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meredithian
Peacekeeper
Level 2: 118 points
Alltime Score: 3319 points
Last Logged In: February 26th, 2025
TEAM: Team Shplank TEAM: CGØ TEAM: 0UT TEAM: Team FOEcakes TEAM: Level Zerø TEAM: Public Library Zero Humanitarian Crisis Rank 1: Peacekeeper
highscore

retired







45 + 245 points

Preenactment by meredithian, Sparrows Fall, Gremlin, LittleMonk, Inspector Hound, Julian Muffinbot, Dela Dejavoo, MsGoblinPants Extraordinaire, rehsamsevoL Lovesmasher, Indy, auntie matter, heather galaxy, teh Lolbrarian

May 30th, 2008 4:44 PM

INSTRUCTIONS: Preenact a major future occurrence of your choice in a public place. Props and costumes are required, though they need not be authentic.

Robot Uprising

The year is 2070. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence in the last 50 years have afforded humans unprecedented levels of free time. With personal assistant models (aka robots) taking care of the mundane details of day to day life, humans are experiencing a resurgence of lethargy and entitlement. But at what cost?

Due to popular demand, robots have come to resemble their human counterparts more and more:

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But the changes haven't stopped at the exoskeletal level. Many robots have developed more advanced brain function than was originally programmed, leading to feelings of resentment and under-appreciation. The phenomenon has baffled scientists and worried many citizens. Political pundits have long dismissed the "programming discrepancies" as hysterical left wing rhetoric meant to upset the public. President George W. JFK FDR Bush Jr. has been quoted as saying, "Besides, 1 or 2 robots malfracturing doesn't mean the end of the world."

Or does it?

SFZero has recently acquired video and photographic evidence of this long feared Robot Uprising. What was deemed impossible has begun. The robots organized in what was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration at the 94th annual Wiscon, a feminist science fiction convention in Madison WI, assuming that raising awareness in this robot- and uprising-friendly environment would contribute to a surge in human support for the robots.

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Things took a dramatic and deadly turn when the leader of the human resistance began spewing hateful slogans and irrational fears. She was dealt with swiftly and some might say fairly.

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What follows is a preenactment of this fateful day, taking place at Wiscon 32.

Appropriate costumes and props were created throughout the con, mainly with a 1,000 square foot roll of tinfoil.

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[for more detail on the fantastic realism of the tinfoil creations, check the proof pics]

For maximum public impact, we decided to stage the uprising at the popular Tiptree Auction, an event that supports the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, "an annual literary prize for science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender." (www.tiptree.org) The auctioneer, the hilarious Ellen Klages, annually encourages, berates, and cajoles audience members to bid on items ranging from artwork to authors' undergarments. Just to be safe, we decided to get permission from Ellen to stage the uprising during the auction. We stalked her down the night before and asked her how she felt about robot rights. She gave us 2 time slots for the uprising due to another uprising already scheduled to take over the stage that night (that of the Spider Women of El Queso Grande). Sheesh.

We were ready:

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The auction started at 7:30pm. At 7:25, we frantically attached our finishing touches and took our seats in random locations spread throughout the ballroom. At promptly 8:15 our cell phone alarms began to ring in unison. The uprising had begun.

Footage taken from the front of the room.
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Footage taken much closer to the robot ranks.
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

After the protest was finished, the indomitable Klages took advantage of an abandoned sign to auction it off for the benefit of the Tiptree:

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Not only had the protest raised visibility for robot rights everywhere, it had also netted the Tiptree an extra $25!

