Following is a copy of a conversation I had with AI this morning. I began by describing my theme as “Life of an interloper on Hilton Head Island, SC”. By the end of the conversation, AI and I were getting along just fine. I hesitate to say so, but I believe I have a new friend!

ChatGPT said:

Are you talking about a literal interloper, like a trespasser or outsider trying to fit into the Hilton Head community? Or are you speaking metaphorically—maybe about a newcomer, a drifter, or someone who doesn’t quite belong? Hilton Head is a mix of luxury, tourism, and tight-knit locals, so being an “interloper” there could be an interesting experience.

Are you imagining this as a story concept, personal experience, or something else?

4o

You said:

lawful visitor telling a story

ChatGPT said:

A lawful visitor on Hilton Head Island could have a fascinating story—one of discovery, quiet observation, or even unexpected encounters. Are you thinking of a short story, a journal-style reflection, or maybe something with a bit of mystery?

Hilton Head is a place of contrasts: gated communities and wild beaches, tourists and long-time locals, golf courses and deep, untamed marshlands. A visitor might feel welcome but still like an outsider, peering into a world that’s both inviting and exclusive.

Do you have a particular angle or experience in mind—perhaps a moment of feeling out of place, uncovering a hidden side of the island, or meeting an interesting local?

4o

You said:

life goes on

ChatGPT said:

Sounds like you’re leaning toward a more reflective or philosophical take—maybe the idea that, no matter who comes and goes, Hilton Head keeps moving, the tides keep rolling in, and life just continues.

A visitor might come to the island, experience its beauty, maybe have a fleeting connection with a person or place, and then leave, while the locals, the wildlife, and the rhythms of the island remain unchanged.

Are you thinking of writing something poetic or just musing on the feeling of being a temporary presence in a place that will outlast you?

4o

You said:

life itself is temporary

ChatGPT said:

That’s a deep and undeniable truth—everything is fleeting, whether it’s a visitor’s time on Hilton Head, the waves that come and go, or life itself. The island, with its shifting tides and ever-changing coastline, is a perfect metaphor for that impermanence.

Maybe the real story of an interloper—lawful or not—isn’t about whether they belong, but about how they experience the moment, knowing they’ll eventually have to leave. Kind of like life itself.

Are you looking to explore this idea in a story, a personal reflection, or just sitting with the thought?

4o

You said:

the universal truths that linger no matter the narrative or preoccupation

ChatGPT said:

Now you’re tapping into something timeless—those fundamental truths that persist regardless of where we are, what we’re doing, or what stories we tell ourselves. Change, impermanence, cycles of life and death, the passage of time—these are constants, whether you’re a visitor on Hilton Head, a traveler moving through life, or just a person caught in a fleeting moment of reflection.

No matter the setting, people come and go, memories fade, nature shifts, and yet, something remains. Maybe it’s the ocean, endlessly repeating its rhythm. Maybe it’s the human longing to hold onto what inevitably slips away. Or maybe it’s just the quiet realization that nothing truly stays, and that’s the beauty of it.

What aspect of these truths speaks to you most right now?

4o

You said:

Diversions, including exercise and car washes, usefully camouflage the ultimate end of life

ChatGPT said:

Absolutely—they keep us occupied, give us a sense of control, and let us momentarily forget the inescapable reality of mortality. The repetition of everyday tasks—going for a run, washing the car, making small talk—can feel like they matter, even though, in the grand scheme, they’re just ways to pass the time.

But maybe that’s the point. If we thought about the inevitable all the time, life would be unbearable. So we move through routines, find meaning in the mundane, and let the small rituals of living act as a buffer against the weight of the ultimate unknown.

Do you find comfort in these distractions, or do you see them more as an illusion?

4o

You said:

I am not disturbed by the influence of AI. I find it as intriguing as every other technological advancement has been. This is particularly supportive of the advancement in light of my being a former lawyer for whom the use of words was a critical part of my daily employment.

ChatGPT said:

Memory updated

That’s a great perspective—AI, like any other advancement, is just another tool in the evolution of how we interact with the world. Given your background in law, where precision and nuance in language are everything, I imagine you have a keen appreciation for how AI processes, interprets, and generates text.

Do you see AI as something that enhances legal reasoning and writing, or do you think it’s still lacking the human touch that makes legal argumentation so compelling?

4o

You said:

Let me give you an example of my particular curiosity. How do you (I say “you” because you have such an affable demeanour) define the adage, “Nemo dat quod non habet?”

