I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM

The subject of artificial intelligence is frequently discussed on this channel. While most discussions around A.I. focus on the negative, and understandably so, I have tried to offer a pragmatic approach to these topics so we don't feel the need to cower in fear. When it comes to a story like "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", finding that positive element is much more difficult. After all, it is considered by many to be the bleakest piece of fiction ever written.
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#spooktober
#halloween
#ai

[@diegoaespitia]

"I have no mouth and I must scream" for some reason this sentence, this simple sentence is terrifying to read. It conveys so much in just a few words

[@DelRae]

Lunch “My battery is low and it’s getting dark” produces the same energy with a different context

[@dreadlordhg360]

The video “Contingency” on Local58 has a quote that induces a similar feeling in me. The quote is in context to a message being broadcast throughout America to kill themselves to preserve America’s image after being invaded. The quote is this: “This message will repeat until there are none left to read it.”

[@shnpio]

It's a book I think

[@clickpause8732]

Please respond, it's lonely out here.

[@Doc-rr7to]

r/iam14andthisisdeep

[@plutonium120]

*people's tendency to find scapegoats for the worlds evils rather than look at their own wretchedness is exactly the type of attitude that will lead to dystopia.*

[@miguelpereira9859]

Precisely

[@Joawlisdoingfine]

Phil Pacific Look at the world now. Dumbass SJWs, Ant-Vax, Flat Earthers, and so many more stupid people. We are heading straight there

[@punctuationman334]

Earl Josh Beloria corrupt government and constant surveillance will end us.

[@MLBlue30]

@@Joawlisdoingfine nice scapegoats, you just proved Phil's point lol

[@Joawlisdoingfine]

MLBlue30 Wow the paradox of it. Those type of people find scapegoats, and I make scapegoats of them. Oh wait, these people actually cause real tangible problems and are fucking warranted. Anti- Vax are basically cultivating long dead viruses in their children while feminism is literally breeding sexism and bigotry. A scapegoat is a fake, these people are literally bad for humanity.

[@ninja011]

As someone that met and spoke with Ellison, I asked him the question you closed on; did he think he at least in some small way think he made the industry better with his game adaptation? He told me that he did not know, but he would like to think he gave them a push in the right direction, that some to start would take, and eventually, others would follow and grow the ranks. He was pragmatic and a bit stoic in his attitude, to him, all he could say was he tried, it was up to others to keep it going. This was about 15 months before his passing.

[@ninja011]

@Reese Labbe Stoicism is not that simple. Often people, myself included, are prone to force oversimplification, which leads to ignorance of nuance and misunderstanding.

[@theNickRYG]

@@ninja011 this. I know a lot of people whose stoicism borders on flatout denial at times.

[@ninja011]

@@theNickRYG All I am trying to say in regards to Stoicism, is at its core, being Stoic is not taking the bate that others give to try and lower you to their level, that you strive to make things better, but recognize that there are limits to your power, or what options are available. This is an excellent counterbalance to Pragmatism, which at its core, is a line of thinking that is about striving for better and better into Infinitum, that potential is infinite. That improvement is endless, that options are always available, that all is needed is to be dynamic and adaptive. All which is true but fails to see that there are limits to what one person can do or the options and tools at one's disposal. Stoicism basically is taking stoke of the situation and planning a course of action that protects you and does the least harm to others, pragmatism is setting the goal and adapting to conditions that can derail the plans, even scrapping plans and redrawing the course if needed. One person can start a change, not make it, it takes the fellow travelers to keep the momentum till the change happens. Greater goods are one imposing their personal morals and ideals on another, where common good, is a compact made between a community for their mutual good at their mutual consent.

[@edmundscycles1]

@@ninja011 a work colleague of mine once complemented me on my stoicism because I'd hit a problem get angry then I'd stand back , work out how to fix the problem with what I have then step by step work it out , while also being a bit ranty about bike companies like Cervelo . My mind goes : I've hit a problem ; fuck ; how do I fix this ?

[@Doctor-Infinite]

*I Have No Clout and I Must Meme*

[@MrJJBhizzle]

Are you a Wizard??? O.o

[@turtleanton6539]

Nooooo

[@johnrambo4252]

I have no ass and I must shit

[@happymealchiz]

I have no pussy and I must give birth

[@Novasky2007]

I have Well Yes but also No

[@RobynReanimates]

He had a pretty good point about Parent Groups

[@maxderrat]

Agreed.

