AI ram-a-lama-ding-dong fiasco | Noted | Hat🎩

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AI ram-a-lama-ding-dong fiasco

I believe it was The Rolling Stones who sang, you can’t always get what you want, but if you ask ChatGTP sometimes, well, you might find, you get an answer that’s total bullshit.

Those of you who remember the ram-a-lama-ding-dong fiasco in the comments section of last week’s post know what I’m talking about. But for those of you who are confused, allow me to channel my inner Inigo Montoya and sum up.

First, a situation normie named Tim Burnell asked me to ask ChatGTP: “Who put the ‘ram’ in the ram-a-lama-ding-dong?” I thought that was a great question, but I should’ve realized that several other situation normies had also asked the same question several weeks prior. One of those situation normies was definitely Bo Bres. But it’s also possible that C.L. Steiner made the same song suggestion. C.L. is a little fuzzy on that, and to be honest, I’m a little fuzzy too. But it doesn’t matter. I fudged up here, fellas, and I’m sorry.

Second, ChatGTP’s answer to the ram-a-lama-ding-dong was wrong! We know this because of a situation normie named Betsy Brazy, who went old school on the AI and came back with citations.

Then another situation normie, KdD, fact-checked Betsy’s citation.

Thanks to Betsy and KdD, we now know that it was George “Wydell” Jones Jr. of The Edsels who put the ‘ram’ in the ram-a-lama-ding-dong. And knowing is, as they say, half the battle. But what’s the other half of the battle? I’m not sure, but I think it might be skepticism.

I wasn’t skeptical of ChatGTP, and I got burned. I could’ve Googled the answer, or gone old school and consulted an actual book like Betsy, then fact-checked that book with the U.S. Copyright Office, like KdD. That would’ve been the professional thing to do, and it would’ve cleared the two sources threshold most 20th century news outlets used for fact-checking. But I didn’t do that. I’m a 21st century digital boy, I guess, and as Betsy proved, blind faith in technology is a very bad religion indeed.

Sorry about the fudge up, situation normies. I’d promise to never let something like this happen again, but we all know that mistakes will continue to be made. Rather than an empty promise to do better, let me try to make amends. Here goes… something👇

• Bo Bres will get his moment with ChatGTP later on in this post.

• C.L. Steiner will get to choose another song for ChatGTP (and maybe me) to fudge up later. C.L., just leave your suggestion in the comments.

• KdD also gets to pick a song for ChatGTP (and maybe me) to fudge up. Just leave the suggestion in the comments, KdD.

• Betsy should get a damn cape because she was the hero of last week’s fiasco, but the prices at my local cape store are outrageous, and besides Betsy had a different wish. Chatting with Betsy in the comments, I learned that she is a lawyer. “I really, really wish ChatGTP could have taken the Bar for me,” Betsy wrote. I feel the same way, Betsy! The bar exam was misery for me too. In your honor, I’m going to write my recollections of taking the California Bar exam. Look for that story soonish! In the meantime, Betsy also mentioned that her husband, who has degrees in psychology, computer science, and English, thinks ChatGTP is a people pleaser that’ll say anything to get on my good side. Don’t I know it. But I’m trying to get back on Betsy’s good side (and her husband’s too), so I’d like to ask every situation normie reading this post for a HUGE favor. Please check out A Tractor in the Rain, which is a Substack written by Betsy’s husband’s friend, Tori. Click the link here. And if you subscribe, tell Tori an AI ram-a-lama-ding-dong fiasco sent you. Also, hats off to Betsy for 1) Spotting the mistake, 2) Calling out the error with kindness, and 3) Paying her reward forward to her husband’s friend. Betsy gets an A+ in internet citizenship, if you ask me.

Noted!

If you’ve ever wondered how writers organize their material, Jillian Hess has you covered. Jillian is an English professor at CUNY & the author of How Romantics and Victorians Organized Information. She’s also the inquisitive force of nature behind Noted, a Substack that examines the notes of big-time people like Charles Dickens, Jimmy Carter, and my personal favorite Jim “Lizard King” Morrison. If you’re fascinated by someone, who did something, at some point in history, chances are that your someone, who did something, at some point in history, took notes. And if they did, Jillian is on the case.

But Jillian doesn’t just examine the notes of big-time people. She also talks to contemporary creators about how they organize their material. That’s where the Comedic Personal Essay Universe (CPEU)™ comes in. Recently, Jillian interviewed me and Alex Dobrenko, who writes Both Are True, about our notes and our creative processes. Click the story for a behind-the-scenes look at Situation Normal and Both Are True👇

Contemporary Notes: Alex Dobrenko and Michael Estrin

Meet Situation Normal’s Newest Sponsors

Situation Normal is (mostly) free, but it ain’t cheap to produce. Thankfully, Situation Normal runs on the generosity of paid subscribers, like:

• Judith, who describes herself as a “concerned granny” in her Substack bio, helped make Situation Normal a going concern by signing up for a monthly subscription. Thank you, Judith!

