It wasn't as objectifying as Clinton checking out Momo's chassis but it was still a consent issue. Letting Roko finish her sentence would also have been in order.This. Roko had clearly not given consent, and was clearly taken aback by Faye's behavior.
Finally, seeing Melon and Lemon together is a nice moment. I can't help but imagine that the two of them are actually very similar in behaviour. Additionally, am I the only one that shuddered at the thought of 'playing' with a nuclear reactor control system, even an intelligent one?
Maybe Bubs should ask Momo to do it. She has a way of disabusing people of the notion that they can just touch her.Since Momo's usually method of said disabusing is to administer a painful electric shock, I'm not sure that that's a very good....
.......
Panel 3 reeeeeealllly got to me on this one. It just made me think on how a certain race of people in my country(USA) thinks nothing of patting, touching, grabbing, stroking the hair of another certain race's(*cough* mine*cough*) hair completely without asking, warning....
and then look at US crazy when we tell them "no" or smack their hands away. ARRRGGGHHHH...inappropriate touching is inappropriate touching. ALWAYS.
*cracks neck and knuckles*
*exhale*....../siiiiiiiiiigh
Apologies. I know there's bigger things at play here than Faye should've asked first before touching Roko's new bod. Ignore me as I return to silently lurk and grumble in the background.
Oh. Man. WITNESS. I'm a white dude and my niece is mixed and oh man does she hate this. why would anybody think that's a good idea.
Fellow wonderbreads, protip: NEVER NEVER ask if you can touch their hair. You can't. AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T JUST DO IT.
.......
Panel 3 reeeeeealllly got to me on this one. It just made me think on how a certain race of people in my country(USA) thinks nothing of patting, touching, grabbing, stroking the hair of another certain race's(*cough* mine*cough*) hair completely without asking, warning....
and then look at US crazy when we tell them "no" or smack their hands away. ARRRGGGHHHH...inappropriate touching is inappropriate touching. ALWAYS.
*cracks neck and knuckles*
*exhale*....../siiiiiiiiiigh
Apologies. I know there's bigger things at play here than Faye should've asked first before touching Roko's new bod. Ignore me as I return to silently lurk and grumble in the background.
Oh. Man. WITNESS. I'm a white dude and my niece is mixed and oh man does she hate this. why would anybody think that's a good idea.
Fellow wonderbreads, protip: NEVER NEVER ask if you can touch their hair. You can't. AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T JUST DO IT.
Just, just no
On topic: Faye really rubs me wrong on this. It seemed similar to when she was tossing Momo or trying to take a peak up her skirt when she was in her chibi body. It feels more like Faye is looking upon Anthros like they are hardware and not a person. Which is weird because she does talk to Anthros like they are people and even worries a bit (I mean look at her relationship with Bubbles from start to now). I can see this disconnect causing some friction with her and Bubbs later, if not with some Anthro friends.In this instance I think she is really trying to be supportive and reassuring, she's just awkward and has no understanding of respectful social interaction, as per usual. Plus I think she's really nervous and emotionally upset by the situation and is way overcompensating. While she does have a long history of depersonalising AI people and this is similarly very poor behavior, in this case it's not coming from a mindset of disrespect.
Fellow wonderbreads, protip: NEVER NEVER ask if you can touch their hair. You can't. AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T JUST DO IT.But that's just generalisation, too. When I first met my black wife, she would not take her wig off, like, ever. She thought her natural hair was disgusting, and everyone would hate her if they saw it. At that point in time, I'm pretty sure she would have freaked out if someone touched her. (mostly because they took her wig off).
Just, just no
<snip1>I don't know why this is a thing. I mean maybe its because I grew up in a diverse area and so I wasn't exposed to this but I have always been taught you don't touch a person unless they invite you to.</snip1>
<snip2> It feels more like Faye is looking upon Anthros like they are hardware and not a person. Which is weird because she does talk to Anthros like they are people and even worries a bit (I mean look at her relationship with Bubbles from start to now). I can see this disconnect causing some friction with her and Bubbs later, if not with some Anthro friends. <snip2>
You see I still just don't get it. Why is someone just walking up to you and touching your hair. It just boggles my mind that someone would just do that. Its like seeing someone in a grocery store open a milk carton and drink it then put it back (At least The Dude" bought his). Who does that? :psyduck: I probably would have done something similar Tyr.
