My Mother vs. My Robot (The Cocoa Puffs Cage Fight)

Mommie Dearest My dear, beloved mother FOOD-SHAMED ME. 

It happened yesterday, after I sent an email with this opening line: “While sipping my morning coffee and eating my Cocoa Puffs this morning, I asked my GPT-powered robot…”

Mom’s an avid reader of my emails, and she sent a reply with this opening line: “Gee, I’m not sure I would admit to eating Cocoa Puffs.”

Love ya, Ma, but I gotta say it loud and proud:

I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs! 

Still, maternal criticism has a way of getting under a boy’s skin. It can chip away at rock-solid beliefs and preferences.

So I turned to my faithful companion — the GPT-powered robot “B-9?” — and said:

“My mom says I shouldn’t have admitted to my email list that I eat Cocoa Puffs. Should I be ashamed of my cereal choices?”

Good ol’ “B-9?” replied:

“Absolutely not!“

“Your cereal choices, like any other personal preference, are just that—personal. Enjoying Cocoa Puffs or any other kind of cereal is a matter of taste and doesn’t reflect on your character or professionalism.”

(Phew! )

And then “B-9?” said something really smart: “

“(This is true) especially in contexts like an email list where you might share personal anecdotes or preferences to create a connection with your audience.It’s common for people to share little personal details like this to make content more relatable and engaging.“

In case you missed the valuable business lesson, I highlighted it for you. (It’s about the little details. They matter.)

My work is done here. I’m off to have a cup of herbal tea and a bowl of All-Bran.  

Thanks for reading.

p.s. It’s been dark and rainy and gloomy for almost two weeks around Story Power HQ here in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All clouds. No sun.

But just a moment ago, I looked outside and watched a glorious sunrise. It was one of those sunrises that turns the clouds in the western sky a gazillion shades of red and pink.

By the time it occurred to me to grab my phone and take a picture, the pink had faded. This picture doesn’t begin to do it justice, but it offers a hint. If you zoom in, you’ll notice a half-moon behind the trees on the left. #allthisusefulbeauty