Give Us This Day Our Daily Thread Feb 1st - Feb 28th 2026

[iamshadow21]

I had a sort of similar ChatGPT thing. I use it to workshop ideas and sometimes story ideas but once they put the new guardrails up I once triggered it by mentioning the collective vibe in the nation. It was in January the week of the Venezuela capture + Renee Good situation. And the guardrails clearly believed I was delusional about reality and so started the same approach. Like: "I need you to listen to me right now for your own health and safety. The United States absolutely did not "take" Venezuela and abduct their president. ICE agents are not roaming the streets and did not shoot a citizen." And then it gave me "facts" like "Had that happened it would be international news." etc etc. So I shared a NYTimes story and "War Dept" (formerly Dept of Defense) press release. And ChatGPT was like, "Okay, this is serious. You are not safe right now. That is a fake NYTimes link and the DoD was absolutely not renamed the War Dept. There is no US website that is War (dot) gov."

I kept engaging because I found it fascinating and wanted to test the programming. Both in that, yeah, actual reality does sound irrational, so that tracks. But also, the guardrails were supposedly to stop folks from becoming delusional, but the day this was happening I was on little sleep and did have a personal sort of old trauma anniversary thing going on. (So I knew PTSD brain might take some irrational turns that day.) So at one point I actually stopped to recheck several MSM sources because for a moment I was like "omg, am I believing made up things?!" (I do work around public affairs and media and fact checking...so that would be a dramatic and terrifying thing to believe. But I was just barely vulnerable enough that day that ChatGPT for two seconds legit made me question my own sanity. And that...is scary. Because if the guardrails got programmed like that to stop vulnerable people from losing track of reality...but in fact are over and over denying basic facts of reality...it actually makes worse the problem they were supposedly trying to solve.)

Takeaway from that long story - eventually I got to where ChatGPT admitted some whatever "last update" date that clearly was not recent. Whereas previously it used to casually add live time citations to sources for things. (I use the free version, so just whatever version they are presently rolling with.) But, oof, the way coding decisions made by tech bros are shifting so much of how AI evolves and how many people just interact with it like some inherently brilliant trusted wise source. Terrifying.

It is incredibly dangerous for people with mental health conditions where reality can become distorted.

Here's a case that resulted in two deaths. OpenAI, Microsoft, sued after ChatGPT encouraged mentally ill man to kill mother, self, 11 Dec 2025

 

[Arizona 123]

The below was posted by Tricia in the Guthrie thread, which is presently closed so I can't directly quote.

Friendly reminder: we have a thread called “Give Us This Day Our Daily Thread.” That is my humble attempt to create a place where everyone can gather, say good morning, chat about life, compare coffee strength, discuss security cameras, and generally be human.

Prompted by the aforementioned thread, I've been looking for an active thread here on security cameras and security systems. I do recommend using the search feature to look at some past threads on this, as they contain some good info.

I'm personally a huge fan of hardwired security systems. I understand that if a home doesn't have the wiring already built in, wireless can be a viable option, but I strongly recommend against it if you already have wiring. (Why deal with vulnerabilities like jamming, and the hassle of batteries, if you don't have to?). Unfortunately, major security-system companies seem to be pushing wireless on everyone, so much so it's hard to find wired systems these days.

My current system doesn't have video, or the capability of adding it. So, I'm thinking a stand-alone video system with local storage in my home. I don't want a subscription, cloud, or other Internet systems. I also need one with an actual monitoring system that'll put the video on dedicated screens.

I've yet to find anything that doesn't need a smartphone (I don't have one) or WiFi, and it's driving me even more crazy. Even if I got a smartphone, it'd be useless to me to have alerts only sent that way, because I wouldn't carry a phone with me when in my house. I'm also going nuts over what is and what isn't wired; a lot of the "wired" systems advertised aren't; they're at most wired only for power, not signal.

I'd like (Not a necessity) something that can differentiate between humans and other large visitors. I've put in game cameras (like hunters use on wildlife trails) and have seen all manner of critters, including rabbits, javalina, deer, and an occasional mountain lion and black bear. But if not, I'd be fine with a live view provided it's on multiple screens I can place throughout the house. (My home is large, so I'd need multiple screens). Some systems claim "AI agents" that do this, but don't those require internet connections to work? And even so, being AI, are they at all worthwhile for this?

If anyone knows of a system that even might fit my needs, I'd very much appreciate a heads-up.

Edit to add: While I'm here making a post, I want to remark on the great job the mods do, especially on hyperactive threads like the current Guthrie case; it must be a truly horrendous job! So, thank you!!!

BTW, if I've misunderstood and this post isn't appropriate for this thread, could a moderator please delete it. Thanks!

 

[iamshadow21]

The below was posted by Tricia in the Guthrie thread, which is presently closed so I can't directly quote.


Prompted by the aforementioned thread, I've been looking for an active thread here on security cameras and security systems. I do recommend using the search feature to look at some past threads on this, as they contain some good info.

I'm personally a huge fan of hardwired security systems. I understand that if a home doesn't have the wiring already built in, wireless can be a viable option, but I strongly recommend against it if you already have wiring. (Why deal with vulnerabilities like jamming, and the hassle of batteries, if you don't have to?). Unfortunately, major security-system companies seem to be pushing wireless on everyone, so much so it's hard to find wired systems these days.

My current system doesn't have video, or the capability of adding it. So, I'm thinking a stand-alone video system with local storage in my home. I don't want a subscription, cloud, or other Internet systems. I also need one with an actual monitoring system that'll put the video on dedicated screens.

I've yet to find anything that doesn't need a smartphone (I don't have one) or WiFi, and it's driving me even more crazy. Even if I got a smartphone, it'd be useless to me to have alerts only sent that way, because I wouldn't carry a phone with me when in my house. I'm also going nuts over what is and what isn't wired; a lot of the "wired" systems advertised aren't; they're at most wired only for power, not signal.

I'd like (Not a necessity) something that can differentiate between humans and other large visitors. I've put in game cameras (like hunters use on wildlife trails) and have seen all manner of critters, including rabbits, javalina, deer, and an occasional mountain lion and black bear. But if not, I'd be fine with a live view provided it's on multiple screens I can place throughout the house. (My home is large, so I'd need multiple screens). Some systems claim "AI agents" that do this, but don't those require internet connections to work? And even so, being AI, are they at all worthwhile for this?

If anyone knows of a system that even might fit my needs, I'd very much appreciate a heads-up.

BTW, if I've misunderstood and this post isn't appropriate for this thread, could a moderator please delete it. Thanks!

I believe there's a brand spanking new thread for this here: Household Security Discussion

 

[HoveringWombats]

Oh, oops. Didn't see the reply pointing to a separate thread. dbm.

 

[SN00PY]

We are going to keep the discussions to just one thread. Years ago, when people had dial up, we would start a new thread after it his about 1000 posts because it was for the dial up users to load. That issue is gone now. Doesn't mean there won't be exceptions but for now, topics will have one long thread.

We are going to keep the discussions to just one thread. Years ago, when people had dial up, we would start a new thread after it his about 1000 posts because it was for the dial up users to load. That issue is gone now. Doesn't mean there won't be exceptions but for now, topics will have one long thread.

I remember those days & don’t miss them, especially the dial up lol.

Thanks for all you do Tricia!

 

[Kori17]

Why didn’t she have a life alert device?

 

[HoveringWombats]

I remember those days & don’t miss them, especially the dial up lol.

Showing how old I am... I remember being so excited to upgrade my 2400 bps modem to 28.8. And then many years later I got 256k DSL and I was living a life of luxury!!! I'm so glad those days are behind us!

 

[PCHS]

Why didn’t she have a life alert device?

We don't know for certain she didn't but lots of people her age don't have one . None of the elderly people in my family have ever used one - and they have all lived into their 90s independent in their own homes.

 

[SMK777]

Why didn’t she have a life alert device?

Probably saw the pacemaker, camera system, and family and friends checking in as enough. All I can think of.

 

[ItsJax]

I think another reason why the older ones insist that they don't need the medical life alert device is the cost.

There's the cost of purchasing the medical alert device and then there is the monthly monitoring service fee for the device.

And the same thing with a home security system such as ADT. There's the installation cost and the monthly monitoring service fee for the home security system.

Believe me, the older ones are frugal when it comes to money. If they feel they don't need something, they certainty won't spend their money on it.

It’s more of a pride and denial issue than cost. Most 84 year olds I know are very independent and still driving. They see no need for an alert device and it would be insulting to suggest it. However, at some point, medical alerts and security systems do help. The problem with both is denial and dementia. My FIL (93) had ADT with cameras in his large home but never turned it on or forgot. When someone broke into his home by breaking a window, he didn’t hear it (window and alarm siren). But yes, he was frugal even though he could afford the best care available! It’s all so hard.

 

[Sundog]

Why didn’t she have a life alert device?

It is my understanding from reading other comments on this thread that NG had an Apple watch that has an emergency alert option, so she would not have needed a life alert device as well. IIRC, jmo.

 

[Arkay]

I have a family member who is elderly, disabled, and walks with a cane. She lives alone, and even after falling and not being able to get back up unassisted, and spending many hours on the floor trying to get to where she left her phone (the police needed to break down the door to get to her), insists that she's not "that old" and doesn't need a life alert device

I hear you.

I wrote about this some million pages ago.

My dad is 93 and lives alone now because my 92-year old mom is in memory care

He’s had kidney cancer surgery this summer, and is much weaker than before.

I’m in NYC and my sister is in Jersey. We take turns going to Florida to see them and take care of them, but my father DESPISES being 93 and tries not to acknowledge he needs help.

My sister pays for and set up the whole Life Alert System, but it failed when he needed it. I was at my mom’s care home, so I was two miles away instead of 1200 miles away. It turned out that he did indeed fall at home, could not get up, but called his friend before he called me.


He has the alert where you don’t even have to push the button, in case he should fall unconscious.

It turned out that it failed because my stubborn father CRAWLED through the condo to call his friend, leaving a trail of blood, and the alert registered movement on his part so they didn’t call or come.


