Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!sorceror@LL.ARPA From: sorceror@LL.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Comments on WARGAMES Message-ID: <2513@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Fri, 24-Jun-83 10:28:21 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.2513 Posted: Fri Jun 24 10:28:21 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 27-Jun-83 02:44:04 EDT Lines: 38 Message-ID:Lauren's flaming over WARGAMES very accurately echoes my own reactions. Thank you, Lauren. ***** FLAME ON ***** I would add that this film is genuinely pernicious, because its unrealistic portrayal of electronic automation facilitates a message which encourages the uninformed public's fear and loathing of this technology. The opening vignettes make it clear that WARGAMES intends to deal with the topic of replacing human agents with a computer controlled system. The plot developments, aided and abetted by the film's distorted concepts of computer systems technology, imply that such systems are disastrously unreliable. The issue of human fallibility, which led to the implementation of the WOPR, is conveniently ignored, after the first five minutes. The film attempts to distract the viewer from this fallacy of selected evidence, by raising the prospect of nuclear holocaust and evoking hysteria about the anticipated consequences. It reinforces its judgment about "man vs. machine" by blaming the computer and its affiliated personnel for this state of agitation. This sort of emotional manipulation is a most dishonest and improper technique of argument, which should be recognized and deplored. Despite the strength of its purely dramatic elements, I found this film objectionable, because of this sleazy Luddite pandering. ***** FLAME OFF ***** Enjoy, Karl Heinemann (SORCEROR at LL) P.S. Just this morning, I heard a radio ad for WARGAMES, where a person leaving the theater says "This is the most important movie of the year". This reaction exemplifies my misgivings about the film, that people will see it as a serious argument against implementation of computer control technology, including AI. AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGH !!