What non-human, non-AI things do you talk to?

[petra]

Are you one of those people who has conversations at their cat? Do you address technology that isn't listening?

Comments

[sulien]

Conversations at cats? Sometimes, but it was most often the case of conversations with cats, my own and those who live with other humans. In particular, Rocket and Haldir, both of whom owned me at one time (and they knew it). Rocket was a mixed breed Color Point Shorthair (the one in my icon, in fact) who spoke a Siamese dialect of Catinese, which I picked up to some extent (not that I knew precisely what I was saying, but Rocket got the gist). Haldir and his sister, Púca, were Maine Coon mix and spoke what I would consider Standard Catinese, but apparently I wasn't able to communicate as well in that and rather annoyed them, since they canted their ears when I tried and got a long suffering expression on their faces. Púca wasn't particularly talkative, but like Rocket, Hal would follow me around the house while holding a conversation with me, or at least trying to. I finally gave up attempting to speak Standard Catinese and stuck to English with Haldir and Púca, who were fine so long as I paid attention and spoke to them when they spoke to me and Hal would nearly always answer when I spoke to him, whether he was in the room or not.

As for dogs, I've only met one who enjoyed talking with people and that was McKay, an Amstaff my Mom and I rescued off of the highway out here on the Washington coast. Mac was the most talkative dog I've ever met and he always enjoyed talking with my folks and me.

Talking to technology? Like the rest of the folks here, it's usually pleading with it to work. :-p

[petra]

You must be very good at speaking Catinese. My attempts generally tick off my American Shorthair.

I have heard it said that there is no universal for how cats address their owners, but in a clowder there are probably some similarities.

My mother-in-law has a very talkative dog. I rather wish it wasn't.

[sulien]

Is your mother-in-law's dog a barker/yapper or a talker? The barking seems more like shouting and yelling. Mac wasn't much of a barker unless someone he didn't know came to the door or bears were within hearing/scent, then his bark could raise the dead (Amstaffs have very deep, resonant barks, especially when they feel their family is threatened). His talking was more of a Scooby Doo-like 'oohr-rowr' mumble (with an added soft whine if he wanted something).

[petra]

The mil's dog is a yapper more than a talker. I've known more chatty dogs who oor-rrowred, and that was less annoying, you're right.