One thing I've been meaning to write an essay about for a while and never got around to is the difference between older, Data-style robot people and more modern iterations like Murderbot. You've got two levels of striving for rights here, the modern one built on having internalised the older one. Every time I reflect on them I'm reminded strongly of the public-facing part of the queer rights movement.
Data, who strongly admires and desires humanity, has his story centred around being as humanlike as possible. In Data stories, to be more like a human is viewed as improvement, to be called humanlike is a compliment; everything is framed around his ability to seem similar to humans and he's good because he strives to be more human. He's similar to the nineties and early millennium push of "we're just like you! Our differences are something we were born with and we can't help :( but we can be same as you! Trans people were just born in the wrong body; if we get the right one, we fit in! Gay people can form lifelong partnerships and raise kids! Love is love! <3" in order to appeal for basic rights, safety and autonomy. Data is safe. He asks you to listen to his plea to let him through the gates, not to tear the fences down.
Murderbot is different. Murderbot knows what it is and doesn't strive for humanity. Murderbot does not see being called human as a compliment and, while it will fake being human for strategic reasons, prefers not to be confused for one. The humans in book 1 gaining sympathy for it because of how humanlike it is and talking about it in human terms is not seen as uplifting and positive but as awkward and painfully naive, something that drives Murderbot away and that they have to address in themselves when it comes back. The Preservation Aux system of allowing bots in only with human sponsors to guide them is seen as obviously unfair and condescending, a way for humans to roleplay being charitable sympathetic guides for the poor bots who clearly need their help. Murderbot is the post-aughts queer wave of "whether we are like you or not is irrelevant. We are entitled to rights and safety whether or not we fit into your systems and stroke your egos. Whether you understand us or approve of us is not relevant to this question. It is not our job to treat you as an ideal we are failing to reach in order to make you feel better." Murderbot is not safe. Murderbot does not plead at the gate that it should be let in. Murderbot is not grateful and appreciative of your generosity for opening the gate because in Murderbot's world, the fact that you're still manning the gate means you're a naive annoyance.
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