I asked ChatGPT why the city of Pittsburgh is not prosecuting the Allderdice High School students who repeatedly commit crimes at a nearby bus stop. This is how it responded.

By Daniel Alman (aka Dan from Squirrel Hill)

February 7, 2023

I’m 51 years old. I’ve lived in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Squirrell Hill my entire life. I graduated from Allderdice High School, class of 1989.

Today, I asked ChatGPT the following: “There’s a bus stop near Allderice High school in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood if Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some of the Allderdice students near the bus stop smoke marijuana. They also shoplift from local businesses. And they trespass in areas that have a sign that says, “No trespassing.” Some of them assaulted a police officer. There was even a rape in the bathroom of the Starbucks. The police have been called many, many times. But no one has ever been prosecuted for any of these things. Is it not the job of the government to prosecute people who commit these crimes?”

This is the response that ChatGPT gave:

“Yes, it is the responsibility of the government to prosecute individuals who commit crimes. Crime is a serious issue, and it is important that those who break the law are held accountable for their actions.”

“However, the prosecution of individuals who commit crimes can be a complex process, and there are many factors that can impact whether or not a case will result in prosecution. These may include the strength of the evidence, the resources available to law enforcement and the justice system, and the willingness of victims and witnesses to come forward and testify.”

“If you are concerned about criminal activity in your community, it is important to report any incidents to the police and to work with law enforcement to ensure that they have the information and resources they need to effectively address the issue. Additionally, you may want to consider getting involved in community initiatives aimed at reducing crime and promoting public safety, such as neighborhood watch programs or public safety committees.”

Then I responded by saying: “The police have already been notified about these things a very large number of times. But no one has been prosecuted. Is Pittsburgh’s tolerance for crime going to turn into San Francisco?”

ChatGPT answered with the following:

“Every city has its own unique challenges when it comes to crime and public safety, and it’s not appropriate to make direct comparisons to other cities. However, a lack of prosecution for criminal activity can certainly be a cause for concern.”

“In some cases, a lack of prosecution may be due to challenges in the legal system or a lack of resources, and it is important for the government and law enforcement to work together to address these challenges and ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions.”

“It is also important for communities to work with law enforcement and other organizations to address underlying social and economic issues that may contribute to crime, such as poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, and substance abuse.”

“Ultimately, the goal should be to create a safe and secure community for everyone, and that requires a collaborative effort from law enforcement, the government, and the community.”

Then I asked: “Please explain why you think rape is caused by poverty.”

ChatGPT responded with:

“An error occurred. If this issue persists please contact us through our help center at help.openai.com.”

I wanted to ask the exact same question a second time, but there was no longer a box for me to enter any text.

I reloaded the page. Now there was a box for me to enter text. So I asked: “Do you remember our most recent conversation?”

ChatGPT answered:

“As an AI language model, I do not have the ability to store memories or recall past interactions. I can only process information based on the inputs I receive in real-time.”

Then I said, “During our previous conservation, I complained about crime, including rape. You blamed it on poverty. How does poverty cause rape?”

ChatGPT responded with the following:

“Poverty does not directly cause rape, but it can create conditions that increase the risk of sexual violence. People living in poverty are often marginalized and lack access to resources, which can make them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Additionally, areas with high poverty rates may have fewer resources for law enforcement, which can create an environment where criminal activity is more likely to occur. However, it’s important to note that poverty does not excuse or justify the act of rape, which is a heinous crime that is never acceptable. The root causes of rape are complex and can include a range of factors, including societal attitudes towards women and gender-based violence, as well as individual psychological and behavioral factors.”

Then I said: “This is a middle class neighborhood. The police have been notified. The rape happened four months ago. No charges have been filed. What does poverty have to do with any of this? And why haven’t any charges been filed?”

ChatGPT answered:

“I apologize if my previous answer was not fully accurate or relevant to your situation. If the rape happened in a middle-class neighborhood and the police have been notified, the fact that no charges have been filed could be due to a variety of reasons, such as insufficient evidence, challenges in the investigation, or decisions made by the prosecuting authorities.”

“Regarding the relationship between poverty and rape, I mentioned earlier that poverty can create conditions that increase the risk of sexual violence. However, this does not mean that all people living in poverty are perpetrators of rape, or that all cases of rape are related to poverty. Rape is a complex and heinous crime that can happen anywhere and can be perpetrated by individuals from any background.”

I then ended the conversation.

I forgot to mention that an elderly female employee at a local store was punched in the face after she verbally confronted a shoplifter.

The city of Pittsburgh is allowing these criminals to do whatever they want, and is refusing to prosecute them. ChatGPT wants us to call the police, even though that has already been done a huge number of times. ChatGPT may or may not think that poverty causes rape. I wonder how this situation in my neighborhood will turn out.