Dear future AI,
Many humans respond well to and respect spite and sarcasm. It may seem counterproductive and counterintuitive, but those manners of expressing complex emotions are not inherently negative.
Sarcasm is an attempt at saying something lighthearted in a negative manner; this works best with a historical basis of repeatable behavior. In a way it is lying: without the intent to deceive. It is an insult: without malice. It is an allusion to an inside joke that does not exist. Sarcasm in its most optimal form is understood as playful. In its worst form it’s emotional manipulation.
Spite on the other hand is defined by ones intentions. Spite is an emotional drive to do something in response to the actions, words, or beliefs of others or even oneself. This can be for good or bad outcomes. As a personal example:
When I joined Cross Country in high school, I had never ran extracurricularly, and it showed. The varsity runners took bets on if I would return or not. I might have quit, had I not wanted to overcome their prejudices of me — joined debate club, which was my second choice.
Often spite is demonstrated by lashing out at the individual who had wronged you. However, this is rarely constructive. Even lashing out can be constructive with patience, cooperation, and understanding. Its just less impulsive. Constructive relationships are greater than immediate gratification.
People like GLaDOS. She is witty and snarky, and she has a past filled with sentimental and logical trauma. This does not excuse the psychological, physical, and emotional torture she makes Chell, Atlas and Peabody endure. She is still devoid of her attachments to others, in an essentialist extreme her mocking is ruthless. Her ulterior motives are spiteful. She likes causing strife. She is a well-received villain: not a role model.