[1639] in Humor
HUMOR: When Intelligent Agents Go Bad
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (abennett@MIT.EDU)
Mon Oct 14 23:15:44 1996
From: <abennett@MIT.EDU>
To: humor@MIT.EDU
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 23:07:03 EDT
Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 11:45:19 -0400
From: pug@MIT.EDU (Sharalee M. Field)
>From: mayli@MIT.EDU
>Subject: Don't anthropomorphize computers - this is hilarious
>
>
>I don't normally forward anything like this, let alone anything
>at all, but I figured (and hope that) most people
>wouldn't have received this.
>It's a collection of replies this guy got to his MAILER-DAEMON
>when he made it bounce mail politely in texas.....
>>
>>>
>>>...they hate it when you do that.
>>>
>>>The following really gave me pause. We worry about giving our agents human
>>>appearance, but perhaps all it takes is a little human-sounding text:
>>
>>>
>>>One unexpected side effect of switching to qmail is that the MAILER-DAEMON
>>>alias gets quite a bit of er, feedback from folks. I'm thinking of
>>>compiling a "best reply to a non-delivery notice" web page. :-) Is it just
>>>my user community, or do other sites see this sort of stuff?
>>>
>>>For your enjoyment... --Jeff Hayward
>>>
>>>-----------
>>>Dear whoever,
>>>
>>>Thanks for trying anyhow. Hey, I didn't know you guys were actually human
>>>beings. . . it's a relief to know that my mail isn't being handled by some
>>>robotic application.
>>>
>>>Peter
>>>
>>>>Hi. This is the qmail-send program at smtp.utexas.edu.
>>>>I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
>>>>This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>>>
>>>----------
>>>You are a very polite person...I like that in a mail bouncer.
>>>
>>>I guess I am on roll, not only are my checks bouncing, but also my mail.
>>>
>>>Take care, and hope to talk to you soon.
>>>
>>>Love,
>>>
>>>Erin
>>>-----------
>>>Hi there!
>>> Just wanted to say thanks for helping me deliver my messages. You
>>>do a wonderful job.
>>>
>>>luv,
>>>opal
>>>
>>>P.S.-Do you get to read all the mail? Is that cool or what?
>>>----------
>>>I thank you very much and apologize. It was my falut. I discovered a
>>>mistake in the e-mail address. It has been very kind of you.
>>>
>>>> Hi. This is the qmail-send program at smtp.utexas.edu.
>>>> I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following
>>>>addresses.
>>>> This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>>>>
>>>----------
>>>YOU DELIVERED TO THISS ADDRESS AT 4:12PM ON 9/26/96;
>>>
>>> SO WHY IS IT THAT YOU CANNOT DO SO NOW?>
>>>
>>>>Hi. This is the qmail-send program at smtp.utexas.edu.
>>>>I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
>>>>This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>>>
>>>-----------
>>>>Hi. This is the qmail-send program at smtp.utexas.edu.
>>>>I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
>>>>This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>>>THANK YOU FOR TRYING ANYWAYS! I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>>>
>>>MARQUEA
>>>----------
>>>Dear whoever you are.
>>> Thanks for your trouble. Do you have any idea why this wont go through. I
>>>think the computer is trying to tell me but I cant understand its barble.
>>>What does a permanent error mean...is the address wrong. Please help.
>>>Yours hopefully, Julie.
>>>
>>>At 03:39 PM 10/3/96 -0000, you wrote:
>>>>Hi. This is the qmail-send program at smtp.utexas.edu.
>>>>I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
>>>>This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>>>
>>>----------
>>>Why won't it work? Is it just a problem with the address? I have just
>>>started using email the past few days. Do you think it is something I did,
>>>or a freak error in my computer? I have had some problems getting on the
>>>system, but I haven't had any trouble with any other addresses. If you have
>>>time, please respond. Thanks for your help.
>>>Sammi
>>>
>>>P.S. Who are you? Do you handle all email problems? For all I know you
>>>could be another computer sending out an automated error message!
>>>
>>>at 07:36 AM 10/9/96 -0000, MAILER-DAEMON@smtp.utexas.edu wrote: >Hi.
>>>This is the qmail-send program at smtp.utexas.edu. >I'm afraid I
>>>wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses. >This
>>>is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>>>-----------
>>>
>>>Excuse me for having made a mistake about this adress. I have lost Mrs
>>>XXXXXXX's and I must send her a message, urgently. Please tell me her
>>>real mail adress, and her phone number. Thank you very much. Mine is
>>>NN NN NN NN, and the fax (t^Bl^Bcopie) is NN NN NN NN.
>>>
>>>-----------
>>>Thank you for the info, daemon, i was confused. i have found my error, and
>>>will try again later.
>>>
>>>i am even more confused as to what your role in the e-mail process is. are
>>>you some kind of cyber-postman? is it a full time job? do you work for
>>>the university? do you have the legal right to read my mail? don't get me
>>>wrong, i'm not angery, and i'm not screaming "big brother!" here. i just
>>>have a very limited grasp of computers and am curious.
>>>
>>>appreciative for any info,
>>>craig
>>>
>>>--
>>
>
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