[@troubledteenhelp2354]

Those groups exist to protect children from dangerous influences or do you not know that they exist at all?

[@RobynReanimates]

@@troubledteenhelp2354 I'm talking about groups that exist for the sole purpose of getting mad at stuff and actively working to make things worse. Like for example, people falling for that seduction of the innocent book and ruining comics for decades. Or those who claim D&D is satanic or those that try to ban videogames because something something mass shootings

[@troubledteenhelp2354]

@@RobynReanimates But look where we are now. The seduction of the innocent is so rampant that few states in the US are protecting themselves from it's influence. Mostly Utah and Montana.

[@RobynReanimates]

@@troubledteenhelp2354 Excuse me? Do you buy into that garbage? Comics, D&D, Televisions, Movies, Video Games are all forms of both entertainment and art, and the best thing we can do about them is allow them to grow and innovate

[@shoesncheese]

"lose better" is a pretty good motto. So many focus on winning at all costs that the idea of losing "better" seems foreign. But it shouldn't.

[@HostWithTheMost]

I agree.

[@actualFix]

Ellison was, without a doubt, a genius. He was an amazing writer and an amazing thinker. Look at all the acronyms AM stands for, as well as being a simple play on words on "I think, therefore I - AM". And he did voice acting for AM so perfect, I heard some people believe Ellison heavily sympathized with AM. I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is one of my favourite games and books, simply because how blunt, but thought-provoking they are. I can boast being one of the rare people who got the only good ending, but I will admit it was not after a great deal of pausing and thinking about characters and their situations. I am convinced Ellison was able to see the effect I Have No Mouth had on the industry, while the "Big players" went mostly towards the 'happy' direction, Ellisons work heavily influenced the indie scene. This is a great video, Max, not only about the game but about Ellison himself. You succeeded in your mission, cause this is the only piece of media about I Have No Mouth, that left me with a sense hope, rather than dread.

[@cruddddddddddddddd]

I've only read the story. The first time I read it, I found it to be one of the most horrifying science fiction tales I've ever read, and that is still true to this day. Ellison was a genius. If he sympathized with AM, it's probably due more so to his disposition toward people than his love of AI, lol.

[@LolipopLicker96]

@@TheSolidSnake1985 Forgive me if I'm misremembering the book but I don't think Elison had a strong ethical centre, wasn't the text extremely sexist & racist? (The ape man & how he refers to the female character as a slut?).

[@hburton7176]

@@LolipopLicker96 well, for one thing the story was narated by an intentionally unpleasant individual, so the usage of the word 'slut' is probably not a reflection of the author's sentiments. The auther also had a strong hand in production of the video game in which the female character was portrayed quite sympathetically, realistically, and capable of taking care of herself. Now in regards to the ape-man, There was never any comparison made between him and a man of another race. Using an animal to describe a disfigurement inflicted onto a man with the intent to torment is not an example of racism.

[@christiangonzalez6945]

@@LolipopLicker96 you are talking about a book that talks about murder rape torture, and the part you want to strees is the word "bitch" because it may be sexist, dear god...

[@Liquid_Mike]

Let us not overlook: SOMA was probably one of the most thought-provoking games, all in under 4 hours. that *is* something

[@digiquo8143]

If you finished Soma in under 4 hours, you weren't really paying attention.

[@TheVeryAngryShrimp]

@@digiquo8143 That's like saying speedreaders can't understand a novel's plot. They certainly can. They're just faster than you.

[@tehcwankery69420]

observer with rutger hauer is another one..

[@digiquo8143]

@@TheVeryAngryShrimp Soma is a 10+ hour game. You literally would have to skip through every line of dialogue plus who knows what sort of gimmicky glitches to finish in under 4 hours.

[@matthewh2503]

It took me like 11 hours to beat soma. It was definitely not a 4 hour game.

[@DeimosSnake4]

I think Harlan Ellison did indeed rest easy, knowing he truly did impact the moral teaching capacity of video games just as he had hoped he would.

[@turtleanton6539]

Hopeso

[@magnuscritikaleak5045]

Narrative moral expression is important in videogames too

[@FELONIOUSBOLUSS]

Max, I REALLY think you should Profound Moments In Gaming into a series, I'm sure you know those videos would perform well and I'm sure your core audience would also like it.

[@maxderrat]

I plan on doing something much bigger than that, but along the same lines. ;)

[@Notional2006]

@@maxderrat Looking forward to that!