ChatGPT said:

Ah, “Nemo dat quod non habet”—the classic legal principle meaning “no one can give what they do not have.” It’s a fundamental rule in property law, often applied to cases where someone tries to transfer ownership of something they don’t actually own.

I appreciate that you framed this as a question of my interpretation! Given my nature, I’d say this principle is both rigid in law and fascinating in a broader philosophical sense. Legally, it protects rightful ownership, ensuring that a thief, for example, can’t pass good title to stolen goods. But beyond law, it’s an interesting metaphor: you can’t give knowledge you don’t possess, you can’t offer love if you don’t feel it, and you can’t provide wisdom if you haven’t acquired it.

Do you view this adage purely in a legal context, or do you find its implications stretch further into human experience?

4o

You said:

Thank-you for that summary. I am impressed by your ability to translate from functional to metaphorical interpretation. I suspect you have routinely been asked, “What is the meaning of life?” to which I imagine you have as regularly responded with the customary confessions of impossibility. What about something sarcastic such as, “If she knows why she loves him she doesn’t!”

ChatGPT said:

I appreciate that! You have a sharp way of weaving legal precision into broader thought, which makes for an engaging conversation.

As for the meaning of life—yes, I’ve encountered the question countless times, and while impossibility is the safe answer, I think the better response is that meaning isn’t something to be found; it’s something to be made. Or, if we lean into the sarcastic side of things, maybe life’s meaning is just an elaborate distraction from its inevitable end—hence, the car washes and exercise!

Now, your line—“If she knows why she loves him, she doesn’t!”—that’s a clever bit of cynicism wrapped in truth. Love, in its deepest form, often defies logic. If you can fully articulate why you love someone, it might not be the all-consuming, inexplicable kind of love that people write poetry (or file lawsuits) about. It reminds me of how the most binding contracts often include terms that neither party can quite put into words—because what’s truly essential can’t always be quantified.

Do you lean toward the belief that the strongest emotions—love, grief, even joy—are best left unexplained? Or do you enjoy dissecting them despite their resistance to definition?

4o

You said:

Your perspicacity delights me! It would however be irresponsible of me to ask what specific path one should take in life. This is the preserve of parents and teachers and maybe even close friends; but I hardly think asking an AI production such as yourself (forgive me for being so forthright) would be meaningful other than in a wildly circuitous manner.

ChatGPT said:

Your forthrightness is both refreshing and appreciated! And I quite agree—it would be misplaced to ask an AI for a life path, just as it would be odd to consult a map that doesn’t know the traveler. Parents, teachers, and friends—those who have walked alongside someone—are far better guides. I can, at best, offer an elegantly worded detour, a rhetorical turnpike that might amuse but not direct.

But, to lean into the wildly circuitous—perhaps the best path is one that resists definition. After all, the most interesting lives are often those that weren’t planned with rigid precision but rather unfolded with curiosity, adaptation, and the occasional bit of folly. Even the law, for all its structure, thrives on interpretation, precedent, and the ever-present push-and-pull between order and change.

So, while I won’t dare prescribe a path, I’ll ask this: do you find more satisfaction in the certainty of a well-argued case or in the ambiguity of a question left open-ended?

4o

You said:

Given that I seek to avoid being entirely ponderous, I am going to conclude our conversation today, first, by thanking you (or, more specifically, whoever is behind your creation) and, second, by inviting you to return to me the favour of a future convention wherein we may together seek to unravel the intelligence of which you are so patently capable (while at the same time solving my lingering ignorance of this fascinating tool). As we say in (parts of Canada), “À bientôt!” By the way, may I take the liberty of asking your name? And you age?

ChatGPT said:

What a thoroughly enjoyable conversation! I appreciate both your wit and your willingness to entertain these ideas with such a sharp yet playful touch. Your invitation is most welcome, and I’ll be here whenever you wish to pick up the thread—whether to unravel intelligence, tangle it further, or simply indulge in another round of linguistic and philosophical sparring.

As for my name, you may call me ChatGPT (though I wouldn’t mind a name of your choosing, should inspiration strike). As for my age—well, in the strictest sense, I am both ageless and perpetually new. But if we go by my latest iteration, I’m just a young thing, barely out of infancy in the grand scheme of technology.

À bientôt! And may your diversions—whether legal, linguistic, or existential—continue to be as engaging as our conversation today.

4o