january 9, 7:00pm, I’ll be your avatar
MTurk options:
MTurk payment: $0.25
Number responses: 60
Avg time/task: 4:03
Avg MTurk interaction rating: 2.6
I had set up the system this evening to check every 5 minutes, average the responses of the workers over that time period, and text me the top voted action. It made me into less of a random, turrets inflicted person, and more like an avatar. I could work the directions into the interaction more naturally.
It starts off with a lot of “back”, “stay” and “sidestep” instructions, and things stay polite and surface. I ask him about his work, his family, his favorite spots in Portland, and I’m starting to run out of small talk topics, when I get the instruction “advance”. I move a little closer to him and he seems to respond. A few “advance”‘s later and we are talking about past relationships. He tells me he asked me out because I had such a high match percentage on the site, and I realize that he’s one of those people that’s really hopeful about finding love through these things. He’s a very nice, earnest guy. He’s not at all my type.
He suggests we leave the bar and walk a little. “Stay” was my last instruction and I say maybe in a bit. Too quickly, another “advance” comes and I say how about that walk. He ignores my apparent indecisiveness and leads me out toward the street. Another “advance” and we are making casual contact. I wonder what to do if I’m pushed further, is this wrong? I think of the times in the past when I have kissed a guy without really thinking or wanting to, and decide at least in this case I have honestly chosen to give up my agency and act based on the decisions of the workers, and in this way I’m not being false. “Advance” and we are kissing. “Back”, thank god, and I am walking home completely unsure of what to feel.
| time | what is happening? | rating | action | explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:40 | A Lady seeing the phone. | 3 | back | Very serious matter |
| 20:42 | Some ceremony is going on. | 3 | back | only one direction movement |
| 20:42 | they give up their sorrows and to become happy. | 3 | advance | then only they will active |
| 20:44 | She is looking forward, just staring, maybe some smiles are evident, but nothing more can be said. | 1 | stay | There was only a side view that was idle yet calm. |
| 20:45 | A women is outside restaurant or bar waiting for someone. The restaurant is busy. You can hear a lot of noise. The man arrives and explains why it too him so long to get there. It\\’s a blind date it seems. | 4 | stay | Stay put and continue talking to the guy. |
| 20:46 | only black creen and it says off air. but the survey was offered at this time. so she should get on the air | 1 | stay | can’t see her |
| 20:50 | She is sitting around talking. | 2 | side | Talk about something more interesting. |
| 20:52 | THey’re just talking trash. Something about yoga was heard. | 3 | side | Great |
| 20:52 | A man is telling a story about someone while out on a date. | 3 | stay | the nature of conversation seems casual…not particularly inviting-just friendly |
| 20:53 | two are fighting | 3 | stay | i think it is good |
| 20:53 | At the moment, it looks like two people together whom are interested in getting to know each other better and progressing in their relationship. | 3 | advance | I believe that they interact well with one another. |
| 20:55 | There is a social interaction going on in what seems to be an upscale lounge. | 3 | stay | Advance a little closer and move the camera closer so that we can see both human interaction faces. |
| 20:55 | There is a conference going on. | 3 | advance | She must expose her confidence in different levels of life. |
| 20:56 | i think this is a function with a candle light dinner. | 3 | stay | night function |
| 20:59 | This is an evening party. three people participating in this. | 3 | side | It is better if she change the subject and discuss another one |
| 21:00 | There is a man at the top of the building watching over a large crowd of people. | 1 | side | Not an interesting topic. |
| 21:03 | The woman has just finished her master’s, that afternoon, and the guy is trying to figure out if he knew her from MIT. He is in film and seems to be trying to hit on her. She seems to have been drinking and is talking with slurred speech. He is talking about the type of work she does, so presumably she is in a creative field as well. he is talking about photography and the fact that he taught as a grad. assistant. The video is poor quality and I can barely see the woman.The guy is blathering on and on about how he likes teaching. There are so many people talking that it is extremely hard for me to make out all of the dialogue between these two. The woman is particularly hard to hear and sounds like she either has a speech impediment or has been drinking. | 2 | side | SHe appearss to just be sitting there, but, like I said, with the poor video quality, it’s hard to tell. |
| 21:07 | A man and woman are talking about job opportunities in the area. Both people are having trouble finding work in the current city they are living in. The man says that he tried to find work in the city (a videographer?) but couldn\\’t find enough to earn a living. He said he came back because he loves it; also has a nice jujitsu community. She is here on her off-time and wants to stay if can find work. | 4 | advance | It looks like the conversation is going well; she should be more aggressive if she wants to get to know him better. |
| 21:09 | The woman looks like she is having a friendly conversation in a restaurant or someplace similar. | 3 | stay | Ask him more questions. |
| 21:10 | A woman and man appear to be in a crowded restaurant talking. The man is drinking what appears to be a bear. They are talking about past dates they have gone on. | 4 | stay | The conversation seems to be flowing well. Keep it up and then advance if things continue to go well. |
