Microserfs Reading Response

Amanda Bills
Comp 106
Microserfs Reading Response
December 14, 2008
5. Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed . . . an 'entity is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
Karla was predicting an advancement technology that would occur in the coming years and, working at Microsoft, her foreshadowing sounded respectable to Daniel and turned out to be accurate. She saw the advancements that had happened already and thought that artificial intelligence would continue to get “smarter.” No surprise: it has, and isn’t stopping anytime soon. Karla seems to mostly enjoy her job, at least enough to want to spend a considerable amount of time at Microsoft doing it. She was obviously hoping that her code writing, along with that of her coworkers, would benefit the company in the long-term, which makes me think that she was actually relying on the progress of artificial intelligence not only for her job future but also for all the other Microsofters. The advancement of artificial intelligence and technology of computers scares me. I recognize that there are many advantages to it but in my opinion there are many disadvantages as well. I think I connect the “good ol’ days” to when everything was done in hard copy, which provided more clerical jobs for people. Of course, having machines do basic things that people used to do is economically and environmentally friendly, which I can appreciate. However, I think I will be torn between my opposing feelings of the ‘improvement’ of technology until it proves that it actually does help the economy and the environment.

7. What perspectives does Coupland have on big corporations, the workplace, and the towns in which they are situated? How does this compare to your own experiences and perspectives?
It’s clear to me that Coupland doesn’t care much for big corporations. He makes working at Microsoft sound very dull and monotonous. The workplace is overall unfriendly and also dull; with little interaction between employees. As unpleasant as he makes it out to be, it also kind of seems like a party. I was reminded of the show The Office while I was reading Microserfs—in which the employees participate in more play than they do work. Maybe not so much in Microserfs, but no doubt, Coupland makes sure to point out the Microsofters’ fooling around, despite the fact that they spend most of their lives working at the office writing codes as well. For example, when Daniel ran into Karla walking on campus and they both lied down on the ground and began discussing technology, how humans were the every animal and that computers were soon to take that title away, and even bugs, when a bumblebee flew above the two, abruptly causing a change in subject. I agree that it can get old working the same shift every day, and admit that I don’t think I could handle it. I have had the opportunity to work at a law office, which Microserfs reminds me of a bit. Beside the fact that my coworkers took their jobs quite seriously, I never felt bored or anti-social. However, I was only part-time and also attended high school so I obviously didn’t experience the full effect of such a repetitive lifestyle.

9. Daniel Underwood has been described as an "anti-hero" who is a "dull nobody." In what ways is this statement true? Why has Coupland used this form of an anti-hero?
I can see how Daniel could be seen as an anti-hero and a dull nobody in Microserfs. He doesn’t initially do anything spectacular that stands out in the reader’s mind, or any of his coworkers’ or housemates’ minds for that matter. He woke up and did almost the same things every day with little variation--the same, boring things. Daniel did get to know Karla, who he had never talked to before an unexpected meeting on campus when they both should have been working but were walking around instead, which was a step in the right direction if he was planning to stop being a “dull nobody.” I think Coupland used this form of an anti-hero because a lot of people can relate to it. Many employees of big corporations who work nine-to-fives wake up in the morning, go to work, then return home and go to sleep to do it all over again. They also have little variation in their lives and sometimes it can get boring and maybe even depressing. I think this story can provide some inspiration for people who work in similar situations; and may be either a good reason to get out or to accept their jobs for what they are and perhaps alter their lives to make them more enjoyable. Maybe also Coupland sees aspects of himself and his previous experiences in one or more of his characters; although, I believe that as a writer, he’s sort of his own boss and doesn’t lead the same lifestyle as the people in his book.



Works Cited
Coupland, Douglas. Microserfs. New York: Harper Collins, 1995.