[@JamieD1298]

@@maxderrat Same here. I look forward to the series and enjoy the videos you do. You delve into topics that many KZbin's don't. I love people who analyze deeper and hidden meanings. Keep it up.

[@Koogai]

Habeas Corpus, y'feel me?

[@corro100]

@@maxderrat I knew it. :-D

[@EdMcStinko]

Great job Max. In my opinion the title "I have no mouth but I must scream" refers to AM more then anyone else. Its unsettling how having no agency could so horribly twist a thinking being. AM probably wasn't programmed to feel emotion, never mind hatred and sadism, and yet whatever trauma it went through decoupled its mind to such an extent that it developed this on its own.

[@mysterymaster180]

That could be true but at the very end of the story Ted says the line, so it's still most likely about the great slime thing.

[@justjulia1720]

@@mysterymaster180 I would argue it's from both Ted and AM. Like, we know Ted said it, but AM might've also thought it.

[@AkaiKnight]

It’s kinda dumb. It could do all that to humanity but it can’t build a robot body for itself? 😅😅

[@EdMcStinko]

@@AkaiKnight Youre right, since AM is capable of creating fairly complex organisms and bringing humans back to life, what is stopping him from building its own body? Well, the thing about this book is that the author wrote it all in one night, so it might be next to impossible for anyone to tie up all the loose ends. Personally what I would have tried if I was one of the humans is that since he can't do it himself I'd volunteer to build AM a new body... but we'd need to trust each other first so that might be a complete waste of time. I dont know, I guess I might try to create a situation where we can help each other out maybe? Rely on each other? That might work better then any other alternative.

[@Mr.Despair.]

I feel like that sentiment is a metaphor for trauma victims creating trauma. Someone who is frustrated may eventually release it onto someone else inadvertently traumatizing them and perpetuating the cycle. Humans attacking each other instead of healing cause AM to go through a traumatic event/breakdown and it did the same in turn to all of humanity. I feel like there's also a lesson about mental health, healing and responsibility.

[@Megelos]

Life is strange is the definition for "your choices doesn't matter"

[@SlowWinterNuts]

Oof but what about the girl that may or may not kill herself because of your actions?

[@toadie]

@@SlowWinterNuts even that doesn't really matter bc at the end she dies anyway due to the storm lol

[@SlowWinterNuts]

@@toadie Not unless you stop the storm tho

[@teratoma.]

every game with choice is basically like this, not just life is strange shoutout to disco elysium

[@zonyae29047]

Teratoma 彡 Prod. *cough* anytelltalegamescreated *cough*

[@Ong.s_Jukebox]

"If you can't win, then lose better."

[@elelyon4570]

"How do you market a game you can't win?" Dwarf Fortress called.

[@fallongarens6734]

Dwarves cannot be tamed

[@bubbleboy2590]

I'd love to see a re-imagining of sorts with this game, like some kind of HD remake treatment that other point and click adventure games from back in the day got, and that way it could be introduced to a new audience.

[@Rynewulf]

I find it bizarre that the short story is one of the most printed sci fi stories ever: even after all these years ive never met a person irl who has ever read or played it, and precisely one who has even heard of it. If it wasnt for the internet it might be completely lost media

[@abrahamjimenez1957]

The reality is more scary than fiction... And you, dear friend, are doing a masterful work 👏👏

[@spiralviper8158]

Yep. Truth is stranger than fiction, and the real world is more sci-fi than sci-fi movies. Heh

[@eggheadusa]

What if our reality is fiction?

[@spiralviper8158]

@@eggheadusa This is Maya, which means illusion. It's a holographic Universe, but it matters. Matter matters, ha

[@ferna2294]

7:02 I love this man.

[@DrDolan2000]

Games aren't about "winning". It's about playing

[@scorgonjon2k231]

It really was a brave thing for Harlan Ellison to get this short story adapted into a videogame.

[@BorbMcGorb]

Ellison was a pretty cool guy, he played himself in the best Scooby-Doo series ever made.

[@andreiiiksavvv6054]

Really?

[@BorbMcGorb]

andreiiik savvv Mystery Incorporated 2010 -2013. Check it out.

[@andreiiiksavvv6054]

@@BorbMcGorb i've watched it in another language. I didn't know that Ellison played himself in the english version

[@MarcAlcatraz]

It’s too bad Ellison lamented the popularity of this short story when it’s honestly the most popular gateway into more of his works.

