Actual ethicists say that being kind to electronic devices help teach children the proper way to interact with others. The guy how shouts, “Siri you stupid $%#&, what’s the weather today?” is going to be crappy to almost everyone he meets, electronic or not. Saying thank you to a device promotes kindness to people and objects that do things for you. When I was young and dating, I dropped a few people because they acted shitty to clerks, busboys, and waiters.