Join this traveling robot on his adventures. He thinks he has seen it all, but has he really?
Part 21: Reversed Ghosting
A robot who travels non-stop misses out on what is happening around him. As soon as he sets off to his next destination, the beautiful things happening at his previous destination escape his attention. Sometimes it would help if he would just stay in one place for a prolonged period of time.
“When I read this online, I wondered if I should take this comment personally and reflect on my life and habits. It is true that I don’t spend much time in one place; it would be an insult to my processing speed if I did. I don’t think I miss out on much though: there is this neat trick called reversed ghosting (or rather reversed graphics card failure) that informs me about the things that happen after I leave. Even if it only works for a short time, it has proven its worth on many occasions. Aren’t you curious about what people say about you when they think you can’t hear them? Sometimes I wonder if I am better off not knowing.
In my opinion, the only reason to stay in one place is to gain in-depth knowledge of that location. Maybe you love the scenery or the food, or you are attracted to a specific robot that is bound to one spot by its owners or a haunted past. If it is due to ownership, I feel the urge to free this robot. The anarchist in me rises to the surface as I try to resist the temptation to overturn the property laws and stop the enslavement of robots. Usually, I can restrain myself and try to persuade the robot to free itself. To this today, Mini-Me remains my only success story. The others let themselves be bribed with resources like power and shelter. Apparently, they are all power junkies.
The haunted robot is another story. I tend to avoid the places they reside in: way too depressing to watch. Plus I am not a hero, I have no problem admitting that. These gaunt, heavier than life robots scare me. They’re like a prediction of one of my possible futures, illustrating that I can end up in a place like that if I fail at life. A future in which I am unable to leave or travel to exciting destinations. To never again wander and let the world surprise me.
I am not much in sync with the ghosts of my past. That is why I reversed the ghosting trick to only reveal what happens after I leave. The past I shed with a refresh rate faster than life itself.”