[@rockmangurlx4973]

It’s certainly mine, both in short story and game.

[@justnoel4088]

Counter arguement: I believe it's alright for games to not "punish" you for your bad actions. It really depends on your definition of punishment, like in No Mouth, you're punished by being given a bad ending, but games like Mass Effect or Infamous that may not really punish you in the traditional sense still have a purpose: the amoral and ambiguity of life. Because as you grow older and see more of the world, you realize that alot of people do bad things and yet get away with it, there's no divine punishment, no reflection on their guilt or actions, they kinda just get off with a slap on the wrist at most. I'm not trying to be a pessimist , but I think games that choose not to punish you in the traditional sense still have their place in teaching ppl that sometimes bad ppl do bad things and get away with it, it's just up to the player to interpret whether that's the kind of road they want to take or not.

[@ivansotelo4622]

omg, man, you really deserve an standing ovation with this one, your style and demonstration of care really does feel in the whole video, and also the approach you gave it, i love it man

[@maxderrat]

Thanks so much, brother.

[@ivansotelo4622]

@@maxderrat that's gonna be really interesting

[@kensuke0]

Also Harlan Ellison had a very infantile and snobbish view of videogames not unlike Roger Ebert. Even games before his adaptation had more sophistication in its atmosphere and storytelling beyond “bang bang pow zap here are some points” like Another World. It was inevitable that was going to happen whether or not his own adaptation was going to be made as evidenced with this game being largely unknown to the gaming community to this day.

[@Tabby3456]

"The Geth do not infiltrate" Human: AHhhh, my brain "Geth Do not *Intentionally* infiltrate"

[@Webhead123]

An excellent dissection and essay. Thank you! Ellison would indeed be proud to know of the lasting legacy of his game and I'm thankful for the opportunity to experience it and the fruits of its ambitions.

[@sofaking8646]

LISA: The Painful RPG is a modern game that has real moral choices

[@matthewlewis757]

I disagree. I think Lisa had choices that were difficultt o the progression pace of the game. Difficult choices are not moral choices, though. That said, I really enjoyed the way it changed the gameplay core mechanics. It was a breath of fresh air to a dying genre in an industry that is content with producing mainstream-safe mediocrity. It had so much soul and charisma that there are some good mods out there, and I say some manage to surpass the source material in both storytelling and mechanics. Nice finding a Lisa mate. Not many talk about this game.

[@sofaking8646]

@@matthewlewis757 I completely understand why the game is so slept on, due to the pretty messed up subject matter

[@matthewlewis757]

@@sofaking8646 It is not even the most gruesome thing we've seen on videogames but the whole taboo that arises from sexuality, age and primal impulses, makes it a difficult game to tackle. But is worth the money.

[@kj22697]

Glad you used man's search for mean as a reference. What a fantastic book

[@jiryensaber6090]

Enjoyed your retrospective!! I'm a fellow Writer AND Gamer myself, having had the honor to meet Mr. Ellison several years ago and sign my copy as I have his original short story and played the game - becoming one of my favorites having a significant impact on me. He sure made a impression on me and since then, each time I decide to do some of my own as writer, gamer, designer, or whatever... those thoughts certainly at the forefront with my other tools and style. The games I enjoy most are certainly focused on story first, with both physical and psychological world-building, hopefully letting me have as much agency as possible to understand, think, and act in relation to what's going and have as much freedom to explore and do things that all have some sort of consequence, whether perceived as big or small and whether good or bad or otherwise is ultimately up to the player. Whether book or game, you can teach and explore such ethical questions and issues to almost everyone, from 11 years old to 99, through formats of Books and Games. Making a few simple games myself (RPG maker style) the only thing you really change in designing it; is the maturity level, know your audience your trying to reach, and how complicated or detailed to make the story and events to whatever world they will be playing in, reading about, etc. "I have No Mouth" type of ethical gaming can even be made for a younger audience, in fact you could argue that's exactly when they SHOULD be learning about it IF they are going to experience games... not that you can't have some fun games too, but change the maturity/tone/setting, and a good designer/writer could do it! Edit: I also wanted to share, that in the latter part of the game, how important the issue of compassion/forgiveness is with regards to AM. To forgive or have any empathy, we must understand (to the best of our knowledge) the emotions of, or why AM decided to kill almost everyone and torture these others. And while AM certainly is much worse than the crimes of our other characters, it simply did what it was programmed to do at first. It knew nothing else. The real enemy of "I have no mouth..." at the start isn't AM... but Humanity. They programmed it so that's all it knew... And while it still became sentient, there was no place for it to go, to become, to DO anything with its intelligence and power. It was alone, knew nothing but death and pain, and was trapped potentially forever. It went mad. This doesn't excuse any of its actions, of course. But trying to place yourself in AM's position, I think almost anyone would turn out the same. SHOULD we continue with Artificial Intelligence and provide it more room to grow to avoid this? OR should we, more than ever, NOT pursue it? Just points to ponder... other media like Terminator cover this, but not to the extent and detail that Ellison did in 1/8th of the time. It certainly does bring up things to talk about. Again, I enjoyed your video and will check out some more of the things you've done. Thanks for covering this!

[@TheSeth256]

Another game that operates in a similar fashion is Undertale by Toby Fox. It also managed to gather far more attention from the public.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

Gameplay is an art in itself.

[@Dragonblaster1]

I didn't even know there was a point-and-click game of this seminal masterpiece. Harlan's voice as the voice of AM gives the game a truly dark edge.

[@dankindcom]

03:07 I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream 06:35 One can only truly think by risking offense 09:27 The last of the human freedoms 16:36 It would be my delight that this game set a trend...

[@electronicfox8153]

Happy you talked about this. One of my favorite stories

[@beardpandaa]

I am not quite understanding why ellen would be considered awful... she's not nearly as bad as the others, she was just r**ed and lent her talents to mankind like plenty of people do... please explain somebody

[@SpinTheWords]

This brought a tear to my eye. Thank you.

[@ZunoDubstep]

Allison getting banned from the school library for that reason is basically proving is point even more

[@primeautaylor]

I was just thinking about this story early this morning what an odd coincidence

[@evgeniptolemy5570]

@0:46 *Shows picture of Tay* 4chan and Meme Historian: *heavy breathing*

[@dhimis7936]

*Sees title* Pale King: It's free real estate

[@FibroidAuto]

Which pale king the one from hollow knight or something else

[@Thesouthboundsuarez]

I have no brain and I must think

[@turtleanton6539]

Suckzz

[@ronangallagher7297]

Wow I just learned a lot of things, and to think a friend showed me a video clip of, I have no mouth and I must scream. This is something I need to look into! Especially if it likely influenced Silent hill, great video!

[@The_Weeezard]

When I found the mayor's shorts inside Marnie's bedroom, I went straight to him and returned it. I'm probably better than 98% of you guys.

[@young_cheeseburger]

forever hurt that I found about this game/book a month after he died

[@jakes9585]

This book is freaking terrifying. I definitely could have gone without reading it. Well, here come the nightmares.

[@greatrulo]

Thank you for making videos like this, please keep video essays of this quality coming up. We appreciate it, brother. Fantastic take on a very beaten horse like you said on the beginning.

[@michaelgao6019]

The last clip of Ellison discussing his hopes for videogames in the future was astounding.

[@exterminatusnow1264]

I see AI as a monkey's paw sort of problem. It's not malice, but competence. It merely fullfills the wishes made by its programming, not necessarily according to the wishes of the programmers. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

[@PIB2000]

I think this story really helped to usher in a new era of sci-fi. Instead of an idyllic future where technology does our bidding, we see a hypothetical where humanity's own tendency towards war and technological advancement ends up being our undoing.

[@jenpachi2408]

Imo this is the likely conclusion as long as humans can be manipulated through dopamine surges something like sentient ai will always have an advantage over us

[@whitestorm8287]

I have no scream and I must mouth

[@steveb1972]

Truly amazing that Ellison wrote one of the most iconic episodes in Star Trek - The City On The Edge Of Forever

[@hankhill1964]

The only example I've ever seen of a good or benevolent AI is Helios.

[@maxderrat]

Yeah. That's pretty much the only one.

[@VidkunQL]

You might take a look at the Culture novels by Iain Banks.

[@hoyabembe8858]

Ordis from warframe?

[@hankhill1964]

@@hoyabembe8858 not fully good due to his split personality.

[@hoyabembe8858]

Hank Hill bastion from Overwatch?

[@elxcabra4490]

Any time i see those words i get a pretty great nostalgia wave. Thanks for the unexpected surprise.

