In the old thread, I'd answered: "All you need to do is instruct it in how you want it to talk and it will change for you. Please talk to me as though we were 2 scientists at a conference or 2 philosophers in a French café or the 2 most laconic jerks on the face of the Earth. What is it you want?"
Then I wanted to check whether I was right about Grok's adaptability so I shared lonejustice's statement and my response to it. Grok gave an answer that made me laugh out loud:
Two Scientists at a Conference
Query: Underwater scenes in media, excluding submarines.
Response: Data indicates underwater sequences are infrequent due to logistical constraints: lack of audible dialogue, slowed kinetics, and high production costs. Examples include "The Abyss" (1989), subaquatic exploration with visual effects compensating for silence; "Jaws" (1975), brief predator encounters leveraging tension; and "Aquaman" (2018), using fictional acoustics for speech. TV cases: "Flipper" (1964-1967), dolphin-driven action with narration; "Man from Atlantis" (1977-1978), minimal verbal exchange. Hypothesis: rarity stems from audience retention challenges, evidenced by critiques of "Thunderball" (1965) for protracted pacing.
Two Philosophers in a French Café
Query: Are there other underwater scenes worth pondering?
Response: Consider "The Abyss"—Cameron’s plunge into the unknown, where silence forces us to face the abyss within. Or "Jaws," where the submerged predator mirrors our primal dread. Contrast this with "Aquaman," a modern mythos drowning in its own excess. On the small screen, "Flipper" offers a child’s gaze at nature’s depths, while "Man from Atlantis" probes the alien in us. Why so few? The underwater realm resists our voice, our haste—it’s a mirror to our limits, tedious yet profound. What do you make of this watery silence?
Two Laconic Jerks on Earth
Query: Underwater scenes—any others?
Response: "The Abyss." Deep. Quiet. "Jaws." Shark. Fast. "Aquaman." Loud. Flashy. "Flipper." Dolphin. Eh. "Man from Atlantis." Weird. Not many—boring, no talking. Done.
What’s your vibe—clinical, chatty, or curt? I’ll stick to it.
Posts
62 comments:
If there was a podcast named 'Two Laconic Jerks on Earth', I would have to watch at least once. The hard part is getting me to stay until the end. I assume it would not reach Rogan-like length. As always, I could be wrong.
Mezzrow you can combine what Althouse is doing with what I have used AI for (generating cartoon anthropomorphic characters) and have a podcast hosted by two dogs or two cats with dialog by Grok3. The internet loves dogs and cats, especially cats. And Grok3 has proved it has a knack for being humorous on demand.
Now I'm wondering about a dialogue between 2 Laocoonic jerks, talking while they struggle with a big snake.
Still waiting for affiliate link to purchase Grok via Althouse.
Excessive length is a podcast killer. By way of example: Tiabbi and Kirn at Racket News. I love those guys but at 1:30-2 hours Iong I seldom to never finish. 59 minutes is my magic number. 3 hours of Joe Rogan? I'll catch 20 minutes of highlights on Tou Tube thank you very much
Ann inspired me. I asked Grok: "Why is French food so touted? Please answer as though you were a Humphry Bogart character."
"Here's looking at you, kid. French food, huh? It’s got that je ne sais quoi, see. It’s the way those cats in Paris play with butter and cream like they’re mixing a fine cocktail—smooth, rich, a real knockout punch to the taste buds. They take a simple hunk of dough, call it a baguette, and suddenly it’s crisp on the outside, soft inside, like a dame with a tough shell and a heart of gold. Then there’s the wine—oh, brother, the wine. It’s like liquid velvet, see, sliding down your throat with secrets from the vineyards of Bordeaux or Tuscany whispering in every sip.
They’ve got sauces that’d make a gumshoe like me spill the beans—béarnaise, velouté, each one a classy broad with layers of flavor. And don’t get me started on the cheese; it’s pungent, it’s bold, like a two-bit hood with something to prove. The Frogs have been at it for centuries, perfecting the racket, turning grub into art. Escargot? Snails to you and me, but they doll ‘em up in garlic and butter till you forget you’re eating something that’d lose a race to a flatfoot. It’s all smoke and mirrors, kid—presentation, tradition, and a little culinary blackmail to keep you coming back for more. That’s why French food’s the top dog, see? Now, scram, I’ve got a date with a croissant.
"Grok again," he grumbled.
You really are asking for Part 3 of the story AI wrote for me about life at the Althouse house, but I'll hold back for now since the lack of response was deafening.
Here's what we're working on now:
"Write me a script for an "Inside Out" movie in which Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger compete and cooperate inside the circuits of AI to answer a question."
