/ʌnˌkæn.i ˈvæl.i/ noun.
A cognitive phenomenon identified by robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970, the 'Uncanny Valley' effect is an inverted bell curve signifying a general tendency of humans to experience less affinity for mechanical objects as their appearance, movements, and sounds approach human resemblance as a robot. This decline in affinity becomes discomfort because as the machine more approximates a human body and head, and peaks where the face most accurately resembles a human face while the expressions it is programmed with, not being as intricate or precise as real human expressions, create a more 'alive but inhuman' impression.
As the physical appearance, movements, expressions, and vocalizations of the robot begin to more approximate those of a human, that 'creep factor' declines until the human form, face, movements, expressions, and vocalizations (and perhaps scents, breathing patterns, and pulse) is replicated by the robot at which point human discomfort with the robot would, theoretically, vanish.
A cognitive phenomenon identified by robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970, the 'Uncanny Valley' effect is an inverted bell curve signifying a general tendency of humans to experience less affinity for mechanical objects as their appearance, movements, and sounds approach human resemblance as a robot. This decline in affinity becomes discomfort because as the machine more approximates a human body and head, and peaks where the face most accurately resembles a human face while the expressions it is programmed with, not being as intricate or precise as real human expressions, create a more 'alive but inhuman' impression.
As the physical appearance, movements, expressions, and vocalizations of the robot begin to more approximate those of a human, that 'creep factor' declines until the human form, face, movements, expressions, and vocalizations (and perhaps scents, breathing patterns, and pulse) is replicated by the robot at which point human discomfort with the robot would, theoretically, vanish.
"I just met Ron DeSantis and shook his hand. It was so cold and clammy. All my hairs stood on end and I was shaking because the uncanny valley feeling he gave me... dude, I need a drink. He's not real. He's just... he's not human. No soul.... no soul... no soul. Let's get that drink. Dude? Dude, what are you looking at? Why aren't you looking at m...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! OH GOD NO! YOU'RE RON DESANTIS!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH......."
"Honey?" *Shaking him* "Honey, wake up!"
*Waking up* "Whu... whu? Omg, baby... it was just a dream. I was with Brad and we just met Ron Desantis, and he had this wicked strong uncanny valley vibe... and then... and then Brad was Ron DeSantis.... I..."
"Shhhh honey, it's okay. It was just a dream. I'm here now."
"Is that Dozer under the covers with us?"
"Yeah honey." *too Dozer under covers* "Hey Dozie! Who's a good boy! See honey? It's Dozer."
*Throws cover off*
"Hi Buddy! I'm Ron DeSantis and I eat children.... 's textbooks. I mean meet, uhhh. oh, 'yeetie'. I 'yeetie' children's..."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" -but forever.
The End
BSBuzzsaw.com
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! OH GOD NO! YOU'RE RON DESANTIS!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH......."
"Honey?" *Shaking him* "Honey, wake up!"
*Waking up* "Whu... whu? Omg, baby... it was just a dream. I was with Brad and we just met Ron Desantis, and he had this wicked strong uncanny valley vibe... and then... and then Brad was Ron DeSantis.... I..."
"Shhhh honey, it's okay. It was just a dream. I'm here now."
"Is that Dozer under the covers with us?"
"Yeah honey." *too Dozer under covers* "Hey Dozie! Who's a good boy! See honey? It's Dozer."
*Throws cover off*
"Hi Buddy! I'm Ron DeSantis and I eat children.... 's textbooks. I mean meet, uhhh. oh, 'yeetie'. I 'yeetie' children's..."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" -but forever.
The End
BSBuzzsaw.com
by BSBuzzsaw.com December 1, 2023
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by automaetieac December 6, 2023
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Uncannily • uncanny • Uncanny Valley • Uncannesy • uncanni • uncanniness • Uncanning • Uncannology • Uncanny hillock • Uncanny Plains
A cognitive and emotional discomfort triggered by speech or behavior that is superficially normal but subtly fails to follow expected human logic, timing, or cooperation—especially in dialogue.
When the voice assistant kept dodging my question with slightly off replies, I got that creepy Uncanny Plains feeling.
by someone who ISN'T u/ant_god123 May 20, 2025
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That eerie feeling when someone’s politeness is so unnervingly perfect and mechanical, it sets off your internal alarms. It’s the kind of fake niceness that feels like a mask hiding something darker—too smooth, too rehearsed, like a polite robot lurking just beneath the surface. When someone’s uncanny polite, you don’t just feel uneasy—you instinctively brace for manipulation or hidden intentions.
That eerie feeling when someone’s politeness is so unnervingly perfect and mechanical, it sets off your internal alarms. It’s the kind of fake niceness that feels like a mask hiding something darker—too smooth, too rehearsed, like a polite robot lurking just beneath the surface. When someone’s uncanny polite, you don’t just feel uneasy—you instinctively brace for manipulation or hidden intentions.
“I don’t trust her—she’s always so uncanny polite, like she’s planning something behind that smile. It feels like a trap somehow.”
by Iccento May 24, 2025
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