* A friend came up with this ChatGPT query…
Please write a short story of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker going through an ordinary day and telling people “As you know…”
He does that a lot. The response…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker woke up early on a typical weekday morning. As he got ready for his day, he couldn’t help but think about all the important tasks ahead of him. “As you know,” he thought to himself, “there’s never a dull moment in this job.”
He arrived at the state capitol building and immediately went to work. “As you know,” he told his staff, “we have to address the budget deficit and find ways to fund our schools and infrastructure projects.”
He then met with business leaders to discuss ways to improve the state’s economy. “As you know.” he told them, “Illinois has some of the best companies and most talented workforce in the country, but we need to do more to attract new businesses and create jobs.”
Later in the day, he visited a school in a low-income neighborhood to talk to students about the importance of education. “As you know,” he said, “your education is the key to your future success and the success of our state.”
As the day came to a close, Governor Pritzker reflected on all that he had accomplished. “As you know.’ ” he thought, “there’s still much work to be done, but I’m committed to making Illinois a better place for all its residents.”
With that, he headed home, ready to tackle another day as governor.
Clever.
* My own query today…
Suggest a conversation between Gov. JB Pritzker and a communications staffer over the governor’s repeated and problematic use of the phrase “you know” when answering reporters’ questions.
My father’s greatest pet peeve is people who say “you know” all the time. It has rubbed off on me. The other day, in fact, I told you I’d edited out several uses of that phrase to make the governor’s remarks more readable.
The response…
Gov. JB Pritzker: Hey, how’s it going?
Communications Staffer: Good morning, Governor. I wanted to talk to you about your recent press conferences.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Sure, what’s on your mind?
Communications Staffer: You’ve been using the phrase “you know” quite a bit when answering questions from reporters. It’s starting to become a bit of a distraction.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Oh, is it? I hadn’t noticed.
Communications Staffer: Yes, it is. It can come across as uncertain or unprepared. It’s important to present a confident and professional image, especially in front of the media.
Gov. JB Pritzker: I see what you mean. So, what do you suggest I do instead?
Communications Staffer: Instead of using “you know,” try taking a pause or using filler words like “um” or “ah” to buy yourself some time to think about your answer. It will give you a moment to gather your thoughts and present a clearer, more concise response.
Gov. JB Pritzker: Alright, I’ll give it a try. Thank you for the advice.
Communications Staffer: You’re welcome. And if you need any more help or tips, just let me know. We want to make sure you’re always putting your best foot forward.
Thoughts?
….Adding… While answering reporters’ questions today, Gov. Pritzker did not say either “As you know” or “you know” one time.
…Adding… From that same friend above…
Please write a short story about Illinois Governor B Pritzker celebrating after making it through a press conference without saying “as you know”
—
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stood in front of the podium, sweat beading on his forehead as he gazed out at the sea of reporters gathered in the room. He had a reputation for frequently using the phrase “as you know” in his speeches and press conferences, and today was a particularly important day. He was determined to break that habit and deliver a clear, concise message to the public.
As the questions began to fly, Governor Pritzker kept his cool and answered each one with confidence and clarity, never once resorting to his infamous phrase. The reporters were taken aback by his newfound composure, and when the press conference finally ended, Governor Pritzker let out a huge sigh of relief.
He made his way back to his office, where his staff was waiting with applause and cheers.
They all knew how hard he had worked to break this habit, and they were proud of their boss for finally doing it. Governor Pritzker beamed with pride, knowing that he had accomplished something that had eluded him for so long.
As the day went on, Governor Pritzker received calls and messages of congratulations from all over the state, congratulating him on his impressive performance at the press conference. He was elated, feeling a sense of accomplishment that he had never experienced before.
That night, as he sat in his office reflecting on the day’s events, Governor Pritzker couldn’t help but smile as he realized that he had truly made it through a press conference without saying “as you know.” It was a small victory, but it meant the world to him. He was ready to tackle any challenges that lay ahead, confident in his ability to communicate effectively with the people of Illinois.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 9:56 am:
Looks like ChatGPT just wrote a children’s story.