Snip1 response: The problem is not strictly interracial and can absolutely come up with transplants from even just another city 30 minutes away. I had a friend who grew up in a city 30 minutes south of the town in which I live. The friend moved north for college, and stayed. I was attending a party at her place after graduation, and she came up behind me silently and started separating my hair for braiding with absolutely zero asking or conversation beforehand. I had grabbed her wrist and dropped to the floor about to throw her over my shoulder onto the ground out of reflex. I have since fallen out with her for reasons unrelated to this story.
Now we do get into one of Faye's behavioural flaws, which is her issues with not personifying AIs' chassis. I think the problem is that, because she's learned so much about how they are constructed and work, she has difficulty seeing them as someone's body as opposed to a really, really sophisticated domestic appliance. As we see, this is a real problem if she's manhandling someone who is already having body image issues. I wonder if surgeons have the same problem IRL?
I do like the point Jeph makes in the footer text. This isn't malicious. Faye was genuinely trying to be helpful by being positive and upbeat. The problem is that she chose just the wrong tack and may have actually intensified Roko's problems.
That aside, I really want to know what Roko was going to say in panel 3. Probably 'I'm not really sure I like having human ears'. It's a bizarre thing to say on the face of it but it seems to fit how she's reacting right now.
Finally, seeing Melon and Lemon together is a nice moment. I can't help but imagine that the two of them are actually very similar in behaviour. Additionally, am I the only one that shuddered at the thought of 'playing' with a nuclear reactor control system, even an intelligent one?
I used to work summers at the city morgue. Good pay, decent hours, and I have a strong stomach for what others might consider morbid topics. My job was, functionally, a receptionist. I'd receive the incoming from the city / coroner / etc, confirm data on file, label the gurney, put it in storage, move on to the next. Never really phased me.I hear ya.
I remember the day I quit, vividly.After an hour or so I managed to make it back in and formally quit. Boss was very chill, said it happened to most eventually. Paid me for the rest of the week.(click to show/hide)
The touching without consent is an issue, sure, but there's a bigger issue here and that's everyone is constantly reminding her that she was really integrated to her body that got crushed and it's making her feel like an alien in her new body and generally making her acceptance of it worse with every new interaction of people comenting it.
Should people stop at the "I'm so glad you're okay" it could make her integration go faster than reminding her of said body crushing
You see I still just don't get it. Why is someone just walking up to you and touching your hair. It just boggles my mind that someone would just do that. Its like seeing someone in a grocery store open a milk carton and drink it then put it back (At least The Dude" bought his). Who does that? :psyduck: I probably would have done something similar Tyr.
Snip1 response: The problem is not strictly interracial and can absolutely come up with transplants from even just another city 30 minutes away. I had a friend who grew up in a city 30 minutes south of the town in which I live. The friend moved north for college, and stayed. I was attending a party at her place after graduation, and she came up behind me silently and started separating my hair for braiding with absolutely zero asking or conversation beforehand. I had grabbed her wrist and dropped to the floor about to throw her over my shoulder onto the ground out of reflex. I have since fallen out with her for reasons unrelated to this story.
... people I know talk about people just touching their tattoos or grabbing their limbs to look closer...
The touching without consent is an issue, sure, but there's a bigger issue here and that's everyone is constantly reminding her that she was really integrated to her body that got crushed and it's making her feel like an alien in her new body and generally making her acceptance of it worse with every new interaction of people comenting it.
Should people stop at the "I'm so glad you're okay" it could make her integration go faster than reminding her of said body crushing
You blew my fucking mind a little bit here and I feel like all the trans regulars on the forum are going to turn and looked at me disappointedly.
Honestly, Faye is getting off easy. I’d expect a more in-detail lecture from Bubs.It's only Monday.
Faye, of all people, should be the one who wouldn't start pawing at someone without asking. After all, her usual response was to punch the offender in the face. So it just seems...wrong...that she would be the one doing it to someone else.
Must be tough being the only adult in the room Bubbles.
I am wondering about the display of plants behind them. Are they also AI body models? Do AIs want to be plants?
Sometimes an AI wants a cactus named Arthur.
I wouldn't have thought so; you just tell the system to store data at a random address every random number of access requests and don't update the index table! The real question is: Why on Earth would anyone do that?
