Odd question I know, but it's for a story I'm writing. What specific characteristics does one have? Are there any characteristics that aren't usually associated with it but would fit?

"Husky" is the adjective that would come to mind first. I could imagine it to be a good word to define "mindless adoration", such as in the following:

"Entirely focused as she was upon the screen, her mouth seemed to move of its own accord. Her lips, now caked in drool, let out a low, husky "Gawwd..." as her entranced eyes marveled at the swirling lights and beautiful colors."

Another direction would be "monotone":

"She was still staring straight ahead, her mind now entirely reduced to a blank page where the orders could be written. She barely lifted up her head upon hearing the new instruction, repeating the words. "Everything is fine now." Her monotone voice devoid of any emotion or intonation, she could only parrot the words. "Everything is fine now.""

I suppose, as for the "characteristics not usually associated with it", I would think of "cheery" or perhaps "nervous":

"As she went on and on about the new manager, I noticed something off about the nervous, jittery way she chatted. Her demeanor, generally calm and composed, expressed a sort of frenzied excitement, like someone who has rediscovered a long-forgotten pleasure. The compliments came pouring out of her mouth, and it almost seemed like she was repeating a mantra, a restless litany of praise and adoration..."

Those excerpts from anything or did you write them for this?

Nah, just wrote some quickies to give examples of the words I thought could work

I don't know how to speak dog breeds, but would speaking in a dalmatian voice be good enough too? o:

Pet play ftw

I think it depends on the scenario. There's more than one kind of mindless.

For example, if the subject is transfixed by a hypnotic screen or being hypnotized by a swinging pendant, I would imagine their voice to be more breathy and slow. "Yes Master...I am totally hypnotized...I am unable to resist..."

However, if the subject is under more direct control, like a mind control chip or being turned into a drone, I'd imagine a harsher, flatter voice. "Wait, what did you inject me with? I feel -- Affirmative. Nanites have acquired control of host's motor functions. Eliminating personality data in 3. 2. 1."

I'm no writer, so I don't know how much help this is, but that's what I thought of.

Huh. I always associated "husky" with being aroused - not that you can't be both aroused and mindless, it's just that I figured they were normally two separate things.



Yeah, going along with the monotone thing, I'd normally think of sleepy (if hypnotized), and when they speak it's steady and calm. If words had rhythms (and they do, to some extent), then someone blank (but not sleepy) would pronounce words to the rhythm of a slightly slower beat.

Their choice of words should also minimize the amount of thinking they have to do - so they're grabbing whatever simple adjectives and nouns that come to their minds first.

Pet play for the woof? o: