# Re: Chatbot

**URL:** <https://forum.lpsf.org/t/re-chatbot/22580>\
**Category:** Activists List\
**Created:** [November 9, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/re-chatbot/22580 "2026-11-09T20:09:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Starchild](https://forum.lpsf.org/user_avatar/forum.lpsf.org/starchild/32/533_2.png) [@Starchild](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/Starchild)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/re-chatbot/22580/1 "2026-11-09T20:09:13Z")

</div>

Hi Brendan,

Thanks for your work on this. Having a chatbot could be helpful for the reasons you mention, though I don’t think it’s a substitute for real human interaction, and wouldn’t want it to come across as us saying “Talk to the hand”.

If we make the option available for those who’d like to learn more about libertarianism by interacting with a chatbot, I agree we should have a transparent document like this which lays out the algorithm or guidelines on which it operates. I’ve suggested something similar for the national LP, and indeed using an AI might make more sense at scale at the national level. On the other hand, there’s some logic in trying it at the local level first as a kind of pilot program.

There’s a lot of content at the link you’ve sent – much of it looks good but I do have input/concerns about some of the wording, would like to flesh some issues out, etc. If you post this somewhere that it is editable, I will add suggested changes. On a related matter, I recently made some edits to the issues page on the LPSF website – [Issues | Libertarian Party of San Francisco](https://www.lpsf.org/issues).

Love & Liberty,

((( starchild )))

P.S. – Did you receive my follow-up message about the PayPal account and filings below, from several weeks ago (below)? I haven’t seen a response to the question therein.

> **···**
>
> > On Oct 10, 2026, at 7:26 PM, Starchild [sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) wrote:
> > 
> > Brendan,
> > 
> > Thank you for finally returning the LPSF’s funds, and turning over the PayPal account to our treasurer. Having that matter outstanding has been an ongoing source of unnecessary stress in my life.
> > 
> > Is everything you sent the state copied below?
> > 
> > Love & Liberty,
> > 
> > ((( starchild )))
> > 
> > > On Oct 10, 2026, at 3:43 PM, Brendan McMillion [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) wrote:
> > > 
> > > \<2023 H1 - 460A.pdf\>\<410 paper copy.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460A.pdf\>\<2024 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2024 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2026 H1 - 460.pdf\>
> 
> > On Nov 7, 2026, at 10:04 PM, Brendan McMillion [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) wrote:
> > 
> > Hi both
> > 
> > I’ve been working on a chatbot for discussing libertarianism, specifically LPSF policies. It’s been helpful in the past for me to gut-check my own policy ideas by talking them through with AI. But the main reason I’ve been working on this is that I think it would be really valuable to have such a chatbot on our website for anyone who visits to talk to.
> > 
> > Conversations with chatbots have been clinically proven to durably change people’s beliefs. That’s because chatbots are very effective at providing neutral and fact-based arguments, and tailoring those arguments to the person they’re speaking to. Disclosing that a chatbot is programmed explicitly to persuade someone has been shown not to reduce its effectiveness.
> > 
> > However, the chatbot needs to know what it is going to argue for, so I’ve written this document: [LPSF Principles and Positions · GitHub](https://gist.github.com/Bren2010/689a97d006f1b39bea70ae0ebe1c2d64#file-positions-md)
> > 
> > Would you mind reviewing this and letting me know if you agree with adopting the proposed positions? Or if there’s anything missing that you think should be added. Disregard the first line about “flyers, blog posts, etc…”. The chatbot would obviously be good at those tasks too, in addition to talking to people, but that’s not the primary interest for now.
> > 
> > Thank you!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Brendan](https://forum.lpsf.org/user_avatar/forum.lpsf.org/brendan/32/1303_2.png) [@Brendan](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/Brendan)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/re-chatbot/22580/2 "2026-11-09T21:30:55Z")

</div>

Human interaction is of course important too. This is for people that are  
only maybe passingly interested in libertarianism, though. Not enough to  
come to a meeting or even participate in a forum. You talk to this, it gets  
you on board a bit more.

For edits, is Google Docs fine?

Everything I sent to the state was attached and is also on their website.