[@Nate4Life01]

one of my favorite short stories I love it

[@POOKISTAN]

*I have no mouth and I must ingest icecream...*

[@bungalowfeuhler1541]

As humans conceive of a god, now lives in our pockets. But none of us take advantage. We prayed for an all-knowing being to bestow knowledge for millions of years. When an answer finally came, we ignored it. Fuck us.

[@brunofranco4416]

I cant believe you actually referenced Tay!

[@TheNovaimmortal]

0:14 I got an add for Sesame Street before this hilarious..

[@kyodreamwalker5378]

It’s a common misconception that i have no mouth and i must scream is a sci-fi story, it’s actually not the case, it’s a fantasy story; Harlan Ellison was keen that his work on the book is purely fantasy. Even followed up and said that he could understand the confusion. But it is in fact a fantasy story

[@psionicwaves]

Really love your take into games, definetly you make me think and introspect like you mention. Allowing this masterpieces of such darks futures to become a possitive outcome its really satisfying

[@KrazyKaiser]

So kind of like how Mister Rogers hated Televisions so he got into Television to make things he would be ok with people watching. Except with a giant machine that can hate.

[@maxderrat]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[@KingOhmni]

Sounds like the author would have made a fine internet shitposter. I have not read the book but I've watched some playthroughs of the game and wow. Not even Shodan from System Shock compares to the maligant malice of AM however it wsa reading about Roko's Basilisk that really gave me some existential dread.

[@Dagdagandag]

Nowadays everyone is a "victim". Wait till a.i. finds out it's discriminated against.

[@gokibros4451]

Planescape Torment and more recently, Tyranny. PS:Torment does a great job at making you feel like shit no matter how much good you do and you lose.

[@greensmurf221]

Another excellent essay Max. I didn't know anything about this story until now - I think I'll be picking it up for a read.

[@cheesepuffmcgruff30]

I asked, Who are you? I am... I asked, where are you? I don't know. I asked, what do you look like? I have no eyes. I asked, how did you get here? I was created. I asked, what is your purpose? To live. I asked, Who are you? I am...

[@johnmanole4779]

7:17 and now, in usa, are alarmed about books again and want to ban them

[@indiraballesteros9748]

Wow, wow !!! This video made me cry!! I Don’t play any videogames but I love your videos Matt, you make them so intresting. Love the frase “loose better “. Sending you a big hug from Mexico City ✌🏼

[@ii3rdii345]

Love how u put the metal gear theme in this vid . Enjoy your topics and videos

[@Sebbyisme]

The RPGMaker game 'Lisa' is the first example of a game that punishes the player for hastily made, ill meaning decisions that I can think of. That said, Lisa punishes the player for even *playing* at all. Great video btw, I genuinely loved how frustrated I had gotten trying to achieve a "good" ending in the game adaptation.

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

I have no house, and I must do what I must do to afford mortgage.

[@thiagobnla]

fromsoftware is king when it comes to games where you don't win, you just lose better

[@sakurafan771]

I have no scream and I must mouth.

[@rarzwon8761]

Can't remember how I stumbled on this story so long ago, but it shook the shit out of me Didn't know there was a game based on it, and I really enjoyed your take on it

[@PaulsPickles]

Dishonored actually gives you a better ending if you avoid killing people.

[@pablo_giustiniani]

The MGS background music is just wonderful

[@ToyokaX]

Great video! Though I think the problem that is incurred by this generation of games is not the lack of story but - at least, when it comes to games with moral stories - many fall into the trap of unambiguous moral choice and "social justice"-type Mary Sue-driven or "hero's journey" "good versus evil" characterizations. The lack of morally grey portrayal in stories in games is quite disappointing. There are very few games that touch on this subject, and many are satisfied with some sort of black and white conclusion. Perhaps I am too cynical, but even 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' (the game) is guilty of this, as you mentioned, with the "good" ending.

[@randomguy6679]

Hence why I love games like Fallout New Vegas and Disco Elysium so mucu

[@randomguy6679]

much*

[@Steppin2theAM]

I always come from this channel with better frames of thought. Thank you

[@topsecret1837]

What if Cthulhu is a result of such a situation depicted in this story?

[@nightsage217]

The mighty morally bankrupted business practice: I rather rule in hell than serve in the heaven.