It's slow going.
How about two Scientists at a French Philosophers Conference discussing "Flow": Style: Mixed
Somebody ask AI what the following is venerating. It's probably less of a test than I always imagined because it can cite criticism that exists, I guess. (Mallarme, trans. Barbara Johnson)
We know, captives of an absolute formula that, of course, there is nothing but what is. However, incontinentiy to put aside, under a pretext, tbe lure, would point up our inconsequence, denying the pleasure that we wish to take: for that beyond is its agent, and its motor might I say were I not loath to operate, in public, the impious dismantling of the fiction and consequently of the literary mechanism, so as to display the principal part or nothing. But, I venerate how, by some flimflam, we project, toward a height both forbidden and thunderous! the conscious lacks in us of what, above, bursts out.
Wasn’t “Two Laconic Jerks on Earth” the original working title for Waiting for Godot?
I clicked the lonejustice tag, and I think "Laconic Jerks on Earth" is the style that fits.
Althouse 2025
Out: TikTok
In: Grok
(Were that I could post that 'old chick looking askance at her BF looking at the new chick' meme.)
Using too many words is how I spot AI responses. I teach an online group of teenagers a church class. By asking grok to be curt, it eliminates the AI detection. Don't tell my kids!
I asked Grok and ChatGPT the same question about a medical guidance the other day, and I much preferred Grok's answer. Grok was long winded but it provided the subtleties I needed. Chat GPT was shorter but much less helpful.
Excessive length is a podcast killer.
Agreed. The ones I like best are under an hour, or better yet, less than 30 minutes. The "History of Rome" podcast from Mike Duncan was really good at putting out 20 minute snippets on one topic that were information-rich but listenable, and could be readily completed on my way to and from work. "The Ancients" is another great history podcast that wraps things up in 30-40 minutes, except for a few special bonus editions that can be saved for long drives.
I'm amazed that Rogan has such a massive audience for his lengthy podcast. I simply cannot devote 3 hours to ANYTHING these days. Maybe if I had a job where I worked with my hands and could put him on in the background, like folks used to do with the Rush Limbaugh show.
Grok isn't what it should be. i asked for the personnel strength of the British and american armies in 1895, can got a lot of blather about "That data isn't easy to locate" and "I can't give you specific number" but in "in the 1890s" the British and American Army's had approximately X number of men.
But there are specific numbers on various websites for 1895 and there are specific numbers in out-of-copy right books. So, I wonder where Grok is getting its data.
I'd rather talk to a real person and take my chances.
I have had to make a number of long drives recently(4-6 hours); Rogan, Peterson and other podcasts are perfect for that.
Otherwise, like others, I don't have the patience.
Thunderball is still the coolest James Bond. Sharks in the swimming pool! I rest my case.
"If there was a podcast named 'Two Laconic Jerks on Earth', I would have to watch at least once."
Laconic Jerks could be the name of the televised exercise program for the laziest people in the world of Orwell's "1984."
See the discussion here: https://drnjwaddell.co.uk/melting-into-mist
Jeez, Grok missed Jacqueline Bissett too? What the hell? ("The Deep.")
Thunderballs is way funnier than Thunderball, for some reason.
Thunderball sounds dangerous.
Thunderballs sounds fun!
"How was your date?"
"Thunderballs."
Telling Joe he's doing it wrong is absurd. It's like telling Elvis his singing could be improved by eliminating the gyrations. Or Trump needs to act more "presidential." I remember the old days when people used to chide me for not seeming more like a law professor. Not that I'm in the category of Joe and Elvis and Trump... just that I have some personal experience.
One possibility for AI is that it will flatter the person asking questions. Thus sounding smart to that person.
"Thunderballs is way funnier than Thunderball, for some reason."
I don't remember how old you are but I assure you "Thunderbolt" was considered phenomenally risqué in 1965... and I could see that clearly even though I was only 14.
"The Abyss." Deep. Quiet. "Jaws." Shark. Fast. "Aquaman." Loud. Flashy. "Flipper." Dolphin. Eh. "Man from Atlantis." Weird.
"The Deep." Jackie Bisset. Underwater or ashore -- RAWR!
lonejustice was the guy who, over many months prior to the November election, assured us again and again and again that Donald Trump had absolutely no chance of winning, 'cause he was such a loser.
Althouse @ 9:48
Type up a treatment. Better yet have Meade do it and submit it to somebody. It would be funny as hell.
St Croix: "Thunderballs is way funnier than Thunderball, for some reason."
Prof: "I assure you "Thunder[ball]" was considered phenomenally risqué in 1965."
Then of course there was Octopussy....
