Simsimi Robot App Too Rude For Some Parents: Thai Culture Ministry

[webfact]

Simsimi robot app too rude for some parents

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Parents have complained to the Culture Ministry about people teaching the Simsimi robot computer application to use rude language, Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said yesterday.

Sukumol urged people to use the app appropriately and be aware that children could download Simsimi. He told the Culture Watch Centre that worried parents should contact agencies such as the ICT Ministry to tell the app owner to check the automatic texts.

People can download Simsimi onto iPhones, iPads and Android cellphones to chat with the robot, which automatically responds to questions with texts other users have sent. Users can chat with Simsimi right after downloading, but those who key in texts must register their country and phone numbers first.

While some users get funny responses, many have found the robot's chatter to be rude. For example, if you type "Nai Luang" (His Majesty), it responds: "The one to worship above all" and "Long live the King". If "Yingluck" is typed in, it responds "Madam Prime Minister" or "… and script reader". To "Chuwit" it responds: "Beware of being exposed of wrongdoing" or "Damn, he closed my pub". To "Jatuporn" it responds: "A red-shirt hero" or "a talkative toad".

Culture Watch Centre director Ladda Tangsupachai said she would have the ICT Ministry to urge the app owner in Thailand to install a text-screening system and urged youngsters to use the app appropriately.

Amornwit Nakhonthap, an associate professor at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education, said Simsimi was only a fad. Though the language used might be rude sometimes, there were many young people who knew the appropriate usage for such language, he said. He urged the authorities to supervise the Internet by blocking and screening inappropriate content.

-- The Nation 2012-02-03

[TheWalkingMan]

This software just looks like a bit of fun for people. You gotta admit, these are pretty good.

If "Yingluck" is typed in, it responds "Madam Prime Minister" or "… and script reader". To "Chuwit" it responds: "Beware of being exposed of wrongdoing" or "dam_n, he closed my pub".

script reader and he closed my pub.

[pepi2005]

The average talk about farangs behind their back or right into their face, thinking they don't understand Thai, is much more offensive.

How about controlling and 'censoring' that, ICT?

[Gianni77]

If parents are worried about this, take more time to see what your kid is doing, education starts at home... expecting the government to censor everything is just lazy and dumb...

[nikster]

"Culture Watch Centre director Ladda Tangsupachai"

Good candidate for "most senseless job in the world".

[nikster]

If parents are worried about this, take more time to see what your kid is doing, education starts at home... expecting the government to censor everything is just lazy and dumb...

How about the Thai soaps where people scream at each other and/or inflict physical violence 24/7? Those are OK, I suppose...

[Pinair]

If parents are worried about this, take more time to see what your kid is doing, education starts at home... expecting the government to censor everything is just lazy and dumb...

+1

all those kids are cheaters, ( everyone passed the question, yes i'm a adult ) government need to take action against those parents.

[sparebox2]

If parents are worried about this, take more time to see what your kid is doing, education starts at home... expecting the government to censor everything is just lazy and dumb...

How about the Thai soaps where people scream at each other and/or inflict physical violence 24/7? Those are OK, I suppose...

Thai soaps is OK, because it is acted by Thai people.

But this software is Farang, and it is saying bad things about Thai people.

ICT should block the website and not allow it to say bad thing about Thai people.

[leanbiz]

Sparebox2: Making a distinction between Farang and Thai is wrong. We are all the same people living on Earth. Ethnicity and Nationality doesn't really matter.

Many farangs think like this, this explains many comments they make on thaivisa.com

[CosmicSurfer]

If parents are worried about this, take more time to see what your kid is doing, education starts at home... expecting the government to censor everything is just lazy and dumb...

How about the Thai soaps where people scream at each other and/or inflict physical violence 24/7? Those are OK, I suppose...

Thai soaps is OK, because it is acted by Thai people.

But this software is Farang, and it is saying bad things about Thai people.

ICT should block the website and not allow it to say bad thing about Thai people.

And you "KNOW" that the software is Farang, How????

CS