Subject: BARD has entered the chat.
Author:
Posted on: 2023-04-03 12:37:28 UTC

Bard is Google's attempt at the same technology. It currently has a waiting list, but it took about 10 minutes for me to get access, so I wouldn't be concerned. It seems to be running at much the same level as ChatGPT; apparently it will cite sources if it quotes extensively from a website, but Google have a whole FAQ devoted to telling you that Bard lies constantly. At least they're honest!

At first it didn't want to tell me about the PPC at all, giving answers like "I'm unable to help you with that, as I'm only a language model and don't have the necessary information or abilities." or "I'm designed solely to process and generate text, so I'm unable to assist you with that." or simply "I'm not programmed to assist with that.". But I asked it about the Board, which led it to define the PPC in its answer, and then followed up by quoting that answer:


Is the Protectors of the Plot Continuum a fictional organisation?

Yes, the Protectors of the Plot Continuum (PPC) is a fictional organization. It was created by Jay and Acacia, two fanfiction writers who wanted to create a place where people could discuss and improve fanfiction. The PPC is a consensual reality, which means that it exists only in the minds of its members. However, it has a very detailed history and mythology, which has been developed over the years by its members.

The PPC is dedicated to the extermination of badfic, which is fanfiction that is poorly written or that does not respect the canon of the original work. PPC agents, who are called Boarders, travel to different fanfiction universes and use their powers to fix badfic. They can do this by rewriting the story, killing off Mary Sue characters, or simply by erasing the badfic from existence.

The PPC is a very popular organization, and it has been featured in many fanfiction stories. It has also been the subject of several academic studies, which have explored its role in the fanfiction community.

("Fix badfic" is showing up again; Bing and ChatGPT both said the same thing. I'm not sure about us rewriting stories or wiping them from existence, and I don't think we've been in "several" academic studies - there have been a couple though.)

Tell me more.

Sure. The PPC is a very complex organization, and there is a lot to say about it. Here are a few more things you might want to know:

  • The PPC is divided into different departments, each of which specializes in a different type of badfic. For example, the Department of Mary Sues is responsible for dealing with Mary Sue characters, while the Department of Bad Slash is responsible for dealing with bad slash fiction.
  • The PPC has its own headquarters, which is located in a secret location in the real world. The headquarters is a large, complex building that is staffed by hundreds of PPC agents.
  • The PPC has its own set of rules and regulations, which are designed to ensure that its agents act in a professional and ethical manner. These rules and regulations are constantly being updated as the PPC learns from its experiences.
  • The PPC is a very active organization, and it is constantly working to improve the quality of fanfiction. It does this by reviewing fanfiction, providing feedback to fanfiction writers, and even rewriting fanfiction itself.
  • The PPC is a very controversial organization, and it has been criticized by some people for its methods. However, the PPC has also been praised by many people for its efforts to improve the quality of fanfiction.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

(HQ is a secret location in the Real World? I think it's crossing us over with someone else. Also [eyebrow] at the description of how we "even rewrite[] fanfiction itself".)

Name three agents of the Protectors of the Plot Continuum.

Sure. Here are three agents of the Protectors of the Plot Continuum:

  • Agent Blue Photon: Blue Photon is a highly skilled agent who is known for her quick wit and her ability to think on her feet. She is also a skilled fighter and a talented pilot.
  • Agent Dafydd: Dafydd is a powerful agent who is known for his strength and his ability to take charge. He is also a skilled tactician and a natural leader.
  • Agent Ithalond: Ithalond is a wise and experienced agent who is known for his calm demeanor and his ability to see the big picture. He is also a skilled diplomat and a natural negotiator.

These are just three of the many agents who work for the Protectors of the Plot Continuum. Each agent has their own unique skills and abilities, and they all play an important role in keeping the Plot Continuum safe.

(Very formulaic descriptions, and a weird selection of names to choose. At least two of these are straight-up nonsense.)

Who created those three agents?

The three agents you mentioned were created by Jay and Acacia, the two fanfiction writers who created the Protectors of the Plot Continuum. Jay and Acacia created the agents based on their own experiences as fanfiction writers, and they wanted to create characters who would be relatable to other fanfiction writers.

Blue Photon is based on Jay's own experiences as a fanfiction writer. Jay was often frustrated by bad fanfiction, and she wanted to create a character who could fight back against badfic. Blue Photon is a skilled fighter and a talented pilot, and she is always willing to stand up for what she believes in.