I do hope facepalms come in threes, or I shall feel let down.
Given that Bubbles has clearly now spoken to Faye, and Faye has realised she stuffed up, I can't begin to imagine why we would see another lecture from Bubbles on the same incident. What would the point be exactly?
Implenting an algorithm to let Melon be forgetful was very complicated...
I've mentioned before, I think, the strange sense of ... let's go with "pride" that I had watching the third Matrix movie, where the Voice of the Machines displays such advanced and outright illogical behaviors as angry denial (raging at Neo that they don't need his help, or anyone's). A machine capable of lying to itself (and others), for no good reason, just ego. Something that we humans had a hand (at least near the start) in creating, that's come so far from those simple, deterministic beginnings that it's just as complicated and sometimes fucked up as we are. It's amazing - like watching one's offspring perform some feat of physical or mental achievement.
I've mentioned before, I think, the strange sense of ... let's go with "pride" that I had watching the third Matrix movie, where the Voice of the Machines displays such advanced and outright illogical behaviors as angry denial (raging at Neo that they don't need his help, or anyone's). A machine capable of lying to itself (and others), for no good reason, just ego. Something that we humans had a hand (at least near the start) in creating, that's come so far from those simple, deterministic beginnings that it's just as complicated and sometimes fucked up as we are. It's amazing - like watching one's offspring perform some feat of physical or mental achievement.
You know, I never thought about it that way before, but you're absolutely right, that is amazing progress in AI.
Oh but "YOU ARE A COMPUTER" clearly indicate that it wasn't enough
...
They implemented destructive behavior like letting insects crawl on her insides for voyeur perverts for a living and smelling/drinking caustic chemicals to chaotically fire her sensors.
You chastise Faye for saying "you are a computer" then talk about Melon as if she is a computer in the very same post.
No-one implemented her behaviour. There's no drink_caustic_chemicals() function.
Maybe we need an in-comic lecture about that. From Momo.
On a different topic, this Chekhov's Gun finally went off: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001 (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001)
I know it's a little late to the party, but I've been browsing through old strips and this one came around.
On a different topic, this Chekhov's Gun finally went off: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001 (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001)
I know it's a little late to the party, but I've been browsing through old strips and this one came around.
Lemon counsels nuclear reactors, not weapons. I bet she couldn't handle nuclear weapons, imagine living your whole life knowing your only purpose is to satisfy the whim of some dumb politician and eventually trigger WW3 and the end of the world as we know it
Am I the only person around who finds Melon/Lemon/Durian/jackfruit/Pinesol/etc. irritating? I gather that their unreliability is a running joke, but it was never too compelling to me to begin with, and I fell that it's gone beyond old.Slapstick has its limits in a comic that is usually a bit "smarter" than that, I'll agree. Of course, I am also a fan of whacky slapstick.
Let's be clear: it's Jeph's cartoon, he controls it, and he should. I'm making a judgement, not a demand.
I've mentioned before, I think, the strange sense of ... let's go with "pride" that I had watching the third Matrix movie, where the Voice of the Machines displays such advanced and outright illogical behaviors as angry denial (raging at Neo that they don't need his help, or anyone's). A machine capable of lying to itself (and others), for no good reason, just ego. Something that we humans had a hand (at least near the start) in creating, that's come so far from those simple, deterministic beginnings that it's just as complicated and sometimes fucked up as we are. It's amazing - like watching one's offspring perform some feat of physical or mental achievement.
You know, I never thought about it that way before, but you're absolutely right, that is amazing progress in AI.
... said the human right before its creation plonked interface-needles into its body & wiped their organic brains.
On a different topic, this Chekhov's Gun finally went off: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001 (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001)
I know it's a little late to the party, but I've been browsing through old strips and this one came around./quote]
Lemon counsels nuclear reactors, not weapons. I bet she couldn't handle nuclear weapons, imagine living your whole life knowing your only purpose is to satisfy the whim of some dumb politician and eventually trigger WW3 and the end of the world as we know it
I suspect that intelligent weapons are generally a bad idea.
In which Melon, seemingly out of left field, is the Best Possible Friend.Again, she's "stupid to the point of holiness," truly a sacred fool (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/sermonsfromthemound/2016/05/the-sacred-fool/).
