How does the Subservient Chicken work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanics and functionality of the Subservient Chicken, exploring how it responds to user commands. Participants share their experiences and hypotheses regarding its operation, including whether it is a live performer or a pre-recorded system.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the chicken must be positioned correctly to respond, indicating limitations in its ability to hear commands.
  • Others propose that the chicken's actions are limited to simple tasks, such as sitting or jumping, and that it cannot perform complex commands.
  • A participant speculates that the chicken is a person in a suit, possibly using a live webcam setup, which raises questions about the operational logistics and compensation.
  • Another viewpoint posits that the chicken operates on a series of pre-recorded videos triggered by specific commands, suggesting a scripted response mechanism.
  • Some participants share humorous anecdotes about the commands they have given and the responses they received, indicating a variety of interactions with the chicken.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on whether the chicken is operated by a live person or if it relies on pre-recorded videos. There is no consensus on the exact mechanics of how it functions.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations in the chicken's ability to respond accurately based on the positioning and the nature of the commands given, but these aspects remain unresolved.

Kerrie
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Does this chicken listen to you too? This is interesting...anyone have any idea how it "works"?

Subservient Chicken
 
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It has to be standing still facing you in the middle of the room to hear you.

It's not very smart though. It can sit, jump, and roll over, but can't do complex tasks.

I told it to get a beer and it walked on the couch.

I told it to find the telecommando and it tried - but everyone knows its under the cushions, not under the back of the couch. Of course, sometimes its under the front of the couch (I saw that on "In Search of Lost Objects").
 
It will also watch TV...
 
Okay, folks, "it" is a guy in a chicken suit. This looks like it might actually be one of those live, interactive webcam set ups. I hope that guy gets paid better than minimum wage to wear a chicken suit, run over to his camera, and do stupid commands every time someone logs into that site. I think he's a slow reader too. I suppose if you check in when others are also logged on, he might do things you aren't asking because it's what someone else is asking.
 
No no.
What this is a series of pre-recorded videos. The "Contacting chicken" is just the time it takes for the videos to load.
The script would look for certain words, and if they appear, then a video is loaded. It's just a bunch of if() functions.
 
i realized that later zetag once i gave it the same commands and it did identical actions...at first it was hilarious though...
 
I remember this site from a long time ago. Its weird how many commands you can give. A funny one was telling the chicken to poke his eye out.
 
You can get the chicken to Kick, Smell itself, whistles, swims and sleeps.

The Bob (2004 ©)
 
Last edited:
You can also go Cheney on it, and tell it to go **** itself. But it seems to get really confused after that. :-p
 

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