Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 3616 to 3621 (20th to 24th November 2017)
BenRG:
I really think that sitting in on Tilly's pre-assignment briefing would have been instructive. What did Beatrice (or, more likely, someone working under the instructions of Beatrice's PA) tell her? I can well believe that, through the Chinese Whispers chain of multiple managerial levels, Beatrice's initial instructions and intentions (which she likely was too busy to express too clearly herself) were distorted beyond imagining.
Tilly, on the other hand, being a good corporate drone, is used to rationalising away obvious contradictions and even blatantly illegal means in order to obey orders and get a 'satisfactory' performance review at her next supervision session. It wasn't until, as we see here, Hannelore points out that, by obeying one set of instructions that it became logically impossible to obey the other that she realised just in what kind of a no-win scenario she had been left in by her supervisor!
Tilly's a good kid but I don't think it's guilt that's motivating her in panel 4. It's the realisation that it will probably less painful to kill herself in some clumsy and slow manner than to let her managers discipline her for failing in her assignment. I mean, the next assignment could now be a real winner like 'inventory the ceiling tiles' or 'chair the Working Group on Employee Empowerment until morale improves with a time limit of three months'.
--- Quote from: Case on 20 Nov 2017, 16:48 ---And I'm afraid I can't see how that distinction makes a difference to anybody but Tilly - once she realizes the error of her ways and starts asking herself what the hell motivated her to blatantly refuse to leave another person alone unless being forced to by the police.
--- End quote ---
Because most large corporations consider the law to be something to work around, not something to obey. I doubt that this is the first project Tilly's been involved in where obeying the law and the rules of human decency is only an issue when a SWAT team, assisted by FBI officers and a SEC auditor or two come busting in to arrest the entire project team.
"Low-pollution diesel engines" comes to mind.
DesiArxxy:
--- Quote from: BenRG on 20 Nov 2017, 23:25 ---Tilly's a good kid but I don't think it's guilt that's motivating her in panel 4. It's the realisation that it will probably less painful to kill herself in some clumsy and slow manner than to let her managers discipline her for failing in her assignment. I mean, the next assignment could now be a real winner like 'inventory the ceiling tiles' or 'chair the Working Group on Employee Empowerment until morale improves with a time limit of three months'.
--- End quote ---
I agree. Tilly's reaction here is purely, "I failed my assignment! I have disappointed The Heiress! I must now commit hara-kiri!" and not any actual realization that any of what she's been doing was wrong.
anahata:
Penny drops and Tilly repents, or emotional blackmail to break down Hanners' resistance?
She could have been instructed to threaten suicide if all else fails. It happens: I've been on the receiving end of that.
Not clear to me yet...
Elder Sign:
--- Quote from: DesiArxxy on 20 Nov 2017, 23:46 ---I agree. Tilly's reaction here is purely, "I failed my assignment! I have disappointed The Heiress! I must now commit hara-kiri!" and not any actual realization that any of what she's been doing was wrong.
--- End quote ---
Is Tilly actually an AI? I can't recall, and it's probably meant to be ambiguous. Either way, I can't be the only one who reads #3617 and is reminded of "You are flawed, and imperfect. Execute your prime function!"
BenRG:
--- Quote from: DesiArxxy on 20 Nov 2017, 23:46 ---
--- Quote from: BenRG on 20 Nov 2017, 23:25 ---Tilly's a good kid but I don't think it's guilt that's motivating her in panel 4. It's the realisation that it will probably less painful to kill herself in some clumsy and slow manner than to let her managers discipline her for failing in her assignment. I mean, the next assignment could now be a real winner like 'inventory the ceiling tiles' or 'chair the Working Group on Employee Empowerment until morale improves with a time limit of three months'.
--- End quote ---
I agree. Tilly's reaction here is purely, "I failed my assignment! I have disappointed The Heiress! I must now commit hara-kiri!" and not any actual realization that any of what she's been doing was wrong.
--- End quote ---
Not so much 'failed' as manoeuvred into a situation where success is impossible on several criteria. It happens in corporate life sometimes and you can be very sure that the manager who gave you flawed instructions isn't the one who is going to be blamed!
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