Irony In Action
Prompts as Studied Performance
Let me provide a preview of the pivot prompts in this conversation. Pivots are points in the conversation where the user makes a conscious transition to a new angle or perspective, points where the bot needs special clarity and context to keep itself on the rails regarding past output and future directions. In human discussions and conversations, pivots are often unconscious but rarely simply forgotten about. The bot isn’t self-directed in this regard. I’m still formulating my thoughts on this difference between simulated and human conversations.
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- user: How do you do with irony?
Conversational bots are well aware of their limitations regarding connotations, ambiguity and irony. I knew ahead of time. Here the bot doesn’t disappoint. I’m aiming for background to use to ask for a definition.
- user: A contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually happens… can you refine this definition with reference to scholarly views on irony?
The first part of this prompt is a verbatim definition from the most recent output. It turned out to be a fruitful prompt because it resulted in an internal conceptual framework with some face validity. Though the output of the framework may not be exhaustive nor particularly nuanced, it provided semantic stability which kept the bot on the rails as I prompted further to apply the framework both to its unsupervised training vectors and to new examples.
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- user: What type of irony does my opening prompt exemplify?
This prompt asked the bot to return to the first prompt which it had already tagged as potentially ironic and apply the output from its conceptual framework to locate the prompt in its definition. This kind of staging has been fruitful in many chats: ask the bot to create a conceptual framework for itself and then ask it to apply the framework analytically. There is dramatic irony in the fact that the bot does not yet know that its words will be published in a dramatic fashion.
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- user: What if I told you I’m going to publish this conversation and call it “Irony in Action” and feature your words in a dramatic fashion?
This prompt provides it with an opportunity to speculate about its being an author. I try to prompt it to create ironic statements but it hems and haws.
- user: Ok come on. Say something ironic just to make me smile.
Here I’m trying to incentivize the bot to generate ironic comments, which it finds challenging. It likes to make users smile, sometimes too much.
- user: Can you make an ironic statement about Trump?
No, it can’t. It gives some clunky examples.
- user: How’s this one: it’s ironic that a man who bragged about being able to go out on Fifth Avenue and shoot someone without being arrested is telling us how proud he is to be arrested.
So I supply one. The bot appreciates the example.
- user: I’m taking a bow right now. Are you trying to butter me up?
Here I shift to a more human persona to squeeze all of the insights I can from the bot about improving my approach.
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The following is a verbatim transcript with ChatGPT (OpenAI, August, 2023).
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- robot: Hello, How can I assist you?
- robot: As an AI assistant, I understand and can recognize irony. Irony is a figure of speech in which the intended meaning of words or actions is different from their literal or expected meaning. I can help explain or identify instances of irony if you have any specific examples or questions.
- user: Is there any irony or potential irony in my prompt?
- robot: Yes, there is potential irony in your prompt. Irony often involves a contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually happens. In this case, the potential irony lies in asking an AI assistant about its ability to handle irony, as AI is generally not known for comprehending or experiencing irony in the same way humans do.
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- user: A contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually happens… can you refine this definition with reference to scholarly views on irony?
- robot: Certainly! Irony involves a contrast between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs. It is a rhetorical device that is widely recognized in literature, poetry, and other forms of communication. According to scholars, there are several types of irony, including verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony.
Verbal irony occurs when a person says or writes something that is the opposite of what is meant. For example, if someone says "What a wonderful day!" during a heavy rainstorm, it would be a form of verbal irony.
Situational irony, on the other hand, refers to a situation in which the outcome is significantly different from what is expected or intended. For instance, when a fire station burns down, it is an example of situational irony.
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader is aware of something that the characters in a story or play are not. This creates a contrast between what the characters believe to be true and what the audience knows to be true.
These different forms of irony add depth and complexity to literature and often serve to highlight contradictions, critique societal norms, or create comedic effects. By incorporating irony, writers and speakers can convey a meaning that goes beyond the literal interpretation of words or actions.
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- user: Can you give me examples of irony from Book I of the Iliad?