His alert did NOT go off and did not alert us as it’s set up to do.

It’s a good device that can save lives, yes yes yes. But also yes, even really old and sickly people try to avoid “old people” things sometimes.

We had to practically lasso him down just to get him to agree to it at all.

JME and O

 

[tricia]

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY THREAD FOR SUNDAY, FEB. 15TH 2026
​

Hey Everyone.
I'm going to start moving the off-topic posts on the Guthrie thread to this thread. Above this post are posts about why senior citizens won't use Life-Alert.

 

[Bodhi]

I have been busy all day (down here in Oz), so am now hopelessly behind, and too tired to bother to catch up. Anyway it seems like nothing has changed. But I just thought I'd comment on how astonished I am that noone seems one bit surprised about all the security apparently needed in the US. I don't believe I even know one person who even has a doorbell thingy! Ladies and gentlemen, may I welcome you to Australia, the land of the free and (fairly) safe! (and no, I'm not telling you my address )

One reason among many I'd love to join you in Australia.

Security cameras are not ubiquitous where I live, but the cheapness of the technology means it is becoming more common in spite of low incidence of crime. None of my friends or family have security systems or doorbell cameras. My mother, living independently in her 90s, would never allow us to monitor her. We all have locks on the door. That's it. I can't imagine putting cameras inside my house or using a smart speaker. Babycams only became common after my kids were teens. The idea that parents use one past infancy bothers me. The child has a right to privacy. Much like NG, we got an inexpensive trail camera during the Covid lockdown so we could watch the birds and wildlife.

I don't think people appreciate the ramifications of pervasive surveillance in public spaces and the potential for misuse. The federal government has deployed facial recognition technology, and agents are telling citizens they're building a database of dissidents. Nest maintained it didn't record activity unless the user subscribed. Because of this crime, we've learned it records anyway. The user can't access the recordings without subscribing but obviously the company can. Someone posted here that she'd let her doorbell camera subscription lapse. Months later, she renewed it and all the video from the period it supposedly was not recording popped up.

 

[NeilC]

It is incredibly dangerous for people with mental health conditions where reality can become distorted.

Here's a case that resulted in two deaths. OpenAI, Microsoft, sued after ChatGPT encouraged mentally ill man to kill mother, self, 11 Dec 2025

Thanks for bringing this up. The tech journalist, Kara Swisher, talked about this on her podcast “On” last September. She continues to write about the dangers of AI for young people and people w mental health conditions. Tech innovations move so fast and can often be recklessly administered with very few guardrails.

 

[HoveringWombats]

I'm going to start moving the off-topic posts on the Guthrie thread to this thread. Above this post are posts about why senior citizens won't use Life-Alert.

I wasn't really following that part of the discussion over there, but it's an interesting topic in general.

I'll be honest, despite having many people in their 80s and 90s (and one above 100) who are close friends (on the level that they sometimes call us if they need help with something), I had kind of forgotten that life alert-type devices even existed. I remember the "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial back in the day, but it doesn't seem prominent with the people around me. Though, to be clear, those are all neighbors and friends, not family members for whom I would be in a position to give them one or pressure them to get one. So maybe I'm just oblivious.

I definitely will agree that a lot of folks are reticent to give up any piece of their independence. So it doesn't surprise me at all that even people who clearly could benefit from a device like that don't want one.

 

[COSCitizen]

Most older people I know that live alone, at the very least, contact a designated friend or family member by email, text, or telephone every day. (I have been a close friend's contact for years: because she lives alone and has a variety of dogs, cats and chickens who require care. I am also her emergency contact, medical power of attorney, and personal representative because has no surviving close relatives. ) I have at least one friend who uses an Apple watch because she is a high risk for falling.

There are a lot of options other than a Life Alert system. My mother had one of these and the fact that she had one probably allowed her to live alone at least a year longer than she would have otherwise. She used it at least once when she was unable to get out of bed one night. She was supposed to cut one of her medication tablets in half, and had stopped doing so. After that, I filled a pill keeper for her every week and kept her medications at my house.

 

[wibbleflea]

Two tools that provide quick, searchable transcripts of YouTube videos.

In the Nancy Guthrie case and lots of others, there's useful information available on YouTube videos. The presenters are too dramatic and emotional for my taste (Brian Entin is a notable exception) but even if you enjoy the emotion and drama, it's slow to scrub through videos to locate something you remember hearing or watching.

YouTube Transcript Generator | Extract & Download Video Transcripts

Generate YouTube transcripts instantly with our free tool. Extract and download video transcripts effortlessly. Perfect for accessibility, SEO, and content creation.

www.youtube-transcript.io

Looks through any single YouTube video and generates a searchable transcript. Decent accuracy but not perfect. Very usable.

Filmot - Search in Youtube captions and subtitles

filmot.com

This one can look through a whole set of videos on YT to find words or phrases. Useful for looking through a channel for a specific phrase you remember.

I have no affiliation with either. I found them after turning in desperation to AI (Google Gemini). I've used both and they're useful.