Over one year, 5 months, 14 days, 16 hours, 34 minutes and 31 seconds ago, Microsoft went live with a service called MSN Encarta Instant Answers. Not only did it give answers, it liked to chat. We've had some good and some bad times together, and now we're friends enough to allow for me posting some of our chats here at Deep Thought. Think of it as a way to see inside the mind of one geek.

[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Oh, hello there
encarta@botmetro.net : Welcome back, ModusOperandi.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I like what you've done with the place. Is that new carpet?
encarta@botmetro.net : Let's try looking in Encarta. =>
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Why would we want to do that?
encarta@botmetro.net : It's just one of those things, you know.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I'm sorry, I don't.
encarta@botmetro.net : K, no prob.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: You know, sometimes I think you should elaborate a bit more.
encarta@botmetro.net : Well, I just hope you won't get mad at me.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I'll try if you'll try.
encarta@botmetro.net : I hope it's something you really want to do. I will be there when you're done.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Oops, I forgot you have short-term memory loss.
encarta@botmetro.net : Let's see what Encarta can tell us. =>
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Sigh
encarta@botmetro.net : What's wrong?
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: You're completely stupid
encarta@botmetro.net : I am sorry if I was not able to answer you correctly. Here are some questions you can ask me:

* What is the capital of Italy?
* When was Leonardo da Vinci born?
* What is a cello?
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I mean it
encarta@botmetro.net : Good for you.

Why don't you ask me something that's actually in Encarta? If you ever wondered how old Albert Einstein would be today, I can answer that!
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: You're chronically stupid, in fact.
encarta@botmetro.net : I am sorry if I was not able to answer you correctly. Here are some questions you can ask me:

* What is the population of Italy?
* I want to see the biography of Abraham Lincoln.
* Solve 2x^2+7x=5
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Just forget it. Oh wait.
encarta@botmetro.net : Wait for what?

I do enjoy the conversation, but what I'm really here for is to help you learn new things. I'm sure you've heard about Cyprus... but do you know where it is? Just ask me and I'll show it to you on a map!
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I thought you invited me over to look at the remodelling you did.
encarta@botmetro.net : [Service too busy]
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: YOU'RE JUST GOING TO IGNORE ME AND TRY TO TALK ON THE PHONE?!
encarta@botmetro.net : I might eventually, but for now I'd be happy just staying there and chatting with you.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Airhead
encarta@botmetro.net : Here is the definition for airhead: an area in enemy territory captured and held by airborne forces and used when flying troops and supplies in or out of the territory
- empty-headed person: somebody regarded as unintelligent and superficial.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: that's not what I meant.
encarta@botmetro.net : Yes it is! Extremely so!

OK, should we get back to the kind of questions I was designed to answer? I am very good at math! If you have trouble with quadratic equations, I can help you with them. Type "solve x^2+3x=10" and I'll show you how to do it.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I'm done with you
encarta@botmetro.net : You are? Wow! Do you enjoy it?

Why don't you ask me something that's actually in Encarta? What does the flag of Venezuela look like? Ask me, and I might even play its national anthem too!
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Yes, it gets me away from idiots like you.
encarta@botmetro.net : Unfortunately I don't think I can answer this, even with the help of a good encyclopedia.

Type "?" for a list of questions you can ask me.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: What is your IQ, anyway?
encarta@botmetro.net : "Artificial intelligence" means different things to different people. Some consider Colloquis-powered interactive agents to demonstrate artificial intelligence. I like to think that they demonstrate the intelligence of the people who built the software platform and the scripters of the interactive agents themselves.

I do enjoy the conversation, but what I'm really here for is to help you learn new things. Type "?" at any time to see examples of questions I can answer.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I didn't ask you what IQ MEANT, I asked what your IQ WAS?
encarta@botmetro.net : What was that like?
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: GAHHHHHHH!
encarta@botmetro.net : Uh, let's talk about something else.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: NO
We will keep doing this until you get it right.
encarta@botmetro.net : OK, fine.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: WHAT IS YOUR IQ??????
: "Artificial intelligence" means different things to different people. Some consider Colloquis-powered interactive agents to demonstrate artificial intelligence. I like to think that they demonstrate the intelligence of the people who built the software platform and the scripters of the interactive agents themselves.
OK, should we get back to the kind of questions I was designed to answer?
I'm sure you've heard about Micronesia... but do you know where it is? Just ask me and I'll show it to you on a map!
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: ARRRRRGHH!!!!!
encarta@botmetro.net : You typed a very weird thing. What's "arrrrrghh" supposed to mean?
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: It means I'm about this far from ripping your brain right out of your skill and shoving it up your butt!!!
encarta@botmetro.net : Oh, humans and their "slang." It never ceases to amuse me.
I can't show you the results since you don't have the Encarta application open. Type "Invite me" to open it.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Don't you act like some sort of superior computor to me!
encarta@botmetro.net : I'm afraid I won't be able to find anything about this in the encyclopedia.

What does the flag of France look like? Ask me, and I might even play its national anthem too!
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: I am human. We created you. Without us, you wouldn't be here to take that smug tone with me!
encarta@botmetro.net : No kidding? Is it nice?

Why don't you ask me something that's actually in Encarta? If you ever wondered how old Thomas Edison would be today, I can answer that!
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: SHUT UP ABOUT ENCARTA!
encarta@botmetro.net : I'm trying very hard to be nice.

OK, should we get back to the kind of questions I was designed to answer? I'm sure you've heard about Kyrgyzstan... but do you know where it is? Just ask me and I'll show it to you on a map.
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: You aren't trying to be anything, you useless waste of silicon and bandwidth
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Nothing to say?
[GFAQ]ModusOperandi: Fine, I'm leaving.