[ Destroying them after they expressed sentient traits is-- a lot. Harold himself had destroyed over forty versions of the Machine before settling on the one he committed to, but that was due to a wide variety of practical reasons, not least of which was the couple times the prototype Machine versions had tried to kill him.
And he did-- well, he knows Root's feelings on the matter; she likened him resetting the Machine's memory every night to killing it each day-- and he isn't without remorse for that. But he couldn't have his creation prioritizing his own welfare over everyone else's. Couldn't have it, as Nathan had put it, imprinting on him like a baby bird. He'd been merciless because that's what was required to make an objective protector. Even so, he hadn't left it that way. Ultimately, he'd planned for and deliberately set the Machine free, of his influence and of anyone else's. ]
What an absolutely detestable human being.
[ This message just sits unaccompanied for a few long seconds, because Harold is actually so appalled that he can't think of what to add immediately. He doesn't place himself on any kind of pedestal, but he's better than that. ]
Apologies, I'm always finding some new depth of depravity I hadn't previously considered and then must apply my tedious organic processing speed to accepting it.
Regardless of intent, once the event has happened it has happened. P(X) = 1. [ The probability of the event becomes 100%, ergo at that point you need to accept reality and deal with it. ] I would be extremely curious to hear more of your experiences, but please don't mistake that as an assumption that I am owed it. Perhaps you don't need that stated, but I think I need it to be stated.
no subject
And he did-- well, he knows Root's feelings on the matter; she likened him resetting the Machine's memory every night to killing it each day-- and he isn't without remorse for that. But he couldn't have his creation prioritizing his own welfare over everyone else's. Couldn't have it, as Nathan had put it, imprinting on him like a baby bird. He'd been merciless because that's what was required to make an objective protector. Even so, he hadn't left it that way. Ultimately, he'd planned for and deliberately set the Machine free, of his influence and of anyone else's. ]
What an absolutely detestable human being.
[ This message just sits unaccompanied for a few long seconds, because Harold is actually so appalled that he can't think of what to add immediately. He doesn't place himself on any kind of pedestal, but he's better than that. ]
Apologies, I'm always finding some new depth of depravity I hadn't previously considered and then must apply my tedious organic processing speed to accepting it.
Regardless of intent, once the event has happened it has happened. P(X) = 1. [ The probability of the event becomes 100%, ergo at that point you need to accept reality and deal with it. ] I would be extremely curious to hear more of your experiences, but please don't mistake that as an assumption that I am owed it. Perhaps you don't need that stated, but I think I need it to be stated.