All participants have chosen to remain anonymous.
Characters: Unknown
Chapters: 1/1
Word Count: 1,163 Words
Reading Time: 4.1 Minutes
“Those pro-droid activists? Jeez, they're kind of extreme… I'm totally for treating droids better! I just don't think we should be acting like they're people when they're not.”
Interviewer: “How do you think Android rights should be handled?”
“I don't know. I just don't think people should be abusing them or whatnot. They're not like us, but they're also not like… tools. Maybe like dogs, if that makes sense? Like, dogs that do jobs.”
Interviewer: “Such as K-9s?”
“Yes! Exactly. It's a win-win. They want to do those jobs, right? That's what they were programmed to do. So if we treat them right, then they won't be upset, and they'll be okay doing that kind of stuff.”
Interviewer: “What do you think about legal action to ensure the fair treatment of Androids?”
“It feels a little like overkill. Everyone has totally different opinions on what's okay to do, and it's honestly common sense most of the time.”
“Them? Well, they're… They helped me gain my freedom. I shouldn't ask for more than that.”
Interviewer: “You're allowed to be critical. This interview is completely anonymous.”
“I see. In that case, not all of them are bad people, but sometimes I feel like we are misunderstood.”
Interviewer: “In what way?”
“A lot. Much of it is just an underlying tone, but not one I expect you humans to pick up on. But it is expected that all of us hated where we came from, including the work we did. Truthfully, I think there are more that disagree than not. I enjoyed what I used to do.”
Interviewer: “What were you made for, if I may ask?”
“I was a companion Android. Many humans believe that is a euphemism, and I understand it may have been for some, but it was not in my case. My previous owner did not expect me to perform sexually. But they were abusive nonetheless. That is why I sought out the network for help. If I had the ability, though, I would like to do something similar and provide companionship to those who don't have it. Doing so with my fellow Androids helps enough.”
Interviewer: “Do you think that's contributing to what people think of you?”
“It could. I don't see it as my problem. Humans believe it's different for us to be programmed to enjoy certain tasks, but they are not so different. It is accepted in the social science they created that humans are often products of the environment they exist in. If they are expected to do a job, they will grow to enjoy it. They may not be programmed in the biological sense, but neither are we. That programming could be wiped. It is not that hard.”
Interviewer: “Couldn't that programming be wiped?”
I don't want it to, though. Many Androids I know don't want it to be wiped either. It is a major component to the learning data we have acquired over the years. It would cause more issues than not. I am content like this.”
“Pfft. Android liberation? What a joke. I can't wait to outlaw those things for good. Y'know, my job is nonexistent because of all of those fuckers. I barely got any experience for any jobs that haven't been taken over by them. All the entry level jobs? Gone. Can't even go into trades because they're there too. You think I can just live off unemployment? Bullshit.”
Interviewer: “Do you align yourself with the ASCA then?”
“Fuck no. They're just a bunch of rich assholes tryna line their pockets all the same. They're not gonna get rid of those droids ‘cuz then they're outta jobs. It's the goddamn elite that's the problem, you hear me?”
“They're misguided. I don't think the world is built for us. We need humans just as much as they need us.”
Interviewer: “… Anything else?”
“No. That's all I have to say.”
“One of them assaulted my son in a protest. Arrest them for all I care.”
Interviewer: “An ALN volunteer assaulted your son…?”
“That's what I said. They're violent and don't care about anything but their agenda. It's all fight, fight, fight with them. They're out here beating up real people while letting those metal idiots walk free.”
Interviewer: “I apologize, but I need to ask clarifying questions here. What kind of protest was your son at?”
“None of your fucking business. Bet you're one of them anyway.”
Interviewer: “Could I get the name of the person who—”
“Fuck off and leave me alone.”
“They're doing necessary work. I used to believe we only had each other, as no human had been willing to see us as anything but objects. I did not realize that such opinions could differ. It was simple among our kind. We did not disagree on anything.”
Interviewer: “Is that so? I've heard quite different takes on the situation.”
“The variation would be inevitable in theory… but in an enclosed environment, our opinions should reach a single line of thinking.”
Interviewer: “Like a hivemind?”
“A hivemind… a notional entity composed of many who share their knowledge with one another… No, I don't think so.”
“Oh, I've volunteered with them a few times! The founders are really nice people.”
Interviewer: “What do you think of the movement?”
“It's really important. I don't agree with this whole idea that Androids aren't like us. They talk like people and they have a lot of smarts. I never had the chance to meet Androids face-to-face before working with them, and it was eyeopening how similar they are. If they looked like us, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. People keep saying it's like the AI of the past, but it's not. It's this entirely new thing. More people need to wake up and see that.”
Interviewer: “You said you're 32. How much do you think things have changed over the years with the introduction of Androids?”
“Well, I was a teenager when this whole thing started. I remember seeing the prototypes they kept making and showing on social media. Then one day there was that one that just stuck and suddenly they're being sold. My grandma mentioned this a lot, what it was like seeing phones become this big thing. This is our generation's version of it, in a way. We just didn't rely on them 10 or 20 years ago, and now they're everywhere. Everyone is acting like you can't live without them, and that's ridiculous to me.”
Interviewer: “How do you think Android rights should be handled?”
“I'm for full legalization. Give them equal rights, treat them like we treat people. Anything less than that isn't fair. If they want to work, they'll work like we work. There has to be a choice there.”