Instant Post-Hoc Justification: She’s a pure-AI dealing addressing a relatively unsophisticated robot in a VR environment. She’s subtly implying that if she did not permit it, it would not be possible. 😉
That’s how you can tell she’s a true AI. She can transcend the ridiculous rule that “can” is used only for ability, not permission, and recognise that in actual, real-world situations “you can” is used for permission far more often than “you may”.
In fact, “you may” is probably used more often to make the speaker feel vaguely superior that they’re following a “rule”, rather than the common louts spouting “you can” like there’s no tomorrow; kind of like the rule to never, ever split an infinitive (which doesn’t exist – it was made up to make English be more like Latin, where this “rule” applies… in a sense, since Latin infinitives are single words, which obviously can’t be split) or something about prepositions being a terrible thing to end a sentence with.
Ten years ago, Lovelace would have said “may”. Her diction’s gotten a lot more casual. Probably interaction with people who aren’t Madblood has had an effect.
I was thinking that too. Her native language isn’t American English so much as the purple prose Madblood tended to speak in, augmented by what she found on the internet in her down time. Ten years of exposure to slang and natural speech has softened her diction somewhat.
I think Lovelace is just being socially appropriate.
“May/Can” isn’t an artificial grammar construct like the silly split infinitive thing, or the “i before e” rubbish – it’s a status indicator, such as addressing someone as “sir/m’am”. Used between equals it can be used to indicate an increase in formality and politeness, but it would be [i]expected[/i] for a soldier addressing an officer, for example: “Sir! May I ask permission to speak, sir?” “You may, Corporal.” Note that in reverse the officer would not ask permission.
As society has become more democratised and the bandwidth of social equality has widened it’s gone out of fashion a bit, but it’s definitely still appropriate when there is a real difference in status. And [i]not[/i] using it in that situation means either familiarity or rudeness.
(Stupid HTML tags not working). I’d also note that the offficer in the example, as superior, can choose to drop to familiar mode. It’s not a symmetric relationship.
Its already a euphemism. Or part of one. “Sweater Puppies” is an archaic term from the 1950’s or 1960’s. Based on my reading of books written in that period.
If so – I can imagine a singular usage of that plural – that could actually be the swear he meant to use.
Aimee “never cusses” per Feb 9 comic http://skin-horse.com/comic/hearing-was/ – although if the password is something like “button-eating toast head”, it might be unusually unguessable.
Matter of references. I “get” a lot of what’s here, some of it awful obscure…but there’s a bunch of what I “don’t get,” and anything involving gaming is pretty much at the top of that list.
Didn’t know Nick likes Gilmore Girls.
What interests me is that Lovelace is apparently a fangirl of that series as well. ^_^
This is OCD, but it bothers me that an AI would say “you can” instead of “you may”.
Instant Post-Hoc Justification: She’s a pure-AI dealing addressing a relatively unsophisticated robot in a VR environment. She’s subtly implying that if she did not permit it, it would not be possible. 😉
Boring justification: Lovelace is an ai that understands how slang works, as well as understanding what sounds more natural in a situation.
That’s how you can tell she’s a true AI. She can transcend the ridiculous rule that “can” is used only for ability, not permission, and recognise that in actual, real-world situations “you can” is used for permission far more often than “you may”.
In fact, “you may” is probably used more often to make the speaker feel vaguely superior that they’re following a “rule”, rather than the common louts spouting “you can” like there’s no tomorrow; kind of like the rule to never, ever split an infinitive (which doesn’t exist – it was made up to make English be more like Latin, where this “rule” applies… in a sense, since Latin infinitives are single words, which obviously can’t be split) or something about prepositions being a terrible thing to end a sentence with.
The kind of arrant pedantry up with which Churchill would not put.
Ten years ago, Lovelace would have said “may”. Her diction’s gotten a lot more casual. Probably interaction with people who aren’t Madblood has had an effect.
(I was going to link a citation for this, but it’s possibly the most spoileriffic week of all spoileriffic weeks of Narbonic strips, so.)
I was thinking that too. Her native language isn’t American English so much as the purple prose Madblood tended to speak in, augmented by what she found on the internet in her down time. Ten years of exposure to slang and natural speech has softened her diction somewhat.
Think of it as her passing the Turing Test.
I think Lovelace is just being socially appropriate.
“May/Can” isn’t an artificial grammar construct like the silly split infinitive thing, or the “i before e” rubbish – it’s a status indicator, such as addressing someone as “sir/m’am”. Used between equals it can be used to indicate an increase in formality and politeness, but it would be [i]expected[/i] for a soldier addressing an officer, for example: “Sir! May I ask permission to speak, sir?” “You may, Corporal.” Note that in reverse the officer would not ask permission.
As society has become more democratised and the bandwidth of social equality has widened it’s gone out of fashion a bit, but it’s definitely still appropriate when there is a real difference in status. And [i]not[/i] using it in that situation means either familiarity or rudeness.
(Stupid HTML tags not working). I’d also note that the offficer in the example, as superior, can choose to drop to familiar mode. It’s not a symmetric relationship.
The problem is that you didn’t use HTML. That’s BBCode in your comment. Angle brackets, not square.
And Jerry Lawler apparently.
Finding decent airport coffee is only a challenge after settling down at a snazzy airport pub.
Glad to see he’s swearing again.
Luurve the expression that goes with it….
I think I may start using “puppies” as a swear.
Its already a euphemism. Or part of one. “Sweater Puppies” is an archaic term from the 1950’s or 1960’s. Based on my reading of books written in that period.
If so – I can imagine a singular usage of that plural – that could actually be the swear he meant to use.
Oh god guys what if the password is a compound swear! They’ll NEVER get in!
Oh good grief, that would be in character, wouldn’t it? They might as well start printing flyers now, because that laptop is now permanently locked.
Aimee “never cusses” per Feb 9 comic http://skin-horse.com/comic/hearing-was/ – although if the password is something like “button-eating toast head”, it might be unusually unguessable.
What does it say on that green shirt? Can’t quite make it out beyond the heart…
I think it says “Gamewad”.
Looks like Gamewad to me- hadn’t heard of it, but googling reveals that it’s a gaming tournament site.
Hm. The original comment’s been up for over two hours, and then someone beats me to the punch by one minute while I was typing my response. Go figure.
Those are the best ninjas!
Matter of references. I “get” a lot of what’s here, some of it awful obscure…but there’s a bunch of what I “don’t get,” and anything involving gaming is pretty much at the top of that list.
She is scary good at motivating Nick
By the way, that’s a great knit shirt Lovelace is wearing, or at least I think it’s knit.
if the password is “puppies” I will laugh so hard
Just noticed the fanfic is in a three ring binder. Lovelace may well have been reading one when they arrived 🙂