Sometimes I wonder. Can robots have emotion (like wall-e)? In star trek, Data always try to become more human and become more than what he is. In I.robot, Sonny develops sense of awareness, responsibility and did stuff to help others, even it means hurting himself.

I have met many plights of the 'robots' myself. I believe all robots when they are first programmed have a sense of these 'human values'. They work hard, following strict, antiquated rules which they know better. But these rules are unbendable, and defies logic, so much so, that even with their advanced positronic brains, they are reduced to mindless automaton, gibbering memos, submemos, pseudo-rumour-whoever-says so and stuff. Many times I've heard ground-breaking ideas, but all too often they are shuffled away by cronies who don't want change. With time, nothing is done, and if things are done, they are done with a heavy heart. Common sense sometimes is superceded by 'proper channels' or 'cc-the-letter-to-10-people-in-your-ministry, then cc-to-10-more-in-other-ministry'. These ideas are floating around in big offices, which are littered with ruptures in space-time continuum (ie. they get 'lost' so easily). If it reaches it's destination, anything new is treated with suspect. No one wants to risk being 'too clever' or 'too avant-garde' or 'too unruly' for that matter.

These big-robots follow the first rule of automaton in Brunei - sit on it. They are afraid, you guys. They are part of the chain of commands. Although they may be heads, but really they need to strictly follow the 'proper channel' rule, which means they don't really have any authority at all. They can't help but being robots, even if told not to be. Big decisions need to be sanctioned by the above. Even if they act within their authority and apply common sense, and to the best interest of all, they will live in fear with that decision. Why? No one will help them to carry out the plans. Everyone will start criticising on the littlest of things. Everyone will be so worried about using their brains and do more work. The softest whispers in some corridor is enough to make this good guy appear to be bad guy. Tiny mistakes will be used to discredit the idea and the person. So, why bother.

Goooooooooood robot....