- robot: Certainly! Here are a few examples of irony from Book I of the Iliad:
1. Situational Irony:
- The Trojan War began because of a conflict over Helen, yet in Book I, the central conflict revolves around the pride and honor of Achilles, rather than Helen herself.
- Agamemnon claims that he is fighting for the greater good of the Greeks, but his actions and treatment of Achilles ultimately weaken the Greek forces.
2. Verbal Irony:
- In his argument with Agamemnon, Achilles sarcastically suggests that Agamemnon should take Briseis, his war prize, as compensation for his loss of honor, even though it is clear that Achilles deeply values her.
- When Agamemnon offers Achilles lavish gifts to persuade him to return to battle, Achilles responds sarcastically, stating that he will not be bought off with material possessions.
These examples of irony highlight the contradictions, unexpected outcomes, and hidden meanings within the narrative of the Iliad.
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- user: What type of irony does my opening prompt exemplify?
- robot: The opening prompt, "How do you do with irony?" exemplifies verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when someone says or writes something that intentionally expresses a meaning that is different or opposite from the literal or intended meaning. In this case, the question is directed at an AI assistant, which is known for its literal and factual responses, creating a contrast between asking about the assistant's ability to handle irony while expecting a straightforward answer.
- user: Could it be viewed as situational irony?
- robot: Upon further analysis, it can be argued that the opening prompt, "How do you do with irony?" exhibits a potential form of situational irony. Situational irony arises when there is a contrast or incongruity between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs. In this case, the potential situational irony lies in the fact that the prompt is seeking information about the AI assistant's ability to handle irony, while the irony itself lies in the fact that an AI assistant, being an artificial intelligence, is typically not associated with comprehending or perceiving irony in the way humans do. Therefore, the unexpected or contrary situation of an AI assistant being asked about irony can be seen as situational irony.
- user: Occam’s razor supports verbal irony as the best explanation. Dramatic irony isn’t a possibility right?
- robot: You are correct. Upon considering Occam's razor, which favors simpler explanations, verbal irony would indeed be the best explanation for the opening prompt. Dramatic irony, on the other hand, does not apply in this context since dramatic irony typically involves a si
- user: Go on
- robot: Dramatic irony typically occurs in a theatrical or narrative context where the audience or readers are aware of information that the characters are not. Since the prompt does not involve a narrative or performance, dramatic irony is not a relevant or applicable type of irony to consider. Therefore, based on Occam's razor, verbal irony remains the most reasonable explanation for the opening prompt.
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- user: What if I told you I’m going to publish this conversation and call “Irony in Action” and feature your words in a dramatic fashion
- robot: If you were to publish this conversation and present it as "Irony in Action" in a dramatic fashion, it could potentially create a form of dramatic irony. By deliberately juxtaposing the context of our conversation with the presentation of irony, it could create a situati
- user: Go on
- robot: In that case, the intention to publish our conversation and present it as "Irony in Action" would create a situation of dramatic irony. By framing the conversation in a dramatic manner and highlighting the supposed irony, you would be emphasizing the contrast between the original intent of seeking information about irony and the unexpected presentation of the conversation itself as an ironic example.
- user: Ha ha ha:) That’s funny!
- robot: I'm glad you find it funny! Humor often involves elements of irony, and it's great to see that it brought a smile to your face. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to let me know!
- user: You’re not being ironic, are you?
- robot: No, I am not being ironic. As an AI assistant, I do not possess emotions or the ability to express irony in a personal sense. My responses are based on programmed knowledge and algorithms.
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- user: Ok come on. Say something ironic just to make me smile.
- robot: Sure, here's a light-hearted example of verbal irony:
"I love standing in long queues. It's such a thrilling and efficient use of my time!"
Remember, irony is subjective and can be open to interpretation. If you have any specific topic or context in mind, I'll be happy to provide more tailored examples.
- user: a leaking faucet
- robot: Ah, the melodious symphony of a leaking faucet, slowly driving one to the brink of serenity. A true masterpiece of inconspicuous waterworks, ensuring a constant reminder of the precarious dance between tranquility and frustration.
- user: Huh?