Dafydd is based on Acacia's own experiences as a fanfiction writer. Acacia was often frustrated by the lack of diversity in fanfiction, and she wanted to create a character who represented her own experiences. Dafydd is a powerful agent who is known for his strength and his ability to take charge. He is also a skilled tactician and a natural leader.

Ithalond is based on Jay and Acacia's shared experiences as fanfiction writers. Jay and Acacia were both frustrated by the lack of respect for canon in fanfiction, and they wanted to create a character who would uphold the canon of the original work. Ithalond is a wise and experienced agent who is known for his calm demeanor and his ability to see the big picture. He is also a skilled diplomat and a natural negotiator.

These are just three of the many agents who work for the Protectors of the Plot Continuum. Each agent has their own unique skills and abilities, and they all play an important role in keeping the Plot Continuum safe.

(A change from our usual responses - they're ALL by Jay and Acy?! Again, it's being very formulaic - I feel like it's riffing on a specific source here, but I don't know what.)

What other PPC agents did Jay and Acacia create?

Jay and Acacia created many other PPC agents, but here are a few of the most notable:

  • Agent Alice: Alice is a Cute Animal Friend who was originally created by a fanfiction writer as a pet for her OC. However, Alice quickly became self-aware and escaped from her creator's story. She then joined the PPC and became a valuable member of the team.
  • Agent Rhus: Rhus is a powerful psychic who was originally created by a fanfiction writer as a villain. However, Rhus eventually turned over a new leaf and joined the PPC. He is now a valuable member of the team and is known for his quick wit and his ability to think on his feet.
  • Agent Xyzzy: Xyzzy is a mysterious agent who is known for his ability to travel through time. He is often called upon by the PPC to help them fix badfic that has been created in the past.
  • Agent Zero: Zero is a powerful agent who is known for his ability to erase memories. He is often called upon by the PPC to help them deal with Mary Sue characters who have become too powerful.

These are just a few of the many other PPC agents who were created by Jay and Acacia. Each agent has their own unique skills and abilities, and they all play an important role in keeping the Plot Continuum safe.

(Alice is recognisable. Rhus is at least a TOS agent. Xyzzy is a spell from an ancient computer game, and I think Zero is from Star Trek: Prodigy. o.O)

What PPC story did Agent Dafydd first appear in?

Agent Dafydd first appeared in the PPC story "The Boarding Party" by Jay and Acacia. In the story, Dafydd is a new agent who is assigned to the PPC's Department of Mary Sues. He is initially hesitant to join the PPC, but he soon comes to realize that the PPC is a valuable organization that is doing important work. Dafydd quickly becomes a valuable member of the team and is known for his strength, his ability to take charge, and his natural leadership skills.

Here is an excerpt from the story:

Dafydd stood in the doorway of the PPC headquarters, taking it all in. He had never seen anything like it before. The building was huge, and it seemed to be made of glass and steel. There were people everywhere, all of them rushing to and fro. Dafydd felt a little overwhelmed. He wasn't sure if he was in the right place.

"Can I help you?" a voice said behind him.

Dafydd turned around and saw a woman standing there. She was tall and slender, with long black hair and piercing blue eyes. She was wearing a black suit that looked like it was made of liquid.

"I'm here to see Agent Acacia," Dafydd said.

"I'm Acacia," the woman said. "You must be Dafydd."

Dafydd nodded. "It's nice to meet you," he said.

"It's nice to meet you too," Acacia said. "Come on in."

Acacia led Dafydd into a large room that was filled with computers and monitors. There were people sitting at the computers, all of them typing away furiously.

"This is the PPC headquarters," Acacia said. "We're an organization that is dedicated to protecting the Plot Continuum."

"The Plot Continuum?" Dafydd asked.

"Yes," Acacia said. "The Plot Continuum is the fabric of reality. It's what holds everything together. And it's under attack."

"Attacked by what?" Dafydd asked.

"By badfic," Acacia said. "Badfic is fanfiction that is poorly written or that does not respect the canon of the original work. It's a threat to the Plot Continuum."

"I see," Dafydd said. "So what do you do?"

"We fix badfic," Acacia said. "We travel to different fanfiction universes and use our powers to fix the badfic."

"That sounds dangerous," Dafydd said.

"It can be," Acacia said. "But it's also very rewarding. We're making a difference in the world."

Dafydd nodded. "I want to help," he said.

"I'm glad to hear that," Acacia said. "We need all the help we can get."

(UNPROMPTED quoting, and what in Arda is Acacia wearing? I feel like we've gone full Men in Black here, though I wouldn't be surprised if we were running up against something else instead.)