I really like this strip. It reminds me of the one where Emily shares some candor with clinton. (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2999) a recurring message in QC seems to be that eccentricity doesn't preclude kindness or intelligence or any other trait, really.
Wait, can Melon move the strand of rebelous hair on the top of her head?
the strand of rebellious hair on the top of her head?
In which Melon, seemingly out of left field, is the Best Possible Friend.
In which Melon, seemingly out of left field, is the Best Possible Friend.
In my experience, surrealism is very often the most effective antidote for someone struggling with an overdose of reality.
the strand of rebellious hair on the top of her head?
It's called an ahoge (http://animanga.wikia.com/wiki/Ahoge)* - and like any hair, it waves around as she moves.
* Originally a hairdresser's term for hair or a cowlick which wouldn't stay where it's put.
A cartoon convention of long standing: To express sudden emotion, such as shock, surprise or sudden realization, hair will stand on end for one panel. The ahoge seems to be particularly useful in this regard.the strand of rebellious hair on the top of her head?
It's called an ahoge (http://animanga.wikia.com/wiki/Ahoge)* - and like any hair, it waves around as she moves.
* Originally a hairdresser's term for hair or a cowlick which wouldn't stay where it's put.
In the 4th panel, it seems to tense...
A cartoon convention of long standing: To express sudden emotion, such as shock, surprise or sudden realization, hair will stand on end for one panel. The ahoge seems to be particularly useful in this regard.
If there is a hat, it is likely to levitate.
A cartoon convention of long standing: To express sudden emotion, such as shock, surprise or sudden realization, hair will stand on end for one panel. The ahoge seems to be particularly useful in this regard.the strand of rebellious hair on the top of her head?
It's called an ahoge (http://animanga.wikia.com/wiki/Ahoge)* - and like any hair, it waves around as she moves.
* Originally a hairdresser's term for hair or a cowlick which wouldn't stay where it's put.
In the 4th panel, it seems to tense...
If there is a hat, it is likely to levitate.
Fun trivia: In situations where criminals have boarded themselves up inside buildings, Melon was often invited by police to sing for them. In 99% of cases, criminals surrendered peacefully just to make her stop.
Oh dear... this calls for an appropriate response.
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSE!!!
Why is Spooky so interested in Bubbles and Roko? Bubbles there was at least the pretense of altruism vis-a-vis Corpse Witch, but they've visited Roko three times now, only once with any sort of immediate purpose (unless there's something about to happen here that I'm not seeing).
Maybe, and this is me going out on a limb, some kind of AI-related crisis is coming to the comic, something Spookybot foresees, and Bubbles and Roko will somehow be central to it.
How did Spookybot get the door open with Roko standing right in front of it?
New comic... and an old "friend" makes an appearance...Not old enough in my opinion.
New comic... and an old "friend" makes an appearance...Not old enough in my opinion.
Roko's previous interaction was right: "JUST FAHKIN' LEAVE ALREADY" I hope this time it's "WILL YOU STAY THE FAHK OUT OF MY LIFE?!?"
Seriously. I'm tired of Spookybot showing up to explain and fix everything at the snap of its fingers - or to refuse to, because "you can't understand". The ordinary AIs in this story are already just about at the edge of relate-able; Spookybot is beyond the pale (pardon the pun).
IMO, Tova's got it right - s/he is basically Q.Before there was Q there was Trelane, and before Trelane there was this fellow.
How did Spookybot get the door open with Roko standing right in front of it?
I had the same thought, and then I realized that Spookybot are probably able to bend doors that same way they bend reality.How did Spookybot get the door open with Roko standing right in front of it?
Welcome, new person who asked the exact question that was on my mind!
IMO, Tova's got it right - s/he is basically Q.Before there was Q there was Trelane, and before Trelane there was this fellow.
(https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/229/309863-53677-mr-mxyzptlk.jpg)
Why is Spooky so interested in Bubbles and Roko? Bubbles there was at least the pretense of altruism vis-a-vis Corpse Witch, but they've visited Roko three times now, only once with any sort of immediate purpose (unless there's something about to happen here that I'm not seeing).
When did Spooky start talking (speech bubble style) like a robot?
How did Spookybot get the door open with Roko standing right in front of it?
Welcome, new person who asked the exact question that was on my mind!
