Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Jalopy


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...



42 comments:

  1. Is it bad that I just went, "Ugh. Making friends? Never mind..."

    I 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.

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  2. 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 :)

    betty

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    1. But it's a self-driving car. It'd be happy for you to let it drive.

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  3. They'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. :)

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    1. There are already laws on the books for self driving cars in California...

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  4. I have a hard enough time making friends with people. I don't even want to think about cars!

    ~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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  5. My 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...)

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  6. Oh man, I have a hard enough time trying to get people to be my friends...please, give me a regular car.

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  7. you mean your car isn't your friend and you don't treat him as a personality? :)

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  8. we call our car mustang sally, lol

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  9. I 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

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    1. Interesting. I'd be interested in reading that.

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  10. That wouldn't be hard for me. I tend to get attached to my cars. I still miss my Rav4 *sigh*

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  11. I could see getting attached to a car with a personality. Sort of like thinking that Siri is real :)

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  12. I'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. :(

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    1. I'm not a driving fan either, which is why I'm looking forward to self-driving cars. Let the tech do the work.

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  13. If my Honda developed a personality, I think I'd be in trouble—unless it was the forgiving type.

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    1. Uh oh... There's a story there, if I'm not mistaken.

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  14. My car and I are already friends! I'm very loyal.

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  15. Roger 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.

    The 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. :-)

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    1. 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.

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  16. I 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.

    Sunni
    http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/

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    1. Maybe you could install the tech into the car you already have...?

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  17. As for self driving car. Sound pretty cool. But I'm for progressive change....But I wonder what the cost would be.

    Coffee is on

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    1. It'll have to come down the more people adopt it.

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  18. Didn't Knight Rider's car have a personality?

    I just hope that they don't make sociopathic cars when they make them with personalities!

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  19. Just 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.

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    1. I found the word before I came up with the question.

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  20. Well 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!

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    1. So, this wouldn't be a big change for you.

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  21. Interesting concept. Knowing my luck, I'd end up with Christine!
    Debbie

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  22. I'm picturing the animated movie cars lol

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    1. That's a possibility. But there were no people in that movie...

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  23. I think this is my first time here and I love your background. I am also a knitter and love seeing what other people do!!!

    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge http://www.kathleenvalentineblog.com/

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    1. Thanks. I don't blog about the knitting all the time. Mostly on Mondays.

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  24. I 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.

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  25. Oh 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 ;)

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I appreciate your comments.

I respond to comments* via email, unless your profile email is not enabled. Then, I'll reply in the comment thread. Eventually. Probably.

*Exception: I do not respond to "what if?" comments, but I do read them all. Those questions are open to your interpretation, and I don't wish to limit your imagination by what I thought the question was supposed to be.