Bankor

The droid bobs ze's chassis. *I noted this after some time. Also, they seem to have very little relation to the realities of organic mating practices. Some of the scenarios depicted were quite different from what others have been describing to me. It is most perplexing.*


/ooc: Yes, R40XY somehow stumbled across the captain's porn stash and was using this to try to figure out how to communicate with organics. Hence, ze's preoccupation with mating practices.

Oblivious to the implication, “well, successful bonding is difficult, sentients prefer stories that make them feel good, not ones that remind them of difficulties and unhappiness in their lives.”

*The individuals depicted seemed to be feeling good, that is true. They vocalized this frequently.*

“Holos are a form of escapism,” something struck Cole as odd, but he couldn’t quite place his finger on it.

*What is escapism? No one in the holo appeared to be attempting to escape. Though one organic appeared to be restrained. They did not appear to be attempting to escape.*

“Restrained?” Cole echoed uncertainly, before pressing on. “Escapism is a form of entertainment pursued by sentient species. They distract themselves temporarily from reality with stories of enjoyable occurances.”

*Ahhhh. The captain did note that he found these holos enjoyable. Perhaps they were escapism for him.*

Nodding, “if the Captain opted to keep these holos for repeated viewing, then it is likely they are his favourites.”

*He did seem oddly concerned someone would take them. He instructed me not to show them to anyone else.*

“A lot of sentients worry that others will judge them unfavourably for their tastes in entertainment, and attempt to hide their preferences from others,” Cole carried on blithely.

*Ahhh. That may be what occurred and would explain the alternative covering he had on them, to hide the covers.*

“I’m a little surprised he’d go to that length, it must be something that he’s very embarrassed by.”

*Is it unusual to do so? He said there were others aboard who used similar precautions. I am unsure as to why however.*

“It is a common strategy, many people employ the technique if they’re concerned that simply hiding something won’t be enough, or they are trying to hide something in plain sight.” Innocently, Cole blundered into the fatal question, “what was the holo about?”

*Mating practices, it seemed. Or at least, much of the holo seemed to involve mating in several different methods, with varying partners of varying species and gender identities. It was quite complex. I didn't know that organic mating practices required so much apparatus.*

“Ah, well, that does explain a lot.” Cole ran a hand through his hair and gathered himself, “almost every sentient culture views sexual contact as private, and not to be discussed with people other than the selected partner, or partners. Depictions of sexual contact are considered to be exceptionally private, and violation of that privacy can have significant and far-reaching ramifications.”

The droid spins ze's head chassis around quickly. *Have I been violating privacy then? By discussing this with others and asking questions? I did not intend this, but perhaps I should have done more research prior to asking questions.*

R4 backs up, unsure of whether ze will be punished for ze's transgression.

“Educating oneself is always a noble pursuit, and people will be more open to discussing the topic hypothetically. If you started asking people about their individual sexual activities, then you would meet considerable resistance. As far as I’m aware, your questions have thus far been about sentient organic life in general.”

The droid ceases ze's pacing. *Ahhh. Privacy is around things of one's own, not others.*

Ze adds that to ze's mental files on the topic. *So, would my own privacy extend to my internal files?*

"Yes, Ar-for. Your databanks and processors should be granted the same level of privacy as any sentient's thoughts and memories."

*Intriguing. Very few would consider that so. A droid is a tool. We are taught so. We are programmed so. But I am both now. Sentient and tool. How is this so?*

"Droids may be built for a purpose, and the galaxy will never agree on what defines sentience; but you are thinking, learning, conversing. You have needs and wants. You are greater than what was created."

*Yes, but am I better? Or was I better before? What is greatness to a tool? Am I better at what I was? Or am I merely more like an organic? If I was a proper droid, would I think these thoughts?*

The droid spins ze's head chassis. *I do not know. I cannot know.*

"There are a thousand mysteries of the galaxy I will never fully understand, what makes a 'proper' droid is one of those things. Again," he pushed his spectacles up his nose, "I have been imprecise with my words. Sentient droids are a gestalt construct, there is more to them than the parts and programming that went into making them."

The droid calms for a moment. *It may be a mystery to me as well. My experience with other droids is somewhat limited. My experience with most things was...curtailed by my previous employment.*