Comments on: Let me tell you about my mother.

Let me tell you about my mother.

xmutex — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:08:57 -0800

San Francisco mayorial candidates take the Voight-Kampff test. You know, from Blade Runner. For the children.

By: cheaily

cheaily — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:16:47 -0800

you wacky americans!

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:17:11 -0800

Kudos to Tom Ammiano, who got the joke.

By: dgaicun

dgaicun — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:19:13 -0800

That test seems like it's better suited to identify vegans than it is androids.

By: teradome

teradome — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:20:08 -0800

Now that's reporting!

By: aramaic

aramaic — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:23:33 -0800

This should have been televised.

By: Acetylene

Acetylene — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:34:58 -0800

I do not consider it an exaggeration to say that this is without a doubt the best political article I've ever read.

By: anathema

anathema — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:42:10 -0800

Just think of the possibilities. Great post, xmutex.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:44:27 -0800

The sad thing is that this would probably influence my voting if done in an election near me. Like, I'm so predisposed towards Ammiano now that he'd have to be a real tool to lose my vote.

By: tommyspoon

tommyspoon — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:48:20 -0800

That Gavin guy looks like a replicant to me! Or at least very airbrushed...

By: mooncrow

mooncrow — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 09:53:27 -0800

This is both wonderful satire and frighteningly effective. We should use it in the 2004 Presidential Race.

By: starscream

starscream — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 10:25:20 -0800

I'm so predisposed towards Ammiano now that he'd have to be a real tool to lose my vote. Ecxactly how I'm feeling. Next, I wanna see all the California governor candidates take this test. Is Gray Davis a replicant?

By: lsd4all

lsd4all — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 10:34:45 -0800

Rachael: Can I ask you a personal question? Deckard: Sure. Rachael: Have you ever retired a human by mistake? Deckard: No. Rachael: But in your position it's a risk.

By: Cerebus

Cerebus — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 10:38:37 -0800

That test seems like it's better suited to identify vegans than it is androids. Dick's novel described a world where animals (not to include insects) in general were rare-- rare enough that some people could go their entire lives without seeing one. The people of this world had an aversion to killing animals, and would have been horrified at receiving a calfskin wallet. Most replicants in the novel were replicas of extinct animals.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 10:43:03 -0800

Without the context Cerebus mentions the test is pointless and stupid, which is what I thought of the article.

By: taz

taz — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 10:51:05 -0800

No. It's great, dobbs, because, you see, some people don't even know they are are replicants. See? Dobbs? Okay, dobbs: Reaction time is a factor in this...

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 10:59:49 -0800

The tortoise lays on its back, its belly baking in the hot sun, beating its legs trying to turn itself over, but it can't, not without your help. But you're not helping. Why is that, Tom? TA: That's interesting. I don't know. I'm a republican? Pure genius. I'd vote for this guy based on that alone.

By: Be'lal

Be'lal — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 11:03:02 -0800

Brilliant. Now if I could only find that link to 'Do Androids Dream...' posted online...

By: Blue Stone

Blue Stone — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 11:03:11 -0800

Excellent. Showed who was a bit dumb, who was sharp as a tack, and, er, some other stuff. Tom Ammiano wins. [Do replicants have a sense of humour?]

By: skallas

skallas — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 11:16:12 -0800

This is the best thing ever!

By: kozad

kozad — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 11:30:33 -0800

Funniest thing I've read in days. Thanks. BTW, I had a dream about Phillip K. Dick and his novels last night. Just thought I'd mention that. Oh, and my tarantula is NOT electric, despite anything you may have heard.

By: yhbc

yhbc — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 11:36:21 -0800

There should be a Cultural Reference Confessional for those of us who have either never seen, or saw but didn't think were all that great, particular movies or TV shows that others use as cultural flashpoints all the freakin' time. Two of mine are Blade Runner and The Big Lebowski. You may commence dissin' me now.

By: jpoulos

jpoulos — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 12:32:35 -0800

dick.

By: magullo

magullo — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 12:40:09 -0800

Cerebus, it's taken from Blade Runner, not the original novel, which I guess less people have read than people have watched the movie. Still, replace calfskin wallet for a tiger/panda rug, wasp for a hundred dollar bill/other semi-important document thrown accidentally in the fire, butterflies for fossils stolen on school trips, and the tortoise for a foreigner who does not speak your language and who you got into an accident in an isolated place. Mom stays. Incidentally, please note that we have it pretty tough when it comes to the task of eradicating all insects from the face of the earth. I do not think that the coolness of the article/idea comes (only) from quoting Blade Runner. Getting information about facets of the personality of the individual other than purely political views is crucial. For instance, in my scale, sense of humor is an asset. If it goes all the way to the person being able to laugh at themselves, then it becomes a fundamental asset. yhbc, not a big deal - I don't like Philip K. Dick myself. /throws helmet on /finally crashes after a sunny afternoon of beer and sailing

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 12:44:36 -0800

Is Tom Ammiano actually a republican? /dumb question

By: deanc

deanc — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 12:46:03 -0800

BTW, I had a dream about Phillip K. Dick and his novels last night Whoah. Do Philip K. Dick readers dream of androids that dream of electric sheep?

By: 2sheets

2sheets — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 13:16:07 -0800

Tom Ammiano is a democrat, a stand-up comedian, and openly gay. So he had a distinct advantage here. I voted for him in the last SF election; I think he's a good guy.

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 14:39:59 -0800

What a brilliant article idea...and really well done as well. Good find!

By: weston

weston — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 14:58:32 -0800

Yes, but have they taken the Mein Kampf test?

By: onlyconnect

onlyconnect — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 15:20:49 -0800

Thanks, 2sheets. Great post, btw, xmutex.

By: Cerebus

Cerebus — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 16:01:22 -0800

I'd like to see them take a Keirsey Temperament test.

By: Voivod

Voivod — Fri, 05 Sep 2003 16:27:33 -0800

Well, Mr Ammiano just won my vote. Anyone who can detect the Voight-Kampff test in two questions is definitially qualified to run my town :-)

By: Outlawyr

Outlawyr — Sat, 06 Sep 2003 04:57:08 -0800

Let me be the first to say: Ammiano for President

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Sat, 06 Sep 2003 06:09:55 -0800

I do not consider it an exaggeration to say that this is without a doubt the best political article I've ever read. Amen! Even without the V-K joke, seeing how candidates react to this kind of quiz tells you so much so fast. I would kill to see the 2004 candidates take this, as well as all the recall loons.

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Sat, 06 Sep 2003 06:16:51 -0800

Another reason to vote for Ammiano - he linked to the test on his web site.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Sat, 06 Sep 2003 11:59:05 -0800

"Vote for the human candidate!" I think it's safe to say he's sewn up the geek vote...

By: gwint

gwint — Mon, 08 Sep 2003 12:43:49 -0800

Whoa.