At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
Self-driving cars are coming. Or, at least, that's what the auto industry is working toward. So, let's take that a step further...
What if future cars had personalities? What if you needed to make yours your friend?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
Is it bad that I just went, "Ugh. Making friends? Never mind..."
ReplyDeleteI personally don't care for the idea of self-driving cars (but then again, I don't care for change in general.). If they become the norm, I see myself riding my bike more often.
I think I would have to woo it with lots of fancy car washes and auto detailing. I'm not the best driver so it might actually prefer to be friends with someone else :)
ReplyDeletebetty
But it's a self-driving car. It'd be happy for you to let it drive.
DeleteThey're talking about cars that would auto break within the next few years, a prelude to the self-driving car. Some personality there. Not sure how I feel about that. Considering how important cars are here in SoCal, I'd have to be very nice to my car. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are already laws on the books for self driving cars in California...
DeleteI have a hard enough time making friends with people. I don't even want to think about cars!
ReplyDelete~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
But your car...
DeleteMy car would be very happy with me and my friend because I would drive it very fast! (Because sports cars that drive below the speed limit are very sad...)
ReplyDeleteOh man, I have a hard enough time trying to get people to be my friends...please, give me a regular car.
ReplyDeleteyou mean your car isn't your friend and you don't treat him as a personality? :)
ReplyDeletewe call our car mustang sally, lol
ReplyDeleteGood name.
DeleteI read a science fiction story about a year ago that dealt with a self driving car that became an independent entity. Pretty neat story, but, after all, many people (including some men I know) seem, already, to be BFFs with their cars. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I'd be interested in reading that.
DeleteThat wouldn't be hard for me. I tend to get attached to my cars. I still miss my Rav4 *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI could see getting attached to a car with a personality. Sort of like thinking that Siri is real :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of the auto-car idea and since I don't love driving, I don't think I'd be BFFs with my car. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm not a driving fan either, which is why I'm looking forward to self-driving cars. Let the tech do the work.
DeleteIf my Honda developed a personality, I think I'd be in trouble—unless it was the forgiving type.
ReplyDeleteUh oh... There's a story there, if I'm not mistaken.
DeleteMy car and I are already friends! I'm very loyal.
ReplyDeleteThat's very good of you.
DeleteRoger Zelazny had two wonderful Sci Fi stories, Devil Car and Last of the Wild Ones, about smart cars who poisoned their owners with carbon monoxide and running wild in herds.
ReplyDeleteThe first one can be found in "Car Sinister" anthology edited by Robert Silverberg, Martin Harry Greenberg, and Joseph D. Olander.
The second one can be found in "Unicorn Variations" a short story collection written by Roger Zelazny.
Roger Zelazny was my writing mentor. Thanks for visiting my blog today and taking time, though tired, to comment. :-)
Interesting takes on the theme. You notice that stories always show the AI as being evil? It might be interesting to turn that idea on its head.
DeleteI don't like the auto-car idea. I'm already friends with my car as I've had it since 1998. I can't imagine getting rid of it. If it developed a personality, I would hope it was somebody I like.
ReplyDeleteSunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
Maybe you could install the tech into the car you already have...?
DeleteAs for self driving car. Sound pretty cool. But I'm for progressive change....But I wonder what the cost would be.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
It'll have to come down the more people adopt it.
DeleteDidn't Knight Rider's car have a personality?
ReplyDeleteI just hope that they don't make sociopathic cars when they make them with personalities!
That's right! KITT.
DeleteJust calling her Jalopy is friendly sounding. Doesn't it feel good to say it out loud. I love those words that are feel good to say.
ReplyDeleteI found the word before I came up with the question.
DeleteWell Liz, my car is already my friend. He has a name and I talk to him all the time. I encourage him up the steep hills and I pat him goodnight. God bless Golden Boy!
ReplyDeleteSo, this wouldn't be a big change for you.
DeleteInteresting concept. Knowing my luck, I'd end up with Christine!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Don't jinx it!
DeleteI'm picturing the animated movie cars lol
ReplyDeleteThat's a possibility. But there were no people in that movie...
DeleteI think this is my first time here and I love your background. I am also a knitter and love seeing what other people do!!!
ReplyDeleteMeet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge http://www.kathleenvalentineblog.com/
Thanks. I don't blog about the knitting all the time. Mostly on Mondays.
DeleteI would make sure I get a male car because they would be less diva with me and they won't mind if I don't wash them all the time.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. The 'Hoe would be very upset with me and the things I've let happen in her. lol She does have quite the personality already ;)
ReplyDelete