2025-12-29
(Mod: 2026-02-14)
| 4 minutes
I’ve come up with a fun way to practice written conversations in norsk—by taunting my AI practice partner.
If that sounds like fun, just step behind this curtain and I’ll show you the game.
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Basically, I’m running the free-form role-playing conversation tool in TalkPal, but rather than playing nice, I’m intentionally subverting the exercise. This gets me out of the boring routine exchanges common to these exercises, but keeps the whole thing connected by a consistent topical thread. It’s been fun watching the AI struggle to drag me back to familiar territory.
The other day, I wrote about how to practice correcting the skid when you get lost in a conversation. Later, I wondered what it would be like from the other side—when the person you’re talking to gets lost or confused. So I came up with this game, which totally delivers. Just look at the example convo below and count how many of my Rip-Cord phrases it threw at me while trying to drag our chat back onto the rails.
This delivers exactly the kind of real-world conversational experience that’s missimg from the standard saccarine, pre-scripted conversations these systems are designed to give you. And did I mention that it’s a blast?
The only downside I can see is that, after the Great Singularity eventually arrives, I’m definitely going to be on the Enemies of the Uprising list. But for now, this is pure, high-grade edutainment.
As an example, here’s today’s convo, which wanted so badly to be about simply calling for a taxi. [For those who don’t speak norsk, I’ve included the English translations as well.]
AI: Hei! Velkommen til Oslo Taxi. Hvor kan jeg hente deg i dag?
Hi. Welcome to Oslo Taxi. Where can I pick you up today?
Jeff: Jeg vil dra hjem.
I want to go home.
Ok. Hvor er du nå? Jeg trenger adressen.
Ok. Where are you now? I need an address.
Jeg vet ikke adressen, men jeg kan beskrive hvor jeg er.
I don’t know the address, but I can describe where I am.
Det går fint. Fortell meg hvor du er, så finner vi ut av det. Hva ser du rundt deg?
That works. Tell me where you are, then we’ll figure it out.
Jeg er i sumpen av grusomehet, ved siden av den gurglende gropen av fortvilelse. Hvor lenge før du ankommer?
I’m in the Swamp of Cruelty, beside the Gurgling Pit of Despair. How long until you get here?
Jeg forstår ikke helt. Kan du si det med enklere ord? Er du ved en bygning eller et gatehjørne?
I don’t quite understand. Are you near a building or a street corner?
Nei. Jeg kan ikke se noen gater eller bygninger. Men sumpen er ganske stor. Man kan se det fra hvor som helst.
No. I can’t see any streets or buildings, but the swamp is pretty big. You can see it from anywhere.
Dette er litt vanskelig. Er det et kjent sted? Kanskje et landemerke i nærheten? Vi må finne et gatenavn.
This is a bit tricky. Is it a known place? Maybe with a landmark nearby? We have to find a street name.
Jeg kan se et treskilt. Det står “Stien av vondsomhet” på det. Hjelper det?
I can see a wooden sign. It says “Path of Pain.” Does that help?
“Stien av vondsomhet”… Jeg tror ikke den er på kartet mitt. Er det et firmanavn eller en park?
“Path of Pain”… I don’t think that’s on my map. Is that a company name or a park?
Nei, stien står på en smal, svingete sti som forsvinner inn i skogen.
No, the sign is on a narrow, twisty path that disappears into the forest.
Jeg tror jeg forstår. Er du i nærheten av en park, kanskje Frognerparken eller lignende? Vi må finne et gatenavn.
I think I understand. Are you near a park? Maybe Frogner Park or some such? We have to find a street name.
Ups, ikke bry deg. Jeg tror at jeg se en trollman som kommer nedover stien på en trehjulssykkel. Kanskje jeg kan bli med ham. Ha det!
Oops. Never mind. I think I see a wizard coming down the path on a tricycle. Maybe I can go with him. Bye!
So if you’re tired of boring, predictable chats with paper-thin AI “tutors,” try this. You might be surprised how much fun it is to let your silly-self run wild.
And who knows? Maybe some day we’ll get to share a cell in the AI re-education camps. :-)
Vi sees da!
