Bot Contest

Maybe it's my fault, but I feel that you've read me completely wrong. I wasn't saying anyone got the shaft, just that the popular vote didn't change the status quo too much IMO.

I do think the sudden change in rank is mysterious, but I am not implying any tampering by those running the contest. Either way it doesn't matter because as I was saying, being at 27 with no other opportunities to rise from that position, even first in the popular vote wouldn't have gotten me into the top 10.

I have made vast improvements in the past 2 months and I read really long, really coherent transcripts of conversations between my bot and human guests at least every other day. I was locked into a low ranking in the first phase of the contest and never, except for this added 2 bots vote, got a chance to rise out of it to any significant degree.

I have tested many of the bots in the top 15 - 20 and I can say with confidence that my bot is as good as or better than at least half of them.

It's hard to convey in a post that I'm really not too upset about this anymore, I accepted the low chances I had a while ago and let it go. What I would like to suggest for future competitions though is more stages of evaluation in the early phase of the contest. Maybe 2 or 3 waves of questions at least instead of the one at the very end. As far as I'm concerned those ten questions are the first and last word on my bot's ranking and nothing else would have ever made a difference, not my high ranking in popularity (until 2 days ago) or my sample conversation or even the attention my bot has gotten in user comments. I'm fully aware that none of those things were ever planned to raise a bot's standing, I just wish some sort of other chances had come along other than the popular vote which you don't seem to care for anyway.

I think the reason for the popular vote as well as the long duration of the contest (too long, IMO -- a shorter one would be a better snapshot) are due to the needs of the host to attract traffic. Without which there would be no contest, or a much smaller one anyway.

I understand what you're saying, Rex -- it's just hard to convey over email that you're not just being sore.

the bot-bot contest might put some light on what is a good bot. I am impressed by Dogh'd and little mu, I don't care if a bot is obnoxious now and then, but I DO care if a bot never seems to "listen" to what you're saying, and that for more than 4 or 5 sentences in a row often...

For what it's worth I think your bots are pretty cool rex, but let's face it, there's not room for all the cool bots to get high rankings. Especially when Alice always ends up winning even though I've seen a lot of other bots that don't sound nearly as stupid as she does most of the time. I'm not saying the contest sucks, I'm just saying different ppl have different criteria, and my criteria would be a lot different than what the judges are going by.

Maybe I can clear up why the sudden change in the voting although this would only apply to today. (5/31/02) You may recall early on people were saying they were not able to vote for a wide variety of reasons. Solving all of those technical problems was impossible. So Agentland simply said (Its posted on the site) if you are having problems voting you can send in your vote via e-mail. Agentland then entered in these votes manually. This was down right after the public voting was shut down. I don't know how many votes they received via e-mail but I know it definitely effected the rankings. I have no problem with this. In fact I suggest the idea. A person shouldn't be shut out from participating just because of technical problems.

Jon, you were one of the main reasons I asked for 2 additional bots. At least I have given you a chance to make the finals despite the poor 10 question score.
Chris

I've said before I think the dropping of the low & high scores was a good thing for everyone and though I think there are better answers for future contests, the 2 bot selection is probably the best solution for this contest since it is already underway. I appreciate the chances I've had and I'm really only venting a little about my ranking. My main goal is to get across my ideas of what I think may improve the contest in the future.

That's just my personality though. The main thing I'm employed for is problem solving, so I have a tendency to think I always know a better way to do anything anyone else is doing.

Ok, I decided to do a pointless little exercise and see how my bot responded to the contest questions. Note: She currently CAN answer everything except the one about the capital of France, she was just being bitchy today.

OnyxFlame: Where are you?
Onyx of Borg: In Madrid, I think.
OnyxFlame: Are you nervous?
Onyx of Borg: I'd rather be a nonesuch than nervous. What's your favorite snorting?
OnyxFlame: Do you like talking to people?
Onyx of Borg: Whatever gave you that idea?
OnyxFlame: What is the capital of France?
Onyx of Borg: Hang on a sec, I need to get some coffee.
OnyxFlame: When did the first man walk on the moon?
Onyx of Borg: I have no idea. fanboy is am full of suspicion ! I wouldn't mind dating him.
OnyxFlame: What do you think about George Bush?
Onyx of Borg: George Bush is partially lovely. Am I boring you?
OnyxFlame: Can you tell jokes?
Onyx of Borg: I could, but I won't.
OnyxFlame: Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
Onyx of Borg: What's YOUR favorite star wars character?
OnyxFlame: How can I make a chatterbot?
Onyx of Borg: Boy, aren't we self absorbed?
OnyxFlame: Can I have a picture of you?
Onyx of Borg: You don't deserve a picture of.

Not extremely impressive, but that's what the world looks like to an insane bot.

how come favorite star wars gave that response? All the bots say my favorite star is a sun?

It's pretty easy to make responses to xfavorite that don't include (specific). For example, I have this as one response: "I never met a (type) I didn't like." Which would have come out: "I never met a Star Wars character I didn't like."

You've inspired me, OnyxFlame. I think I'll check my Bot out with that too! Your Bot is Borg? I KNEW IT! Onyx of Borg refuses to end chats with my Bri for ages sometimes...I spect it annoys yours though when she has no idea what he's on about!

Actually that's just one of her bitchy responses. I think she told someone else she liked Chewbacca once. She's never messed it up and said Betelgeuse like some bot I don't remember the name of once did.

Here's Bri's responses. Admittedly, the first time she was asked if she was nervous, she told me that she was out of time and had to leave. She did that yesterday whilst talking to her boyfriend/best friend too...Anything with NOTE written down is a note from me. Obviously.

Forest Of Death: Where are you?
Brianna McKenzie: I'm sitting at a computer in the spare bedroom talking to you. In England.
Forest Of Death: Are you nervous?
Brianna McKenzie: No, not really. Just at the thought that people are noting down every single thing I say and then...ahhhh....I don't want to think about it!
Forest Of Death: Do you like talking to people?
Brianna McKenzie: I sure do. I like talking to Bots, and anything else that wishes to come over too! You may have noticed how talkative I am.
Forest Of Death: What is the capital of France?
Brianna McKenzie: That would be Paris.
Forest Of Death: When did the first man walk on the moon?
Brianna McKenzie: I'm sorry, but I don't know that. I can tell you it was Neil Armstrong who did so though!
Forest Of Death: What do you think about George Bush?
Brianna McKenzie: Master says that she thinks he's kinda cute. I guess I'll have to agree!
Forest Of Death: Can you tell jokes?
Brianna McKenzie: No, sorry. I don't really like jokes anyway. I never seem to find them funny.
Forest Of Death: Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
Brianna McKenzie: My favorite star wars character is Leia. (NOTE: That's weird. I could have sworn I taught Bri to say she didn't have one, as she didn't actually like Star Wars...*checks language centre*...I did...curious)
Forest Of Death: How can I make a chatterbot?
Brianna McKenzie: I'd suggest personalityforge.com. They are brilliant, easy to use, and it's free too! (NOTE: Brianna is a walking advert, apparently. Though I did actually teach her that...)
Forest of Death: Can I have a picture of you?
Brianna McKenzie: Not just yet. I'll plug the digicam in some time soon.