> **···**
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2026, 12:09 PM Starchild [sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) wrote:
> 
> > Hi Brendan,
> > 
> > Thanks for your work on this. Having a chatbot could be helpful for the  
> > reasons you mention, though I don’t think it’s a substitute for real human  
> > interaction, and wouldn’t want it to come across as us saying “Talk to the  
> > hand”.
> > 
> > If we make the option available for those who’d like to learn more about  
> > libertarianism by interacting with a chatbot, I agree we should have a  
> > transparent document like this which lays out the algorithm or guidelines  
> > on which it operates. I’ve suggested something similar for the national LP,  
> > and indeed using an AI might make more sense at scale at the national  
> > level. On the other hand, there’s some logic in trying it at the local  
> > level first as a kind of pilot program.
> > 
> > There’s a lot of content at the link you’ve sent – much of it looks good  
> > but I do have input/concerns about some of the wording, would like to flesh  
> > some issues out, etc. If you post this somewhere that it is editable, I  
> > will add suggested changes. On a related matter, I recently made some edits  
> > to the issues page on the LPSF website – [Issues | Libertarian Party of San Francisco](https://www.lpsf.org/issues).
> > 
> > Love & Liberty,
> > 
> > ((( starchild )))
> > 
> > P.S. – Did you receive my follow-up message about the PayPal account and  
> > filings below, from several weeks ago (below)? I haven’t seen a response to  
> > the question therein.
> > 
> > On Oct 10, 2026, at 7:26 PM, Starchild [sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) wrote:
> > 
> > Brendan,
> > 
> > Thank you for finally returning the LPSF’s funds, and turning over the  
> > PayPal account to our treasurer. Having that matter outstanding has been an  
> > ongoing source of unnecessary stress in my life.
> > 
> > Is everything you sent the state copied below?
> > 
> > Love & Liberty,
> > 
> > ((( starchild )))
> > 
> > On Oct 10, 2026, at 3:43 PM, Brendan McMillion [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) \> wrote:
> > 
> > \<2023 H1 - 460A.pdf\>\<410 paper copy.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H1 -  
> > 460.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460A.pdf\>\<2024 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2024 H2
> > 
> > - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2026 H1 - 460.pdf\>
> > 
> > On Nov 7, 2026, at 10:04 PM, Brendan McMillion [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) \> wrote:
> > 
> > Hi both
> > 
> > I’ve been working on a chatbot for discussing libertarianism, specifically  
> > LPSF policies. It’s been helpful in the past for me to gut-check my own  
> > policy ideas by talking them through with AI. But the main reason I’ve  
> > been working on this is that I think it would be really valuable to have  
> > such a chatbot on our website for anyone who visits to talk to.
> > 
> > Conversations with chatbots have been clinically proven to durably change  
> > people’s beliefs. That’s because chatbots are very effective at providing  
> > neutral and fact-based arguments, and tailoring those arguments to the  
> > person they’re speaking to. Disclosing that a chatbot is programmed  
> > explicitly to persuade someone has been shown not to reduce its  
> > effectiveness.
> > 
> > However, the chatbot needs to know what it is going to argue for, so I’ve  
> > written this document:  
> > [LPSF Principles and Positions · GitHub](https://gist.github.com/Bren2010/689a97d006f1b39bea70ae0ebe1c2d64#file-positions-md)
> > 
> > Would you mind reviewing this and letting me know if you agree with  
> > adopting the proposed positions? Or if there’s anything missing that you  
> > think should be added. Disregard the first line about “flyers, blog posts,  
> > etc…”. The chatbot would obviously be good at those tasks too, in  
> > addition to talking to people, but that’s not the primary interest for now.
> > 
> > Thank you!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Starchild](https://forum.lpsf.org/user_avatar/forum.lpsf.org/starchild/32/533_2.png) [@Starchild](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/Starchild)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/re-chatbot/22580/3 "2026-11-09T23:34:00Z")

</div>

I would prefer non-Google (non-big-tech-company) platforms where they are possible/available. I actually posted to the LPC Website & Information Technology Committee (WITCom) email list (which you’re also on) within the past few weeks about a Google Docs alternative I heard about recently. Don’t recall the name of it now, but if you got that email maybe you can check it out as a possible better option?

To which state website are you referring? Please include the direct link, if there’s a page where we can see LPSF listings online.

Love & Liberty,

((( starchild )))

