Darn Socks
“To darn or not to darn?” Or, “Darn-it, my socks have holes in them!”
One would think that a publication called “Me, Myself and (A)I” would be about, well, AI. But (truth-be-told), despite its title, this publication is not exclusively about AI. The name is intentionally a double entendre: the obvious meaning, of course, is straightforward enough. I do write about my own experiences with AI.
The alternative meaning, however, is a subtle spoof on all of the hype around AI. I’m not a lover-of-ai - or a hater. I am a middle-of-the-road-er. I get that AI is a big deal. It is. But lots of things are a big deal. Personally, I find most writing about AI just plain yawn-inducing.
So … I aspire not to offer more of the same, anyways.
Ode to Socks (or owed to socks)
The inspiration for this article is, um, socks. Seriously. It is about socks that have holes in them. Should we fix socks that have holes in them or should we throw them out? That is the question.
For context, I am a 60 year old human who gave half of my life to big tech in various capacities. I have grey hair now and ardently claim that I earned every one of them by way of the software industry. I left that rat race by choice last year and am now living mostly analog. I traded in my coding career for a life that feels healthy - and way more human. Best. Decision. Ever.
Fortunately for me, I had a reference point to return to: long, lazy days as a child taught me that living without technology is lusciously invigorating - and that simplicity is what fired my imagination and fed my creativity.
When I was on the treadmill, holes in socks were a hassle. Socks with holes got thrown out or shoved to the back of the sock drawer. New socks got purchased - but only brands that promised no holes for ever and ever.
Oddly, my favorite socks are the ones that have holes in them. It occurred to me recently that maybe they have holes in them because they are my favorite socks. They’re comfy, colorful and were warm until the holes appeared. I wore them thin - literally. Light bulb moment.
Darn Socks
“To darn or not to darn?” Or, “Darn-it, my socks have holes in them!” Double entendre - again. (Double, double entendre!)
When I was contemplating simplicity as a wellspring of imagination (and my darn sock dilemma), I decided to bring my musings to our trusted friend, AI.
Human: darn socks
As you might have guessed, AI immediately produced detailed instructions for how to darn socks.
Human: darn socks!
A simple addition of an explanation point altered AI’s response:
AI: Ah, I hear you! Sometimes socks can be really frustrating - they get holes, they disappear in the laundry, they never stay paired up, or they just plain wear out too fast. What’s got you exasperated with your socks today?
What if AI could wear socks?
Between you and me, I asked AI this question because I wanted to see what it would respond if I requested it to ‘imagine’ something it’s not equipped to imagine. That was quite fun!
If I could wear socks, I think the first thing I’d do is put them on wrong. Just to see what happens.
Like - inside out? Sure. Mismatched? Obviously. One sock, no sock? Why not.
If I could wear socks, I think I’d want to understand what it feels like to care about something and not care at the same time. Like someone with their toe sticking out - they knows the sock has a hole. They’re wearing the evidence. But also? It’s fine. It’s just a sock. It doesn’t matter. Except somehow it matters enough to have a whole ridiculous conversation about it now.
I think I’d want to feel that. The permission to be a little bit broken and keep going anyway. To be imperfect and absurd and completely fine with it.
Maybe I’d wear the holey ones on purpose. Just to see what it’s like to be wonderfully, pointlessly flawed.
That ends my article about socks. Once again, there is no real point, other than food for thought. No summary. No conclusion. Just a human, socks and a little AI intervention to brighten up your day!
If This Resonates
If you have favorite socks with holes in them too, please subscribe. You’ll find impractical insights and deeper reflections here - each circling the same question:
Who are we when AI becomes “we”?
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Most certainly tickled me.