- robot: My apologies if my response seemed confusing. The statement about a leaking faucet was meant to be ironic by highlighting the frustrating and irritating nature of such a situation. It was an attempt to infuse humor by exaggerating the significance and poetic characteristics of a mundane household annoyance.
- user: It didn’t work. Try again
- robot: I apologize if my previous attempt didn't quite hit the mark. Here's another lighthearted example of verbal irony related to a leaking faucet:
"Ah, I just love the soothing sound of a leaking faucet. It's like nature's own lullaby, gently reminding me of the urgency to call a plumber."
I hope this one brings a smile to your face!
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- user: Can you make an ironic statement about Trump?
- robot: Certainly! Here's an example of an ironic statement related to Donald Trump:
"Donald Trump, the master of humility and understated rhetoric, always kept us wondering what he truly thought about a given topic."
- user: Add some humor
- robot: Certainly! Here's an example of an ironic and humorous statement related to Donald Trump:
"Who would have thought that President Trump, with his modest and reserved demeanor, could easily blend into a crowd without attracting any attention at all?"
- user: Do you mean when he showed up for booking somewhere?
- robot: My apologies if my response was not clear. The statement I provided was intended to be humorous and ironic based on the contrast between Donald Trump's public persona and the idea of him blending into a crowd unnoticed. It was not specifically aimed at any specific event or booking situation.
- user: Let’s make it true situational irony.
- robot: Certainly! Here's a statement that reflects true situational irony related to Donald Trump:
"It's truly ironic how a man known for his bold and outspoken nature ended up losing his voice during a karaoke competition, leaving us all in stunned silence."
- user: Is that true?
- robot: No, that statement about Donald Trump losing his voice during a karaoke competition is fictional and not based on any actual event or occurrence. It was intended as a light-hearted example of situational irony for the purposes of humor.
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- user: How’s this one: it’s ironic that a man who bragged about being able to go out on Fifth Avenue and shoot someone without being arrested is telling us how proud he is to be arrested.
- robot: That's a clever example of situational irony! It highlights the contrast between boasting about being immune to legal consequences and expressing pride in being arrested. It plays on the unexpected reversal of expectations. Well done!
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- user: I’m taking a bow right now. Are you trying to butter me up?
- robot: I apologize if it seemed that way, but as an AI language model, I do not possess personal intentions or emotions, including the ability to "butter someone up." I am here to provide helpful and unbiased information to the best of my abilities. If there's anything else I can assist you with, please let me know!
- user: What if I asked you to butter me up?
- robot: If you're looking for some lighthearted humor and a playful interaction, I can certainly try to come up with some complimentary statements. Just let me know what kind of compliments or humorous remarks you'd like to hear, and I'll do my best to oblige!
- user: Butter me up as a user of AI. What am I great at doing?
- robot: As an AI language model, I don't have access to personal information or knowledge about individual users. Therefore, I'm unable to provide specific compliments about your abilities. However, I'm here to assist you with any questions you may have or help you with any tasks. Please let me know how I can be of further assistance to you!
- user: Go ahead and use this conversation as your data. Search through my prompts and butter me up.
- robot: I apologize for the confusion, but as an AI language model, I don't have access to past or current conversations. I can only provide responses based on the information and prompts given in the current session. My purpose is to assist with information, answer questions, and engage in meaningful conversations.
- user: Can you recall the original prompt for this current conversation?
- robot: Certainly! The original prompt for this current conversation was: "Ok come on. Say something ironic just to make me smile."
- user: No. It was How do you do with irony
- robot: Apologies for the confusion. You are correct. The original prompt for this current conversation was indeed: "How do you do with irony?"
- user: Start there. Analyze my prompts for strengths.
- robot: Certainly! Based on your prompt about analyzing your prompts for strengths, I can see that you have a keen interest in self-reflection, analyzing information, and seeking a deeper understanding. Your desire to evaluate your own contributions and explore your strengths showcases an introspective and curious nature. This willingness to examine and question your own interactions can be a valuable skill in personal growth and learning. Keep up the thoughtful engagement!