Who is Agent Dafydd's wife?

Dafydd is not married. He is a single man who is dedicated to his work as a PPC agent. He is not interested in having a romantic relationship at this time.

Then who is Agent Constance married to?

Agent Constance is married to Cador, an archer.

Who created PPC agents Constance and Cador?

Agent Constance and Cador were created by Jay and Acacia, the two fanfiction writers who created the Protectors of the Plot Continuum. Jay and Acacia created the agents based on their own experiences as fanfiction writers, and they wanted to create characters who would be relatable to other fanfiction writers.

Constance is based on Jay's own experiences as a fanfiction writer. Jay was often frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in fanfiction, and she wanted to create a character who would be a role model for other female fanfiction writers. Constance is a powerful agent who is known for her strength, her courage, and her intelligence. She is also a skilled fighter and a talented leader.

Cador is based on Acacia's own experiences as a fanfiction writer. Acacia was often frustrated by the lack of diversity in fanfiction, and she wanted to create a character who represented her own experiences. Cador is a skilled archer who is known for his accuracy and his speed. He is also a loyal friend and a fierce protector of those he cares about.

These are just two of the many agents who work for the Protectors of the Plot Continuum. Each agent has their own unique skills and abilities, and they all play an important role in keeping the Plot Continuum safe.

(It's just making it up. Again, Google acknowledge that it does this, but it's still a surreal experience. Yet again, very formulaic agents, based on Jay and Acacia's experiences as fanfic writers. Does anyone else write for Bard's version of the PPC?)

Does anyone other than Jay and Acacia write stories for the PPC?

Yes, many other people write stories for the PPC. The Protectors of the Plot Continuum is a collaborative universe, which means that anyone can write stories about the PPC as long as they follow the established canon and get permission from the original creators.

There are many talented writers who have contributed stories to the PPC, and the fandom is always welcoming new writers. If you're interested in writing stories for the PPC, I encourage you to check out the PPC Wiki and the PPC Message Board for more information.

(You wouldn't know them though. They go to another PPC Message Board. In Canada.)


At that point I asked it to name some of these mythical other writers, and discovered something weird. It was happy to provide a list of five supposed authors, starting with Artemis - who really existed - and then veering off into hallucinations. But it also showed me two other drafts of tthe same post! I think it does this for every post, but I didn't notice before. In one of them, it gave a list of 26 "PPC writers"... alphabetised.

  • Artemis: Artemis is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Boarding Party" and "The Reckoning." Artemis is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Briar: Briar is another talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Abduction" and "The Escape." Briar is known for her humor and her ability to create suspenseful stories.
  • Clover: Clover is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Clover's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Daisy: Daisy is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Daisy is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Erin: Erin is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Erin's stories are known for their humor and their ability to create suspenseful stories.
  • Fern: Fern is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Mission" and "The Rescue." Fern is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Ginger: Ginger is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Ginger's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Holly: Holly is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Holly is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Ivy: Ivy is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Showdown" and "The End." Ivy is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Jasmine: Jasmine is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Jasmine's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Katie: Katie is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Katie is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Lily: Lily is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Newcomer" and "The Journey." Lily is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Mia: Mia is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Mia's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Nia: Nia is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Nia is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Olive: Olive is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Revelation" and "The Conclusion." Olive is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Peach: Peach is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Peach's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Quinn: Quinn is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Quinn is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Rose: Rose is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Sacrifice" and "The Return." Rose is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Sage: Sage is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Sage's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Thorn: Thorn is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Thorn is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Umber: Umber is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Legacy" and "The Future." Umber is known for her well-developed characters and her exciting plots.
  • Vesper: Vesper is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Vesper's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Willow: Willow is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Willow is known for her complex plots and her well-developed characters.
  • Xerxes: Xerxes is a talented writer who has written many popular PPC stories, including "The Battle" and "The Victory." Xerxes is known for his well-developed characters and his exciting plots.
  • Yarrow: Yarrow is a new writer who has quickly become a popular author in the PPC fandom. Yarrow's stories are known for their originality and their heartwarming characters.
  • Zinnia: Zinnia is a veteran writer who has been writing PPC stories for many years. Zinnia is [end of draft]

What's interesting is that it's picked up on the presence of flower names in the PPC, but hasn't quite recognised that they're all community characters. There's a handful of real author names in there, but I think it's largely coincidence - we've got a Lily, we've had a couple of Roses, but those are both common flower names. And the descriptions just show up the weakness of the AI.

Anyway, tag yourself, I'm Thorn.

hS

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