- wow - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 9:59 am:
hilarious stuff
- Here for the laughs - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:01 am:
Chat GPT’s abilities are mind blowing. But, TBH, “um” and “ah” are as bad as “you know”. Just take the pause without an utterance.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:06 am:
Perhaps ChatGPT could provide the Mayor with some context on whether her pension ideas can muster political let alone constitutional support.
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:15 am:
Chat GPT must not have carnival barker in its vocabulary
- Rabid - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:25 am:
and that’s the way it is as you know it
- G'Kar - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:34 am:
Yeah, just what I want to hear–a governor hemming and hawing by muttering um and ah when asked a question./s
- Franklin - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:44 am:
Totally unbelievable, lost me at the Governor meeting with business leaders.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:47 am:
As all sports fans know, professional athletes are incapable of doing an interview without using the phrase “you know.”
No, I don’t know about Governor Pritzker’s experience in sports. Perhaps he was a talented athlete in high school or college then decided on a career in business–then politics–and took his requisite “you know” filler with him.
If he runs for President, maybe one of those image-coachy types will work with him to eliminate the habit.
Know what I mean?
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:56 am:
So you’d prefer “um” and “uh” and a long pause over “as you know?” Thanks, but I’ll still with the
“as you know” verbal crutch over those choices.
As to Skynet’s version of the story, it’s surprisingly funny and, if we can use this expression for a machine, clever.
- Dave Dahl - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 10:59 am:
“As you know” is what Pritzker uses when his predecessor used “And you know what?”
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 11:04 am:
Obama’s tic was “Look,” which he used way too often, as if expecting his interviewer to cast a glance elsewhere. He also used a lot of uhs.
Despite those speaking quirks, you know, he turned out all right.
- Reality Bites - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 12:11 pm:
Everyone has a verbal tic. The Governor’s has never bothered me at all as I find most of his speeches and comments eloquent and well done. But I guess it’s a slow day for content on the old blog.
- West Sider - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
As long as he’s not wearin’ plaid ‘n Carhartt, an’ dropin’ his ‘g’s, I’m happy to ignore his verbal tics because they’re authentic and not pandering affections.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 12:27 pm:
Slight digression, but a ban on Chatbot might be coming to a school near you. The next “educational debate”?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/01/30/chatgpt-going-banned-teachers-sound-alarm-new-ai-tech/11069593002/
- Captain Obvious - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 12:28 pm:
That is some funny sh…er…stuff right there.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 12:32 pm:
===The Governor’s has never bothered me at all===
Good for you. But it ain’t for me.
- Lurker - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 12:48 pm:
I knew the governor was AI and learned accordingly.
Gov. Pritzker did not say or “As you know” or “you know” one time.
- Give us Barabbas - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 1:19 pm:
I’m going to white knight JB on this one. “As you know” is a polite way to tell someone they don’t actually know; that they’re wrong. It’s a kind of verbal judo where you correct someone without calling out their initial wrongness. It’s also a technique to start to build a rapport and agreement with someone, by getting them to buy your initial premise, the logic of your argument then follows from that initial point establishing an agreement of fact. It’s a well understood technique in negotiation dialog. Does he drop it a lot? Well, he does get asked a lot of leading questions by people with antipathic agendas, that start with a false premise. I suppose he could switch up and say: “Well, Bless Your Heart ” from time to time. But I’m okay with “As you know”, because it’s not shaming, insulting, or attacking, just correcting the record and then going forward with an established fact.
- Dotnonymous - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 2:41 pm:
“As you know” is a (semi) polite way to tell someone they don’t actually know; that they’re wrong…perceptibly.
- Anthony - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 3:46 pm:
too funny, great share.
I used ChatGPT for the first time recently and I am still blown away by its capabilities
- Dotnonymous - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 4:07 pm:
Won’t have to know nuthin’ but a website…pretty sooner or later?
- Proud Papa Bear - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 4:22 pm:
When I was in Toastmasters we had an Ah Master, someone who tallied ums, ahs, you knows, likes, etc.
It was a pretty good way to, um, stop a habit.
- SouthernCentrist - Monday, Jan 30, 23 @ 4:44 pm:
Pretty good, but “um” is the worst filler to me. As someone else said above - just pause without the utterance, take a short breath, etc. The “as you know” does get grating. Nowhere near as bad as a former governor who dropped all his g’s for no reason, but I digress.