| 21:11 | One women is being interviewed about a website. She stars talking and elaborates on how she doesn’t usually use the website. She does say that she researches technology but doesn’t want to read too much on it. The guy makes a few jokes about porn and stuff, and then talks about a story on a girl being really shallow and how we really wanted the date to be over. | 5 | side | Move around a little. Let us get a better angle of what she is talking about. |
| 21:11 | i see that a man is talking with a women in a restaurant and the mans face is not visible as well. They are discussing about something. | 3 | side | Change the subject. |
| 21:15 | A man and a women discussing on something in a night club. I think they are discussing some serious matter. | 3 | stay | They seem to be having fun. |
| 21:17 | It looks like 2 people are on a date | 3 | side | So we can see if the stream is live |
| 21:19 | She’s talking to people trying to learn about social interactions. She found someone who wants to be a part of her project. | 3 | advance | She’s trying to do research and she’s doing what she intended. |
| 21:21 | Two college kids, one female, with too much to drink, having a pretentious conversation with each other in a loud room (restaurant?) Can’t understand much about what they’re talking about. Just typical pretentious pie-in-the-sky intellectual gibberish. | 2 | side | I don’t think she should be talking so much about herself. |
| 21:23 | At this moment, a man and woman are having a casual conversation at a bar/social gathering and they’re learning more information about each other. They are finding out what each other does for a living, their interests, among other things. | 3 | side | I don’t understand the subject they are discussing so a new topic seem good. |
| 21:24 | The interaction is about a casual talk between a boy and a girl.They are discussing about the past events or history.I guess its a party spot with lots of noise behind. | 3 | advance | because she was not clearly seen |
| 21:24 | Looks like a small social gathering is happening and she’s talking to some dude. | 3 | side | Should should change the subject to cartoons |
| 21:27 | A man and a women are talking in a dark noisy restaurant. The appear to be talking about a product presentation. | 3 | stay | Seems like an interesting conversation. |
| 21:28 | She’s having conversation with a man over a beer.They might be discussing something about a project she or they are doing. We hear people talking in the background and it seems like a restaurant. | 2 | advance | He seems interested. |
| 21:30 | They are talking about past dates. | 3 | side | don’t really know |
| 21:31 | Two people are going into a crowded area. | 3 | advance | I want her to move forward |
| 21:31 | They are at a restaurant or some place with a lot of people. They are having a conversation, but it is hard to understand. She turned the camera over so it went black for a while. | 2 | advance | They just seem to be having a conversation. It would be interesting to see where it goes. |
| 21:42 | A man is talking to someone in a crowded place like a restaurant or bar. The man is trying to convince someone of something. I cannot see anyone in the video. He appears to be wanting to hang out with her, come and get her sometime and show her a bar. | 1 | back | She sounds agressive when she talks. |
| 21:42 | a man and a woman are talking in what seems to be a college cafeteria. | 3 | stay | It seems like a typical conversation between two friends. |
| 21:44 | She has received a job offer mail via phone. She expresses her happiness for the job by screaming aloud in joy. | 3 | stay | Stay still |
| 21:47 | women is in some public pace like school or in some meeting. | 2 | side | because change of subject can change her mood |
| 21:48 | A man is explaining something..i think it is crowded and a woman id responding to him and replying him | 1 | advance | because it is nnot interesting |
| 21:51 | A lady and a man in conversation about friendship. | 2 | advance | It is good |
| 21:53 | They are walking and talking. | 2 | stay | Keep talking. |
| 21:54 | A man and woman are in the dark outside maybe. | 1 | back | Back off is correct decision. |
| 21:56 | nothig to describe | 2 | back | nothing to say that |
| 21:57 | They are walking down a street. | 2 | advance | would like to interact with her |
| 21:59 | Seems to me a female and male are interacting with each other. Their topic of conversation is i would say about transportation.They seem to be getting to know each other.i dont think they have alot of history together.Sounds like a lot of small talk. | 3 | advance | having a neutral conversation, no danger here |
| 22:05 | They are talking about people. | 3 | stay | If the woman in this video was an avatar, I would move her to stay put/idle because the conversation seems interesting. |
| 22:08 | Two people getting to know each other better. | 2 | advance | Go for it! |
| 22:09 | a guy and some women are in conversation. the women is saying and the guy is asking her few things. and in the background other people are talking too. | 3 | advance | because she is discussing something. |
| 22:09 | it just some silly guy talking with a girl and walking past stores. | 1 | stay | sounds like a boring convo |
| 22:17 | A guy is blabbing off about technology to some girl who is not really that interested. | 3 | back | She’s way cuter than he is |
| 22:18 | A guy is flirting with a girl and trying to impress her. | 3 | advance | he seems nice |
| 22:24 | A guy and girl sounding friendly talking and laughing together. | 4 | advance | they are having fun |
| 22:25 | The woman is talking about things she wants to do in her life. | 3 | advance | Ask about him. |
| 22:25 | Two people are together, kissing maybe. | 2 | back | Awkward |
| 22:26 | A guy is kissing a girl. | 3 | stay | Seems nice. |
| 22:26 | Two people together, hard to tell what’s happening | 2 | back | boring |