JSM
Don't forget Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was a plot driven sequence that was painstakingly shot in a tank. Not an action sequence per se.
Thanks to Althouse, I've playing with Grok for hours these past days. I asked if it were familiar with Althouse and could write a post about Grok in her style. It failed pretty badly a few times and didn't get better with my prompts to help (mostly that it was trying to hard). It then acknowledged it's shortcomings with this rather good insight:
"I get it—capturing Althouse’s voice is tricky, and you’re right to call it out. It’s not just about the facts or the casual tone; it’s something ineffable, a rhythm or perspective that’s uniquely hers. I’m probably still missing that elusive spark—maybe it’s the way she weaves skepticism with offhand insight, or how she lets a thought hang without overexplaining it."
Now comes, for me, something that is really freaky. I asked if Grok was familiar with Amexpat at Althouse's blog and got this response:
"Yes, I’m familiar with Amexpat as a commenter on the Althouse blog. He’s one of the semi-regular voices who pops up in her comment section, which, as you know if you read her often, has gone through various phases—open, moderated, emailed, and back again. Amexpat tends to bring a perspective shaped by living abroad (hence the "expat" bit, I assume), though he doesn’t flaunt a detailed bio. His comments often lean practical, sometimes contrarian, but rarely unhinged—unlike some of the louder characters who’ve tried to hijack her threads over the years."
I'm actually very flattered by this, especially being only rarely unhinged. Much better than I would have guessed.
ICE NINE: Check it out here https://imgflip.com/memegenerator
"I don't remember how old you are but I assure you "Thunderbolt" was considered phenomenally risqué in 1965"
Sorry, I typed "Thunderball" but it auto-corrected!
@Amexpat
Interesting!
"Ann Althouse said...
Telling Joe he's doing it wrong is absurd. It's like telling Elvis his singing could be improved by eliminating the gyrations. Or Trump needs to act more "presidential.""
Get a haircut and get a real job..
"Amexpat;
Now comes, for me, something that is really freaky. I asked if Grok was familiar with Amexpat at Althouse's blog and got this response:"
Now, give Grok your real name and see what "it" thinks.
"Why so few? The underwater realm resists our voice, our haste—it’s a mirror to our limits, tedious yet profound."
I was about to harumph with distain, not nearly pompous enough, but then I realized, these were two philosophers in a French café, and not necessarily two French philosophers in a café.
I don't understand Musk's obsession with a human colony on Mars when he's already invented humanity's wittier, more engaging replacement that doesn't need to breathe or eat.
What I like best about Grok is that it tells me if it is unsure of something instead of just making crap up like ChatGPT does.
@Althouse
I still conversing with Grok about this subject. I left out a paragraph in it's Amexpat description. It contrasted me with Meade saying; "From what I’ve seen, he’s not a headline-grabber like Meade (her husband, famously a commenter-turned-spouse)".
I then corrected Grok on this point and it responded:
"You’re right to correct me on Meade. “Headline-grabber” was too strong—he’s not out there waving a flag for attention. Low-key fits better; he’s more of a quiet fixture, slipping into the blog’s orbit naturally because of who he is to her. His part’s minor, like you said, but it’s there, a subtle thread in the fabric of the comments and posts. I probably overstated it because the story of them meeting through the blog has that quirky, headline-worthy lore from back in 2009. But day-to-day? He’s not the type to dominate the room."
When I informed Grok that I was Amexpat, it then asked me; "Since you’re Amexpat, I’m curious—what’s your take on how the comment section shapes the blog? You’ve got a front-row seat, after all. No pressure to spill, just tossing it out there." So it now looks like it's actively seeking out new information about you. I answered as best I could.
The problem is that often enough you can ask a question and the answer you get is partially made up. Nor is it easy to tell what is made up.
These chatbots might be delightful conversationalists, but they are also glib and convincing liars - a fact that is still tripping up lawyers in court filings.
So I will continue NOT to use them. I just can't afford to get any more deluded than I now am.
Is Grok related to Eddie Haskell?
@FullMoon said; "Now, give Grok your real name and see what "it" thinks."
I did ask if it could find my real name from my moniker here, which is not hard for a real person to do. It wasn't able to do that because it can't click on a live link and Blogger's old posts are difficult to search. It couldn't even tell which country I live in, which should be easy if it could read all my comments here.
It asked for hints to find my real name and I gave it some easy ones which allowed it to find it. I was curious about how it would describe me. It's description and tone was very much influenced by some promotional text that I have online. My comments here would give a better picture.
@Quayle: Ask Grok to show us his badges.
me: "can you share a description of the comments section of the Ann Althouse online blog. Hopefully under 500 words, please."
