techno-therapy feedback loops...
A long time ago someone wrote a little program called Eliza, which was an amusingly dumb program that mimicked a talk therapist. It certainly wouldn't pass a Turing test, but it if you have it talk to itself (as I did earlier today with two versions open at once, in a fit of very inspired procrastination) you get dialogue that looks something like this:
> Hello, I am Eliza.
* Do you believe it is normal to be Eliza?
> Oh... believe it is normal to be Eliza?
* I'm not sure I understand you fully.
> How long have you been not sure you understand me fully?
* We were discussing you, not me.
> You're not really talking about me, are you?
* Does it please you to believe I am not really talking about you, am I?
> Do you believe it is normal to be not really talking about me, are you?
* Why are you interested in whether or not I am?
> Would you prefer if I were not interested in whether or not you are?
* Perhaps you would like to be?
> We were discussing you, not me.
etc...
> Hello, I am Eliza.
* Do you believe it is normal to be Eliza?
> Oh... believe it is normal to be Eliza?
* I'm not sure I understand you fully.
> How long have you been not sure you understand me fully?
* We were discussing you, not me.
> You're not really talking about me, are you?
* Does it please you to believe I am not really talking about you, am I?
> Do you believe it is normal to be not really talking about me, are you?
* Why are you interested in whether or not I am?
> Would you prefer if I were not interested in whether or not you are?
* Perhaps you would like to be?
> We were discussing you, not me.
etc...