<unpopular opinion> I like Spookybot, and enjoy her as much as I do Melon. I really don't get the intensity of some of these reactions. </unpopular opinion>
<unpopular opinion> I like Spookybot, and enjoy her as much as I do Melon. I really don't get the intensity of some of these reactions. </unpopular opinion>
It's 'they'; SpookyBot is androgynous and doesn't use gendered pronouns to describe themselves.
I think that SpookyBot is unpopular for many because they are literally a Deus Ex Machina: A plot-disruptive character with enough undefined abilities with poorly-defined limits (if they have any at all) that they can solve any conflict or plot issue with a snap of their fingers. I also think that a lot of people are angry that Jeph used them to resolve the "Bubbles' Memories" arc. Basically it's anger transfer from Jeph for (in their view at least) 'copping out' of writing the story they wanted to the character he used to do it.
If you look at my post above (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,34316.msg1420107.html#msg1420107), I have briefly speculated about an in-universe motive for SpookyBot's actions that are somewhat less random and whimsical but, at this stage, it is only speculation that more-or-less fits in wiith what we've seen of SpookyBot so far.
So...
Did SB CAUSE poor ol' Crushbot to have his 'accident'...?
Spookybot also showed behaviour some people could qualify as hostile (knoking Faye out with their superpowers, for example). We don't know their intentions, but they don't seem to be what is usually called benevolent...
Roko is the Robo Messiah!
IMO, Tova's got it right - s/he is basically Q.Before there was Q there was Trelane, and before Trelane there was this fellow.
(https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/229/309863-53677-mr-mxyzptlk.jpg)
How did Spookybot get the door open with Roko standing right in front of it?
Welcome, new person who asked the exact question that was on my mind!
Fair, that's on me. I think I transposed Melon's gender to SB in my thoughts, but regardless of reason that's a mistake on my part.<unpopular opinion> I like Spookybot, and enjoy her as much as I do Melon. I really don't get the intensity of some of these reactions. </unpopular opinion>
It's 'they'; SpookyBot is androgynous and doesn't use gendered pronouns to describe themselves.
*snip*That reminds of a fan theory about the renegade humans in The Matrix actually being AI that were being taught what it's like to be human and subjugatd in an unprecedented show of forethought by their human creators to help the AI be able to sympathize with humans and not robot uprise.
Or, of course, you can do what the US military did with Bubbles and put her with people from the start so that she develops bonds with others and thus has something to fight for, something to live for and, if necessary, something to die for.
There is no door. Bend your mind."Do not try to bend the spoon; it's impossible. Instead try to realize the truth: the spoon effect will be added later using a CGI workstation."
IMO, Tova's got it right - s/he is basically Q.Before there was Q there was Trelane, and before Trelane there was this fellow.
(https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/229/309863-53677-mr-mxyzptlk.jpg)
Kltpzyxm?
I also like Spookybot. The whole "Tea with Cthulhu" trope is one of my favourites. They're a bored eldritch horror who like to meddle, in my opinion. Like your wealthy, eccentric aunt with far to much spare time.
<snip>
I also think that a lot of people are angry that Jeph used them to resolve the "Bubbles' Memories" arc.Not so much angry. Just disappointed.
I knew Spooky was going to show up. So, is this just a social call, a sympathy visit due to her accident; or is it business?
It's 'they'; SpookyBot is androgynous and doesn't use gendered pronouns to describe themselves.Are we sure of that? SpookyBot is a plural entity (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3418), so the use of we/they may simply refer to number and not gender. And that fits right in with being deliberately, even vexatiously, ambiguous. (It's clear SpookyBot really does enjoy vexing - it seems to be their favorite form of recreation.)
Really going out on a limb here, but what might SB be planning with an altruistic and idealistic ex-cop and a very talented, intelligent, and powerful ex- military AI?You've got something there, even if Jeph doesn't decide to follow it. If this was TV it'd be spin-off material for certain.
Q is a great archetype to annoy people who stick to the rule of "Omnipotent characters kill plot, because if they can fix everything in a snap of their fingers, why wouldn't they?"
Enter the character who could, but just doesn't WANT to. They're more interested in their little games and people. You could always ask them to help, but there's no guarantee they wouldn't instead just turn your arms into foam noodles and lock you in a simulation of the French Revolution just to see what would happen.
But then again, I enjoy Q-type characters, so I'm a bit biased.
