who does not want to create and needs to fill a requirement. I have several books of newly published science fiction like this purchased last summer on a whim. I got through half of one and cannot read the others. I did read two novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley and four short stories by H. G. Wells. To produce literature at that level would require training ChatGPT, which is the intent of its creators: you recursively teach the program to develop what you want. At that level, you might as well do all the work yourself, or, at least you will have the learning experience of teaching the subject.
In 2008, I had a class in symbolic logic. Our first exercises were to program a logic engine to produce certain truths. After a few weeks, we were on our own: the homework was to solve this or show that or demonstrate some other. Well, I had the logic program to do that. I just entered the Boolean expressions and turned the handle. That worked fine until the problems got harder. I had to do a lot of paper-and-pencil to know what to give the machine. Eventually, although there was one that took me five hours, it was easier just to do the work myself.
I recently read some discussions on Reddit among professors who were worried (or not) about how to test their students in the era of interactive AI. Here at the University of Texas Austin, they have large lecture classes assigned to teaching assistants: your "professor" is some kid two years older than you. At Eastern Michigan University, we did not have TAs. If your name was in the book, then you were the person in front of the class. Granted, you might not know every freshman in an auditorium of 200, but you should know every senior in your seminar.
Addendum: April 28. 11:23 AM. For the more recent topic here on the slide rule, I was going to add a comment about calculators. Then, I realized that my phone will do that, of course. I seldom use an actual calculator any more. But how about math class? If you have a phone, you do not need to do any calculations. You enter “Bill can mow the lawn …” in your search engine and you get lots of answers.
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