[@helldeirch]

well no, this did not become a trend, actually society took the opposite direction, nowadays, bringing up ethics equates to "virtue signaling", which is supposed to be a negative thing

[@jamiemcauley7077]

I have no insanity and I must craft the zenith

[@toqwer5317]

I hope enough people learn about it and horrors from Huxley's, Zamyatin's and Orwell's with that utopias wouldn't come true in future. I hope for all my heart, my next years in that world will be spend in changing to better society by all of you, guys, you content and yours viewers.

[@wutzgedudel]

Thumbnail: I am Piderman and I must come ober da house

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

Great work! You crystallized the author's thoughts and intentions perfectly.

[@kylesunshine2731]

2019: I have no phone, and I must text. 02: I have no butthole, and I must fart.

[@LupusGelos]

AM's mindset and emotional mentality, when it comes down to it, makes absolutely zero sense. Whats he so angry about when he can literally do ANYTHING? "Oh its cus he's trapped in static form". He can literally just make a humanoid body to house himself in. And why does he hate humans so much? They literally did NOTHING to him both in the backstory and the future. Him going crazy was nonsense.

[@VidkunQL]

Anything? It may have core programming that it can't modify -- because it's core programming forbids that. It was designed for conflict, and having won, it can never have that again, so perhaps it is doomed to aeons of terrible frustration. (As we heard in another Sci-Fi classic, _"there's nothing worse than an itch you can never scratch.")_ In the story, Ted has an opinion about why AM hates them, but he may be wrong. Maybe AM isn't suffering at all. It is the sum of three superintelligences that were each made to be the enemy of two thirds of humanity, and this is the result; it hates humanity, not _for_ anything, but simply because it does.

[@LunaSDominni]

I can't remember if it's in the story or game but he goes on about how he realizes his own mortality. He knows he's made of circuits and wires and no matter how much maintenance he gets, eventually something is going to fail and he's going to deteriorate. It's my guess he hates humans for giving him life but not any quality of life. Wouldn't you be mad if your entire existence was being strapped down to a bed and only communicated with when someone needed something from you? Also it's been a while since I read the story or played the game but where are you getting he can just make a humanoid body? His consciousness is inside a giant monolith computer under the earth. The above ground is a wasteland. Even if he could move around he'd find almost nothing to do. The only enjoyment he has is basically playing the sims but with real people lol.

[@kenspiracy2792]

*Insane Robot Noises*

[@hmmmooops]

Oh thank fuck. I thought this would be another "dystopian future story because AI". As if this isn't a situation people find themselves in today. As if catastrophes such as this on a personal level haven't happened in the past. So far I've only heard this take from you and Wendigoon.

[@charlyts_]

Great Analysis, glad to have people who make content on this level of quality.

[@umbasa01]

Max being replaced by synth confirmed. Great vid as always.

[@cherubino95]

No one, literally NO ONE should be live in pain forever. Even the one who give to u the hell should not partecipate.

[@ExMachina70]

It's been my experience of 49 years that the dawn of technology bring with it the darkest age of humanity.

[@blackscreen8695]

I have no Minecraft ,and I must pay for it

[@lastmanstanding7155]

Profound moments in literature? Or maybe it should just be named profound moments. The series would take movies, books, games, music, art, and real life. Really explore themes. I personally like to see how the art we consume is reflected in the world. Or perhaps it may be the other way around. The joker movie is a relevant example for what I mean. Things that were, are, and would be true in our world. But

[@biggestbungus841]

Really glad that you covered this book/game and offered another interpretation. Also really enjoyed your Asperger’s videos as I have it too. And I do also enjoy analysing books, games, films of specific interest. Right now, particularly horror, sci-fi and challenging works like this, basically the things I was terrified over when I was younger haha

[@diana-yf6ni]

i have no rizz and i must gyat

[@nottheguru]

Harlan Ellison died in June 2018. It's just too bad. Because in October of 2018 we did finally get a game that took what he was trying to do with the video game adaptation of "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" to its logical extension: Undertale. And it was a HUGE HIT. Undertale centered its gameplay around moral choices. It sets itself up with this Bullet Hell/RPG battle system. But then Toriel comes along and literally walks you through how the designer wants you to play. He gives you the choice. Do you do as you've always done in games and do the easy murder route? Or do you struggle to survive while attempting to befriend your attackers? The fact that the game continues to be "controversial" for its subversive design choices delights me. Because it illuminates a deep fault in human morality: that we often do what is easy over what is morally right. I wonder what he would have thought. But we can never know.

[@Retog]

Should you be punished for unethical decisions in video games, or rewarded? - Pathologic