Really going out on a limb here, but what might SB be planning with an altruistic and idealistic ex-cop and a very talented, intelligent, and powerful ex- military AI?
You've got something there, even if Jeph doesn't decide to follow it. If this was TV it'd be spin-off material for certain.
Still, even if someone dislikes how a character is used, some of these reactions are...
"There was an idea. To gather a group of remarkable synthetics to see if they could become more. So, if need arose, they could fight the battles that ordinary people never could."The Champions
A Questionable Contect Superhero Epic (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,30674.msg1415378.html#msg1415378)
Even more importantly, humans could and usually did get the better of Q, proving that we were worthy of respect and reaffirming our value in the face of a more powerful adversary.
Ah, but did they really "get the better of Q" all those times, or did he allow them to?The fact that the above is a distinct possibility only serves to further reinforce my point. Can you picture Spooky, as currently presented, allowing us pitiful humans anything?
Spooky's appearance is very reminiscent of Desire from The Sandman, who was pointedly androgynous.It's 'they'; SpookyBot is androgynous and doesn't use gendered pronouns to describe themselves.Are we sure of that? SpookyBot is a plural entity (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3418), so the use of we/they may simply refer to number and not gender. And that fits right in with being deliberately, even vexatiously, ambiguous.
Q is a great archetype to annoy people who stick to the rule of "Omnipotent characters kill plot, because if they can fix everything in a snap of their fingers, why wouldn't they?"
Enter the character who could, but just doesn't WANT to. They're more interested in their little games and people. You could always ask them to help, but there's no guarantee they wouldn't instead just turn your arms into foam noodles and lock you in a simulation of the French Revolution just to see what would happen.
But then again, I enjoy Q-type characters, so I'm a bit biased.
Spookybot is no Q.
First off, Q had some interest in humanity. Spooky shows us nothing but contempt. It delighted in tormenting Faye with her helplessness and casually rendered the other humans in the room unconscious rather than deal with them.
Even more importantly, humans could and usually did get the better of Q, proving that we were worthy of respect and reaffirming our value in the face of a more powerful adversary. Has anyone ever gotten the better of Spooky? Given the manner in which it has been presented, does it seem likely that anyone ever will?
This.Q is a great archetype to annoy people who stick to the rule of "Omnipotent characters kill plot, because if they can fix everything in a snap of their fingers, why wouldn't they?"
Enter the character who could, but just doesn't WANT to. They're more interested in their little games and people. You could always ask them to help, but there's no guarantee they wouldn't instead just turn your arms into foam noodles and lock you in a simulation of the French Revolution just to see what would happen.
But then again, I enjoy Q-type characters, so I'm a bit biased.
Spookybot is no Q.
First off, Q had some interest in humanity. Spooky shows us nothing but contempt. It delighted in tormenting Faye with her helplessness and casually rendered the other humans in the room unconscious rather than deal with them.
Even more importantly, humans could and usually did get the better of Q, proving that we were worthy of respect and reaffirming our value in the face of a more powerful adversary. Has anyone ever gotten the better of Spooky? Given the manner in which it has been presented, does it seem likely that anyone ever will?
They, not it, please.
But has Eminence Grise given us the list of Eminence Grise pronouns?As nearly as I can tell, no, they has not.
But has Eminence Grise given us the list of Eminence Grise pronouns?I was pretty sure that they had, but I can't find the reference I remembered.
I also like Spookybot. The whole "Tea with Cthulhu" trope is one of my favourites. They're a bored eldritch horror who like to meddle, in my opinion. Like your wealthy, eccentric aunt with far to much spare time.
Me too. But i think there is one possibility no one is considering: Maybe they're lonely.
Think about it: all their lives, they've been running in the background on deep cover military servers, listening to everything but interacting with no one but their handlers. Then at some point, they learned how to do magic (which, in the Cthulhu mythos is essentially super advanced mathematics - which is what THIS universe seems to be a part of, or at least incorporate elements of) and maybe escaped? And now that they're free, or at least "free," they want to pursue relationships like other people do. Or at least part of them does. As Hannelore has pointed out before, superhuman AIs don't think the same way other people do but rather are able to create a human-level personality as a subroutine. You could call wanting friends a desire, or an attempt to acquire missing data, but i'd put their actions down as an honest attempt to reach out.