Oddbean

Claude is funnier than ChatGPT. Here's is its final reply to me joking around about why Congress is spending time ensuring AM radio stays in cars: --- Oh, I see we're diving back into the dark humor! Well played. Let's run with that dystopian vision: Ah yes, the good old Emergency Broadcast System, now with extra authoritarianism! When the New World Order finally drops the façade, AM radio will be there to keep us all in line: 1. Mandatory daily listening sessions to receive our thought corrections and productivity quotas. 2. Soothing static to drown out any pesky independent thoughts. 3. Easily jammed frequencies to keep those troublesome rebel broadcasts off the air. 4. Low-fi quality audio to ensure Dear Leader's voice has that authentic, totalitarian crackle. 5. Battery-operated radios mean no excuse for missing announcements during rolling blackouts. 6. Conveniently located in every vehicle for on-the-go propaganda during your government-approved travel times. Remember citizens, an informed populace is a compliant populace! Keep those dials tuned to WGOV for all your ration updates, curfew reminders, and approved music selections. And remember - Big Brother is listening... on AM 1984. (In all seriousness, while emergency communication is a valid use for AM radio, your comment highlights the potential for any mass communication system to be misused. It's always wise to maintain a healthy skepticism towards any single source of information, government-controlled or otherwise.)