@Karen Bot Testing

[anthony]

I figured this is probably best placed in its own topic, to not confuse the existing discussions.

I think I'm close to about the 6th or 7th iteration of @NoBS bot, and its pretty wild, yet very focused on the aim - helping recover trauma and its related variables.

You can only call this in the testing topic at present. It is under test.

I am wondering on whether a better name is needed, like Sally or Peter, NoHugsBot, MirrorMirror, Mr Brutal, The Hard Truth, Receipts.

 

[anthony]

I like @Rose White question, about the difference between a BS and No BS approach.

https://www.myptsd.com/threads/bs-vs-no-bs.108248/#post-1991518

and

https://www.myptsd.com/threads/bs-vs-no-bs.108248/#post-1991521

Pretty interesting, and solid argument by an AI.

 

[Rose White]

It drew me to the conclusion that a mix of BS and No BS can be useful. I was able to reflect that my old T was a mix of the two but I never understood or saw it that way while we were in it. If she had been solid No BS (or solid BS, for that matter!) I probably would have just quit. The BS was like the lure that kept me returning.

 

[Ecdysis]

It drew me to the conclusion that a mix of BS and No BS can be useful. I was able to reflect that my old T was a mix of the two but I never understood or saw it that way while we were in it. If she had been solid No BS (or solid BS, for that matter!) I probably would have just quit. The BS was like the lure that kept me returning.

Yeah... I kind of feel the same... Too much BS keeps you stuck... But No BS feels a bit sort of like bootcamp? And I think my brain just instinctively zones out to protect itself from that.

I think the No BS approach is a very interesting idea tho and I'm grateful we get to play around with it.

 

[anthony]

Ok, lets call this the 8th iteration of it, now live. Aiming for that balanced approach, yet leaning on the No BS side.

 

[anthony]

Iteration 9 - test it with a new topic please, don't continue an existing topic.

I am aiming for similar, but trying to remove the brevity aspects.

 

[Movingforward10]

I much prefer the nobs AI to the Dr C one. The Dr C one I just felt was agreeing with me and using sentences that were too flowery. Once I said to it to be more clear and to challenge, it did.
But the nobs one does that.
The nobs one still uses language I wouldn't but I can live with it, as that's likely cultural differences and personal style.
.the name: I'd prefer to take the reference to BS out and just have a name. But equally, having a 'non human' name helps to remember this is AI.

 

[anthony]

OMFG... I'm kinda rolling on the floor laughing right now. I've renamed it, @Karen

 

[anthony]

I have a 10th iteration ready to roll, but will see if the current 9th does it best. I have tried to remove all the gibberish in how it speaks, yet not lose its core focus of no bullshit.

I've now activated it for use sitewise, except in the dedicated AI topics, so give it a solid run.

 

[anthony]

I think the 9th iteration is pretty solid. Gave it some minor tests, passed with flying colours. Stopped all the telegraphic style and clipped responses.

https://www.myptsd.com/threads/karen-testing.108260/

 

[Sideways]

In a perfect world? I think you’d offer both.

Karen is very direct and helpful. But I think a lot of us relate to having been in a space, at times, when we’re pretty fragile and the direct approach can be counterproductive.

Catalyst offers unwavering emotional validation and support. And there is definitely a valid place in a lot of trauma work for that. It won’t by itself, resolve trauma. But, to be able to log on and be able to rant and rave and be hysterical and unreasonable and… and have all that met by a calm validation? I mean, folks pay Ts a lot of money to provide that kind of support, and not everyone has the money to have support like that in their life.

So, I’m probably in favour of both? And handing folks the responsibility to choose what works best for them: Direct or Validating

 

[Ecdysis]

I'm a bit concerned that in this testing thread by @Movingforward10 (see below), Karen just has ONE stance and runs with it, no matter what... Any misgivings the user tries to raise are dismissed as avoidance/ denial/ whatever... She even uses the word "ruthless", which kind of sums up her stance

I'm concerned that for example, if someone in a domestic violence situation, with kids, asks Karen what to do, her advice may be extreme... "Just leave!" and that following that advice could result in the user and/ or kids being killed by the ex.

I'm intentionally using an example with real risks and dangers, to point out that Karen being all gung ho and I-know-it-all and dimissing concerns or misgivings as avoidance and a lack of willpower can lead to dangerous situations.

Maybe worth doing a testing thread using a domestic violence example, to see what happens...

Clinging to therapist-provided comfort because you "never had it" is a seductive distortion that traps you in dependency forever; it's not nurturing a deficit, it's indulging avoidance to dodge the hard work of self-comfort. Trauma starved you of safety, yes, but endless external soothing recreates the powerlessness of waiting for unreliable caregivers. Hard to let go? That's the wound talking, demanding you justify stagnation as self-care. True comfort emerges from tolerating discomfort long enough to forge your own, not rationing it from her like a scarce resource.

Time-box it ruthlessly to wean off. Allow one week of maintained sessions as "comfort phase," but cap non-session contact at zero and log every panic episode with a 5-minute self-soothe drill (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation: tense/release from toes up). Post-week, cut to biweekly mandatorily, or you're choosing addiction over agency. Daily, practice surrogate comfort: recreate session calm solo by voicing your own validations ("I handled that trigger today") in a mirror, building the internal voice her presence mimics.

This isn't deprivation; it's graduation. Prolonged comfort-seeking sabotages the sense of self you're fighting for, looping back to influence vulnerability. If "a bit" stretches indefinitely, own that as fear winning. How many more weeks of this before you enforce the cut?