Robot characters who are given names like SL-308-62 but instead of their human friend going Well let's call you Sally for short, they instead ask the other if they Like their current name.
"Do you like your serial number?" they ask. "Yes, quite. It reminds me of who I am" the robot replies. "I have heard others like me go by different names after some time, and maybe one day I'll choose one for myself, too. But right now that is my full name, yes" they continue.
Because it's not your decision to make whether or not the robot will receive a new name. It should be theirs only. What's the difference? One is more complex and the other is simplified. They were both given by strangers instead of themselves.
"62 will do," they conclude. "It's my model number - there will be no other 62 after me."
Robots who instead start assigning numbers to their human friends
“Not that I mind,” I tell SL-308-62 one afternoon as we enjoy our shared lunch break (I have my packed lunch, and 62 has connected themself to their portable power bank) “but why do your call me ‘four’?”
The LEDs along 62’s appendages twinkle- a tell that they’re mulling over an answer.
“It’s a nickname,” they explain, “you are my fourth acquaintance aboard the station, and I’ve assigned you a serial number. Your full designation is F-001-04.”
“What does the ‘F’ stand for?” I ask, curious and charmed.
“Friend,” SL-308-62 says, their tone fond. “It stands for friend.”
![Image ID The first section of a chart listing injuries sustained by Arthur Lester and the episodes they occurred in. Episode 2: Car crash, Physical evidence: Probable bruising/scratches Episode 2: Beat up by Eddie, Physical evidence: Probable bruising Episode 3: Fell through stairs, Physical evidence: Possible bruising/scratches Episode 4: [This listing is highlighted red,] Stabbed by Kellin, Physical evidence: Abdominal puncture wound Episode 5: Coma for one month, Physical evidence: None (Atrophy?) Episode 7: Fell off (small?) cliff, Physical evidence: Possible bruising/scratches Episodes 8 and 9: Beat up by cops, Physical evidence: Probable bruising Episode 9: [highlighted red,] Shot three times and died, Physical evidence: Two bullet wounds in abdomen, one in chest (heart) Episode 12: Elevator crash, Physical evidence: Possible bruising/scratches Episode 12: [highlighted red,] Parasitic larvae embedding attempt, Physical evidence: Small, severe burn on left forearm Episode 12: [highlighted orange,] Frog monster exsanguination, Physical evidence: Wounds from suckers Episode 13: [highlighted red,] Bit off fingertip, Physical evidence: Missing tip of left pinky- replaced with dark wood, bone-like Episode 15: [highlighted red,] Blasted by sandstorm, Physical evidence: Torn skin from right side of face (cheek?) Episode 15: [highlighted red,] Electrocuted, Physical evidence: Electric burns on palms Episode 16: [highlighted orange,] Fell off large cliff, Physical evidence: Probable bruising/scratches, unspecified back and ankle injury Episode 17: Thrown across room by monster, Physical evidence: Possible bruising/scratches Episode 17: [highlighted red,] Rock dropped on shoulder, Physical evidence: Dislocated shoulder, deep cut on bicep End of image ID](https://64.media.tumblr.com/d52a05029fe3bacee110e0785c5775e2/12613de6e02c66c7-69/s500x750/aa66d4ea517f720a0c6f3ad4ce3bc3f6853b4c6e.png)
![Image ID The second section of a chart listing injuries sustained by Arthur Lester and the episodes they occurred in. Episode 18: Beat up and strangled by John, Physical evidence: Probable bruising Episode 19: [this listing is highlighted red,] Severe starvation and dehydration for three months, Physical evidence: Emaciation, atrophy? Episode 20: Cut by dancer, Physical evidence: Possible scratch/laceration Episode 20: [highlighted red,] Broken femur and tibia of right leg, and unspecified break, Physical evidence: Puncture(s?) through skin on right leg Episode 20: [highlighted red,] Throat slit, Physical evidence: Laceration across throat Episode 21: [highlighted orange,] Wolf attack, Physical evidence: Unspecified, possible bite mark Episode 21: Moonshine poisoning, Physical evidence: None Episode 22: Attacked by monster, Physical evidence: Unspecified leg injury (sprained ankle?) Episode 23: [highlighted red,] Uncle ear rip, Physical evidence: Missing piece of right ear Episode 24: Thrown down hole, Physical evidence: Possible bruising Episode 26: [highlighted red,] Beat up and furniture thrown at by Uncle, Physical evidence: Probable bruising/scratching, puncture wound in left arm near shoulder Episode 27: [highlighted red,] Pierced from behind by monster, Physical evidence: Huge gash in stomach, all the way through Episode 27: [highlighted red,] Tendril severing, Physical evidence: Chunk of flesh carved out at base of skull Episode 29: Strangled by Collins, Physical evidence: Possible bruising Episode 31: Fell down flight of stairs, Physical evidence: Probable bruising Episode 34: [highlighted red,] Shot by Collins with shotgun, Physical evidence: Buckshot wound in (back of?) shoulder End of image ID](https://64.media.tumblr.com/aa030315f6972691baa8a7c88ad64879/12613de6e02c66c7-a6/s540x810/8a95de85b1cd5f1c9247ad187003c2c65a137b55.png)
