Fetish for Happy Endings?

After reading blog post yesterday, Dao and Zen in Arts by Friedrich Zettl, which he had analyzed by AI, https://zettl.blog/dao-and-zen/, I decided to try it myself as a reward for evaluating a LOT of books today and NOT taking a walk. I typed “A Woman in a Long Distance Relationship for 30 Years.” I got three stories, all of them with happy endings, all written pretty much along this formula.

A woman in a long-distance relationship for 30. years is no stranger to the ache of yearning and the joy of reuniting; it’s an ebb and flow of emotions that can be both exhilarating and exhausting. She knows the value of patience, communication, and trust, having developed her own unique strategies for sustaining a bond with someone who may never physically share her life. It takes grit and perseverance—a willingness to recognize that one cannot always predict what may come from such an unconventional arrangement. But as she stands on the precipice of another decade of distance, she feels empowered by the knowledge that this journey has made her resilient, resourceful, and unyielding in her pursuit of true connection.

The other two stories are pretty similar and none of them are particularly accurate or inaccurate; this was the most accurate though I don’t think I have a lot of “grit” (I tend to bathe regularly) and I don’t know about “resilient, resourceful, and unyielding” either. Resilient, maybe, but the other two? Naw. More go with the flow. Love (IMO) is not after a particular result. It’s consistent and kind, and love does not necessarily lead to ONE place. As for the precipice? That’s legit and not a bad description of my life at in a lot of dimensions.

BUT the AI relies on its bank of existing stories to generate a story and NO existing stories are going to be my story — I know that. BUT a person could take that paragraph and make something out of it if they wanted to. It works as an outline.

I decided to take another theme from my real life (Women Walking in the Mountains with Dogs), and here’s what I got…

1) A woman strides across the mountainous terrain, accompanied by her trusty canine companions. She’s been hiking these trails for years, so she knows exactly when to take a break, where to find water, and how to assess if a given area is safe. Her eyes scan the horizon with knowledge and experience as she guides herself, sometimes talking aloud or speaking in grunts of approval to her dogs. With every step forward they become more attuned to the landscape, noting the unique scents and sights that might otherwise go unnoticed. As they reach the peak of the summit, the woman stops and takes in the view – feeling accomplished but still humbled by nature’s complexity.

2)A confident woman strides through the rugged terrain of the mountains, two lovable canines at her side. She has climbed these peaks many times before and knows how to avoid any hazardous obstacles that could impede her progress; but even with this expertise, she is ever mindful of the danger they present. Her knowledge enables her to enjoy the wonders of nature, marvelling at its beauty while appreciating its power. With every step, a thrill of exhilaration runs through her as if being reminded of the grandiose adventure on which she embarked; a unique journey comprised of obscure pathways and unknown trails.

3) A woman, with her faithful hounds in tow, strode forth along the mountain path. Her step was sure, a result of many years spent traversing the steep trails and winding paths; even though she had encountered treacherous conditions in her past adventures, nothing could ever dampen her spirit of exploration. With each ascent and descent, she observed the subtle nuances of nature that only come through familiarity: a particular rock formation or an array of vegetation known to inhabit certain elevations. The atmosphere around her also changed – from brisk air at higher altitudes to warm earthy smells at lower ones. As the sun slowly sank into its horizon, a sense of accomplishment filled her as she trekked onward with confidence, revelling in yet another successful outing amidst the peaks.

None of these plot lines is bad, though all are pretty cliched — and they should be. BUT, again, they could outline books. One has a grammatical mistake, “comprise” being a transitive verb, things aren’t “comprised of” rather they “comprise” or are “composed of,” but whatever… That’s just a very minor thing that bugs me. People make that mistake all the time and no one cares. Probably only I care, but I don’t care very much. And I do not and never have “strided” or “stridden” meaning, clearly, I never “strode.” I’m not the striding (or strident) type. Also, “summit” and “peak” are essentially synonyms so I’m not sure anyone reaches the “summit of the peak.” “Thrill of exhilaration” is a little redundant. Still, if I were to take one of these paragraphs as a draft for something else, that might be fun. Maybe tomorrow 😀

You can try here: AI Story Generator I found it by Googling “AI story generator.” You get only 80 characters to start things off or for a plot line. The website offers a more detailed AI generator with options to write a blog, business letter, all kinds of stuff.

It will write haikus for you… Pretty awful ones…

Vast azure sky of blue,
Majestic clouds drift and soar high,
A journey anew.

The sonnets are a little strange. I asked for one about death. I’m troubled by “emotiony lore…”

The chill of death engulfs my heart so sure,
A wintry air the breath of life abhors.
I’ve known it more times than I can endure,
Mortality is our final course and chore.
Grief lies in wait like a silent entourage,
Curtains close on all that we’ve cherished before;
Familiar smells bring comfort for the moribund stage –
Nostalgia fills souls with an emotiony lore.
Somberness encircles us in darkness’ embrace,
Struggle between life and death seems so grotesque.
Tumultuous ebbtides send chills down our face,
Aching to surrender to this poignant bequest.
Let not your spirit’s depth be left bereft,
Death’s journey leads towards resurrection’s cleft.

A description of the Arena in Verona:

The Arena in Verona is a magnificent amphitheatre, renowned for its iconic red-hued façade and captivating atmosphere. Its antiquity – it dates back to the 1st century AD – imbues it with an unparalleled gravitas, further enhanced by its vigorous conservation efforts over the centuries. From hosting operas and ballets to gladiatorial games and wild animal shows, the arena’s diverse past has been integral to its contemporary identity as one of Europe’s premier tourist attractions. Visitors will be entranced by the resplendence of the architecture, from its grandiose brickwork and incomparable acoustics to its curvilinear seating arrangements and intricate carvings that adorn its masonry walls. Whether experienced alone or shared among friends, a visit to the Arena in Verona promises to be both awe-inspiring and memorable.

This is absolutely fascinating as a game. I wonder if it will be as easy to recognize as the fake voices (still) are? Maybe it would be a fun thing to do for a few blog posts… hmmmm….