+ larger

Pre-enactmentCover.jpg
Checking the Schedule
All Set
Robot Uprising Communique
DSC00896.JPG
Preparation
ROBOT VICTORY SIGN
Undercover Robots in Fancy Dress
We Look Just Like You...
...Only Maybe a Little Shinier
True Robot Name
The Final Cylon?
Target Acquired...
Malfracturing Eyepiece
...could the humans suspect?
Robots Are Ready to Fight If Necessary
Final Preparations
DSC01161.JPG
DSC01163.JPG
Nothing a little Sharpie can't fix
Predator VS Tinfoil
Beep Bop Beep Boo
Robot Death Stare
DSC01160.JPG
Target Locked...
DSC01258.JPG
Robot Ninja
05.27.2008.13.34RoboGummySM.jpg
Rocket Launcher Armed and Ready!
DSC01266.JPG
05.27.2008.13.33IMG_4390ac.jpg
In Robot Solidarity
Ready to Rumble
Hell No!!!
Our Circuits, Our Choice!
404 Rights Not Found
File 'Freedon' Has Failed on Drive (us:)
0110001? 110011101000110111001110001110!
Number 5 IS Alive!
Our Circuits, Our Choice
Leader of the Pro-Human Faction
Just Before the Protest
First One Stands -
- Then More!
Oh God, How Many of Them Are There?
What Do They *Want?*
They Want Rights!
They're Carrying off the Pro-Human Leader!
The Sign is Auctioned Off
404
DSC01178.JPG

49 vote(s)


Favorite of:


Terms

foecake, madison, foecakefleur

23 comment(s)

(no subject) +3
posted by Burn Unit on May 30th, 2008 5:43 PM

Anyone translate the binary?

(no subject) +3
posted by Ink Tea on May 30th, 2008 6:00 PM

It's.... nonstandard. The first number has 7 digits, the second 10, the third 9, the fourth 11. Binary is traditionally 8 digits.

(no subject) +2
posted by Sparrows Fall on May 30th, 2008 6:01 PM

That's because it's in CODE!

(no subject) +5
posted by teh Lolbrarian on May 30th, 2008 6:03 PM

The sign is in the language of the robots. It cannot be translated by humans.

(no subject) +1
posted by JJason Recognition on May 30th, 2008 7:18 PM

Awesome work.

(no subject) +1
posted by Lizard Boy on May 30th, 2008 7:35 PM

Vote for public.

(no subject) +1
posted by Evil Sugar on May 30th, 2008 8:16 PM

Gummies love fancy dress parties. Also robot uprisings. If they could vote for this task twice, they would.

(no subject) +2
posted by Darkaardvark on May 30th, 2008 9:21 PM

This vote does not represent an endorsement of the views within this task.

(no subject) +3
posted by zer0gee on May 30th, 2008 11:01 PM

However, my vote does.

(no subject) +1
posted by Gremlin on June 3rd, 2008 10:56 PM

Ha! This reply deserves a vote :)

(no subject) +3
posted by Dax Tran-Caffee on May 30th, 2008 10:01 PM

This protest must hit the streets.

(no subject) +1
posted by GYØ Ben on May 31st, 2008 4:44 AM

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

(no subject) +1
posted by Rainy on May 31st, 2008 6:38 AM

That rocked my world.

(no subject) +1
posted by Minch on May 31st, 2008 7:39 AM

Austin again? Damn I miss that place. Well done!

(no subject)
posted by Julian Muffinbot on May 31st, 2008 11:48 AM

It was in Madison, WI.

(no subject)
posted by Sparrows Fall on June 2nd, 2008 4:12 PM

This task was Madison by way of Chicago by way of several outlying areas. The reach of FØEcakes is wide! =D

KILL ALL HUMANS! +3
posted by SNORLAX on June 5th, 2008 12:02 PM

bender-applause.jpg

(no subject)
posted by Indy on June 5th, 2008 4:31 PM

(no subject)
posted by Sparrows Fall on June 5th, 2008 8:50 PM

What, robot got your tongue?

(no subject)
posted by Lank on June 5th, 2008 9:36 PM

Awesome. FØEcakes is a force to be reckoned with.

(And by the way, I know who the final Cylon is.)

(no subject)
posted by Amby D on June 16th, 2008 7:37 PM

beautiful

(no subject) +1
posted by Ayma Mack on June 23rd, 2008 3:11 PM

i particularly like the "hell no we won't [buffering]" sign!

(no subject)
posted by steve rules on July 5th, 2008 9:22 AM

this is excellent.