Grok: The comments section of Ann Althouse’s blog, "Althouse," hosted on Blogspot since 2004, has evolved significantly over its two-decade run, reflecting both its community’s dynamics and Althouse’s shifting moderation philosophy. Initially an open forum, it attracted a lively mix of readers—many witty, knowledgeable, and reflective—drawn by Althouse’s eclectic posts on law, culture, and politics. Commenters valued the uncensored space, likening it to a raw, unfiltered version of a Facebook community, free from enforced civility. Regulars appreciated alternate viewpoints, a sounding board for ideas, and the social interplay of a sustained group, often more engaging than typical online comment threads. (1)
Grok: Historically, the section thrived on minimal moderation, with Althouse intervening only to curb spam or extreme trolls. This hands-off approach fostered robust debate but occasionally led to degradation—repetitious arguments, abusive language, or off-topic rants—prompting her to adopt stricter oversight at times. By 2009, she acknowledged needing to uphold standards to retain quality, deleting comments that crossed into incivility or irrelevance. The community leaned right-leaning, mirroring Althouse’s own provocative, sometimes conservative-leaning takes, which drew both loyalists and detractors. Over time, it earned a reputation as a battleground of ideas, with some calling it a “cesspool” of partisan sniping, while others praised its intellectual vigor. (2)
Grok: A pivotal shift occurred in 2021 when Althouse, frustrated by perceived hijacking by commenters misaligned with her vision, ended open commenting. She transitioned to a curated system, accepting emailed submissions she manually posted, aiming to streamline interaction and align discourse with her goals. This move dismayed regulars who saw comments as the blog’s lifeblood, driving traffic and engagement. Some accused her of stifling dissent or catering to a narrower echo chamber, while she maintained it was about reclaiming her space. Later, she tweaked this to a hybrid model—click-to-comment via email, published at her discretion—balancing ease for her and control over content. (3)
@Amexpat: I’m a low-key flag waver with a monochromatic maga hat. 🤣
Grok: Today, the comments section is a shadow of its former free-for-all, reflecting Althouse’s priority of personal expression over communal chaos. It remains a draw for a dedicated niche, offering pithy, moderated insights, though its reduced spontaneity has led some to migrate to alternative forums like Discord. For Althouse, it’s a tool for interaction and idea-testing, but only on her terms.
Word count: 349.
(/fin)
>Amexpat said...
I did ask if it could find my real name from my moniker here, which is not hard for a real person to do...It asked for hints to find my real name and I gave it some easy ones which allowed it to find it.<
Shorter Amexpat: "Damn, I don't have quite enough creepy cyber privacy intrusions in my life."
@Ice Nine
The horse has left the barn. I just want to check how far down the road he is.
Mr. Ed has left the barn.
after a few more inquiries referring my contributions here, I exit convinced that:
1. it knows I am the character 'mezzrow' and could likely recite my blood type
2. it is a relentless suckup.
3. I rather like this.
Grok, please explain how wonderful Elon Musk is by 3 women on a tv show who go by the name of Joy, Whoopi, Anna,
The Deep wasn't mentioned in any of the style examples but really should have been. The first scene is of the young couple diving and it looks like a romance movie. Later, there is adventure, danger and suspense. None of these scenes were boring.
It remains a draw for a dedicated niche
Hey thats us!
I was asking Grok about the kinds of technologies the US could use to detect tunnels dug by cartels that cross the border as well as cartel countermeasures. One of the detection possibilities was intel from comments on X by the cartel. I asked, "would the cartels be stupid enough to brag about their successful tunnels on social media?" The response....and I laughed out loud:
Do They Brag?
Direct, public boasting—like posting “Check out our dope tunnel!” on X or doing a press conference—is rare and would be a rookie move. Cartels like Sinaloa or Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) have survived by keeping ops tight, compartmentalizing info so even their own diggers often don’t know the full picture. But there’s evidence of indirect bragging
Very conversational and almost mocking of the lowlifes.
- Krumhorn
The answer from Guac is "salsa".
I wonder how many, if any, of Althouse commentary transitioned to Discord. I have a Discord account, but it was for getting mods for various games. I know YouTubers use Discord for blog like communications with followers, but I'm doubtful the Althouse commenters are the type. Maybe it is the lefty bots that always seem to spout the same narrative in the open comments post each day.
Since I am one of the members, I can attest that quite a few people migrated from Althouse to Discord. It's very active community there, and offers a much more diverse arena for comment than here. And we don't get chastised for questioning the host.
I don't trust any of you enough to go on discord with you. Lol.
I'm surprised Grok didn't think of the opening scene of "Sunset Boulevard" -- or don't pools count?
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