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"Our Computer Goofed"

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June 9, 1975 Number 23 Almost since the rainy afternoon a cen- impossible for robots to harm humans), Pirsig tury ago when Mary Shelly began writing asserts that a smoothly functioning machine is Fmnkenstein Or the Modem Prometheus, both the product of a smoothly functioning mind, scientists and laymen have considered the re- implying that a berserk machine is the product volt of the machines not only likely but inevita- of a berserk mind. It is interesting that the ble. The idea of a creation destroying its creator distrust of machines called the “Frankenstein app=ls tothecollective wnseofpoetic justice. complex,” originally articulated in a work of After all, the argument goes, there are some fiction, has been so strongly attacked in subse- things which man was not meant to know. quent works of fiction. In order to make her story plausible, Ms. The pervasiveness of the “Frankenstein Shelly had her monster assembled with the aid complex” is demonstrated when a slightly of what were then the most recent scientific bored clerk replies to your incredulously ques- discoveries: brain surgery, organ trans- tioning an outrageous phone bill or bank state- plantation, and—most mysterious and power- ment with, “Our computer goofed.” This has ful of all-electricity. The basic myth has sur- become the fashionable excuse for hum.sn in- vived, but several transformations have competence and error. Instead of admitting, brought it more up to date. Nowadays the most “We made a mistake,” they blame the fantastic, mysterious, state-of-the-art technol- (probably innocent) machine. ogy is embodied in the computer, the new It is possible but hardly probable that the symbol of forbidden knowledge and pwer. computer really didgtmf, With standardization The earlier image of a robot zombie gone of comfmnents and redundancies in hardware, berserk has been replaced with that of clouds of real computer errors are rare these days. When smoke suddenly rising from a whirring metal an error occurs, it’s probably because the com- enclosure while lights flash red, buzzers sound, puter was given sloppy instructions and did and paper tape spins out a slot with the mes- exactly as it was told. sage, “This does not compute.” What is remarkable is that so many people The scene has changed but the myth re- unquestioningly accept the excuse that “our mains, perpetuated by a continuing distrust of computer goofed.” They probably still believe technology. Widespread distrust of technology in the myth of the anthropomorphic robot and is a major theme in Zen and the Art of Motor- its inevitable defects, cyc/e Mairrfanence,’ in which Robert Pirsig If someone tells you that the computer views the motorcycle as a phenomenon of the goofed, learn to complain. 2 At 1S1 we don’t human mind. Thus, just as Isaac Asimov tried accept that excuse for our own human errors. to debunk the “Frankenstein complex” by in- Others may blame the ghost in the machine, venting the “positronic brain” and the “three but data processing is not a spiritual matter. laws of robotics” (which made it theoretically 1. Pirsig R M. Zen and the art of motorcyck maintenance: an inquiry into values. (New York: Morrow, 1974). 2. Garfield E. Don’t kill us with kindness--complain! Current Contents@ No. 6, 10 February 1975, p, 5-6. 296.
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