• David M., who plays his cards so close to the vest that he didn’t create a Substack bio, signed up for a monthly subscription. Thank you, David!

• Nigel P., who is blessed with a fantastic first name, shared his blessings by signing up for a monthly subscription. Thank you, Nigel, and thank you for allowing me to experience the joy of typing your name!

• Sheila, who is the writer, photographer, and funny person behind the Stay Curious Substack, signed up for an annual subscription to Situation Normal. Thank you, Sheila!

Incongruous Singularity

I love spotting unintentionally funny signs in the wild, but I can’t be everywhere all at once, so I rely on situation normies to capture & submit the hilarity. This one comes from Nigel in the UK, who wrote:

Being a bit of a funny guy I had an idea to start a blog called “Incongruous Singularity,” as my indy band didn’t want the name. Sadly, I only found one other example in the next few months, a rather splendid “Egg Benedict” in my mum’s home town, so I binned the whole idea. Still I am rather fond of the World Of Hat and I know where to go for my next headgear purchase.

Hat off to the proprietor of World of Hat

Thanks for the submission, and stay singular, Nigel!

Send your funny pictures, odd overheard conversations, and other hilarious artifacts found in the wild to me at michael.j.estrin@gmail.com.

Hypothetical picnic

This one goes out to Bo Bres, who asked: “What’s the story, morning glory?” To clarify, I asked Bo if he was referring to the Oasis album, and he said yes. “Title track of their second album.” OK, Bo, here we go🤖🎶👇

Well, that’s the morning glory story. But is it a true story? I doubt it. Stay skeptical, situation normies, and if you have more information, please share what you know in the comments. Just like Yoshimi, we’re gonna defeat these evil machines.

Not Safe for Work

Did you know I wrote a novel? Did you know that it’s a stoner comedy / mystery that’s based on my experience covering adult entertainment? Did you know that Not Safe for Work is more than just boobs, butts, and blunts, it’s also a serious examination of journalism in the digital age?

You probably didn’t know any of that because I’m bad at talking about my novel. Thankfully, my friend Josh said some nice stuff about Not Safe for Work.

“With a reporter’s attention to detail, an uncanny ear for dialogue, and a hilarious dry wit reminiscent of Douglas Adams, Estrin takes us on an unforgettable tour of the porn industry, where a cavalcade of quirky and desperate people validated my decision to become a comedy writer, rather than a pornographer.”
— Joshua Sternin (The Simpsons, That 70s Show)

Do Josh a favor and honor his generous book blurbing by picking up your copy of Not Safe for Work today👇

ICYMI

Last Sunday, I wrote a serious essay based on a conversation I had with my mom about school shootings, generational strife, Everything Everywhere All at Once, apologies, and the judgement of history. I was nervous about sharing that essay because it’s not a funny piece, and let’s face it, because it’s about a topic that usually goes sideways fast on the internet. But the situation normie community came through with generous, kind, and thoughtful comments that made me realize I had nothing to be nervous about.

Thank you for being so awesome, situation normies!

Stick around and chat!

You know the drill. I’ve got questions, you’ve got answers.

1. How cool is it that when I fudge up, situation normies are there to help un-fudge the situation?

2. After the AI ram-a-lama-ding-dong fiasco, I don’t trust ChatGTP, or any other tech. But that puts me in a bind because tech is everywhere. Do you trust the likes of Google, Alexa, and ye olde wheel? Or, are you livin’ la vida Luddite? Explain.

3. Why didn’t the proprietor of World of Hat add an “S” at the end? After all, you can clearly see many, many hats in the window. Give us the story, make it up if you have to. If the proprietor of World of Hat gets mad, Nigel will sort them out.

4. If you read Jillian’s interview with me and Alex, you’ll see that we’re two funny dudes with two different approaches to organizing our material. How do you take your notes / organize your material?

Even more chat!

This Thursday, I’m running an experiment, and you’re invited! I’ll be hosting a live chat on Substack at 5pm Pacific time. It’ll last about an hour, or maybe we’ll chat into the small hours. I don’t know because it’s an experiment. But figure on an hour. I think it’ll be fun, so please join!

How this will work? I’m using a time tested tactic called “fuck around and find out.” My plan is to enable Substack’s chat function on Thursday, maybe a few minutes before five, my time. That should kick out an email to the entire situation normie community to let you know that the chat is on. From there, I think we just chat, either on the Substack app, or the desktop. Don’t worry, I’ll come correct with discussion questions to get the ball rolling.

See you this Thursday, April 6, at 5pm Pacific time.