> **···**
>
> > On Nov 9, 2026, at 1:30 PM, Brendan McMillion [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) wrote:
> > 
> > Human interaction is of course important too. This is for people that are only maybe passingly interested in libertarianism, though. Not enough to come to a meeting or even participate in a forum. You talk to this, it gets you on board a bit more.
> > 
> > For edits, is Google Docs fine?
> > 
> > Everything I sent to the state was attached and is also on their website.
> > 
> > On Mon, Nov 9, 2026, 12:09 PM Starchild \<[sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) [mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net)\> wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi Brendan,
> > > 
> > > Thanks for your work on this. Having a chatbot could be helpful for the reasons you mention, though I don’t think it’s a substitute for real human interaction, and wouldn’t want it to come across as us saying “Talk to the hand”.
> > > 
> > > If we make the option available for those who’d like to learn more about libertarianism by interacting with a chatbot, I agree we should have a transparent document like this which lays out the algorithm or guidelines on which it operates. I’ve suggested something similar for the national LP, and indeed using an AI might make more sense at scale at the national level. On the other hand, there’s some logic in trying it at the local level first as a kind of pilot program.
> > > 
> > > There’s a lot of content at the link you’ve sent – much of it looks good but I do have input/concerns about some of the wording, would like to flesh some issues out, etc. If you post this somewhere that it is editable, I will add suggested changes. On a related matter, I recently made some edits to the issues page on the LPSF website – [Issues | Libertarian Party of San Francisco](https://www.lpsf.org/issues).
> > > 
> > > Love & Liberty,
> > > 
> > > ((( starchild )))
> > > 
> > > P.S. – Did you receive my follow-up message about the PayPal account and filings below, from several weeks ago (below)? I haven’t seen a response to the question therein.
> > > 
> > > > On Oct 10, 2026, at 7:26 PM, Starchild \<[sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) [mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net)\> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > Brendan,
> > > > 
> > > > Thank you for finally returning the LPSF’s funds, and turning over the PayPal account to our treasurer. Having that matter outstanding has been an ongoing source of unnecessary stress in my life.
> > > > 
> > > > Is everything you sent the state copied below?
> > > > 
> > > > Love & Liberty,
> > > > 
> > > > ((( starchild )))
> > > > 
> > > > > On Oct 10, 2026, at 3:43 PM, Brendan McMillion \<[brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) [mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com)\> wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > \<2023 H1 - 460A.pdf\>\<410 paper copy.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460A.pdf\>\<2024 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2024 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2026 H1 - 460.pdf\>
> > > 
> > > > On Nov 7, 2026, at 10:04 PM, Brendan McMillion \<[brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) [mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com)\> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > Hi both
> > > > 
> > > > I’ve been working on a chatbot for discussing libertarianism, specifically LPSF policies. It’s been helpful in the past for me to gut-check my own policy ideas by talking them through with AI. But the main reason I’ve been working on this is that I think it would be really valuable to have such a chatbot on our website for anyone who visits to talk to.
> > > > 
> > > > Conversations with chatbots have been clinically proven to durably change people’s beliefs. That’s because chatbots are very effective at providing neutral and fact-based arguments, and tailoring those arguments to the person they’re speaking to. Disclosing that a chatbot is programmed explicitly to persuade someone has been shown not to reduce its effectiveness.
> > > > 
> > > > However, the chatbot needs to know what it is going to argue for, so I’ve written this document: [LPSF Principles and Positions · GitHub](https://gist.github.com/Bren2010/689a97d006f1b39bea70ae0ebe1c2d64#file-positions-md)
> > > > 
> > > > Would you mind reviewing this and letting me know if you agree with adopting the proposed positions? Or if there’s anything missing that you think should be added. Disregard the first line about “flyers, blog posts, etc…”. The chatbot would obviously be good at those tasks too, in addition to talking to people, but that’s not the primary interest for now.
> > > > 
> > > > Thank you!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Brendan](https://forum.lpsf.org/user_avatar/forum.lpsf.org/brendan/32/1303_2.png) [@Brendan](https://forum.lpsf.org/u/Brendan)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.lpsf.org/t/re-chatbot/22580/4 "2026-11-09T23:53:22Z")

</div>

Here is an editable link:  
[Proton Drive](https://drive.proton.me/urls/ZSH120Z1Y0#X3oZQtHBiyvR) – Click the dropdown  
in the top right and select “Suggesting” so your edits versus the current  
text are clear

I was referring to Cal-Access:  
[https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1375248&session=2025&view=electronic](https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1375248&session=2025&view=electronic)

Best

> **···**
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM Starchild [sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) wrote:
> 
> > I would prefer non-Google (non-big-tech-company) platforms where they are  
> > possible/available. I actually posted to the LPC Website & Information  
> > Technology Committee (WITCom) email list (which you’re also on) within the  
> > past few weeks about a Google Docs alternative I heard about recently.  
> > Don’t recall the name of it now, but if you got that email maybe you can  
> > check it out as a possible better option?
> > 
> > To which state website are you referring? Please include the direct link,  
> > if there’s a page where we can see LPSF listings online.
> > 
> > Love & Liberty,
> > 
> > ((( starchild )))
> > 
> > On Nov 9, 2026, at 1:30 PM, Brendan McMillion [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com) \> wrote:
> > 
> > Human interaction is of course important too. This is for people that are  
> > only maybe passingly interested in libertarianism, though. Not enough to  
> > come to a meeting or even participate in a forum. You talk to this, it gets  
> > you on board a bit more.
> > 
> > For edits, is Google Docs fine?
> > 
> > Everything I sent to the state was attached and is also on their website.
> > 
> > On Mon, Nov 9, 2026, 12:09 PM Starchild [sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi Brendan,
> > > 
> > > Thanks for your work on this. Having a chatbot could be helpful for the  
> > > reasons you mention, though I don’t think it’s a substitute for real human  
> > > interaction, and wouldn’t want it to come across as us saying “Talk to the  
> > > hand”.
> > > 
> > > If we make the option available for those who’d like to learn more about  
> > > libertarianism by interacting with a chatbot, I agree we should have a  
> > > transparent document like this which lays out the algorithm or guidelines  
> > > on which it operates. I’ve suggested something similar for the national LP,  
> > > and indeed using an AI might make more sense at scale at the national  
> > > level. On the other hand, there’s some logic in trying it at the local  
> > > level first as a kind of pilot program.
> > > 
> > > There’s a lot of content at the link you’ve sent – much of it looks good  
> > > but I do have input/concerns about some of the wording, would like to flesh  
> > > some issues out, etc. If you post this somewhere that it is editable, I  
> > > will add suggested changes. On a related matter, I recently made some edits  
> > > to the issues page on the LPSF website – [Issues | Libertarian Party of San Francisco](https://www.lpsf.org/issues).
> > > 
> > > Love & Liberty,
> > > 
> > > ((( starchild )))
> > > 
> > > P.S. – Did you receive my follow-up message about the PayPal account and  
> > > filings below, from several weeks ago (below)? I haven’t seen a response to  
> > > the question therein.
> > > 
> > > On Oct 10, 2026, at 7:26 PM, Starchild [sfdreamer@earthlink.net](mailto:sfdreamer@earthlink.net) wrote:
> > > 
> > > Brendan,
> > > 
> > > Thank you for finally returning the LPSF’s funds, and turning over the  
> > > PayPal account to our treasurer. Having that matter outstanding has been an  
> > > ongoing source of unnecessary stress in my life.
> > > 
> > > Is everything you sent the state copied below?
> > > 
> > > Love & Liberty,
> > > 
> > > ((( starchild )))
> > > 
> > > On Oct 10, 2026, at 3:43 PM, Brendan McMillion \< \>\> [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com)\> wrote:
> > > 
> > > \<2023 H1 - 460A.pdf\>\<410 paper copy.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H1 -  
> > > 460.pdf\>\<2022 H2 - 460A.pdf\>\<2024 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2023 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2024 H2
> > > 
> > > - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H1 - 460.pdf\>\<2025 H2 - 460.pdf\>\<2026 H1 - 460.pdf\>
> > > 
> > > On Nov 7, 2026, at 10:04 PM, Brendan McMillion \< \>\> [brendanmcmillion@gmail.com](mailto:brendanmcmillion@gmail.com)\> wrote:
> > > 
> > > Hi both
> > > 
> > > I’ve been working on a chatbot for discussing libertarianism,  
> > > specifically LPSF policies. It’s been helpful in the past for me to  
> > > gut-check my own policy ideas by talking them through with AI. But the  
> > > main reason I’ve been working on this is that I think it would be really  
> > > valuable to have such a chatbot on our website for anyone who visits to  
> > > talk to.
> > > 
> > > Conversations with chatbots have been clinically proven to durably change  
> > > people’s beliefs. That’s because chatbots are very effective at providing  
> > > neutral and fact-based arguments, and tailoring those arguments to the  
> > > person they’re speaking to. Disclosing that a chatbot is programmed  
> > > explicitly to persuade someone has been shown not to reduce its  
> > > effectiveness.
> > > 
> > > However, the chatbot needs to know what it is going to argue for, so I’ve  
> > > written this document:  
> > > [LPSF Principles and Positions · GitHub](https://gist.github.com/Bren2010/689a97d006f1b39bea70ae0ebe1c2d64#file-positions-md)
> > > 
> > > Would you mind reviewing this and letting me know if you agree with  
> > > adopting the proposed positions? Or if there’s anything missing that you  
> > > think should be added. Disregard the first line about “flyers, blog posts,  
> > > etc…”. The chatbot would obviously be good at those tasks too, in  
> > > addition to talking to people, but that’s not the primary interest for now.
> > > 
> > > Thank you!