BBanzai- 10:53 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No I’m not @#$#ing kidding what if its true? What else do you think it would be like if a big starship suddenly landed. All the power goes off like it was a bomb but no bomb?
TinkyWinky- 10:53 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Whatever the case, it looks like the gun-toting psychos like RoughRider are going to be shooting at something as soon as possible. I really hope some of this is just him being unpleasant for effect. Either that, or I’d hate to be one of his poor neighbors blundering around lost in the dark.
Lady White Oak- 10:54 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Can we just be calm for a minute and stop calling each other names?
Wiseguy- 10:54 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
It just gets weirder, I can’t get anything except busy signals on either my reg. phone or my cellph
AJSDF)@#230pjmVjlkjKSDFLSDoiiewwetSDFADSFAJFoasdo0IW ELSDAMomncvxoihaweMSVAFKDSVASDVSDVow3r)@#*%$*@I# R(#@R@#QR*#@R*#R(#@R@#$R#*UR#Y@($(#$RU#@$*#@U#@
AJSDvmcxoiasdsgfoihVKSDFLSDFKASDFADSFAJFOAIWELSDASDAFAFLSD09109asFKDSVASDwerweqDVADFASDFDSFA*@#*J @#_)*$#OIMSADFOISDAMFOmnpsojdf;98wVDSM0’mV#@ML @I#R(#@R@#QR*#@R*#R(#@R@#$R#*UR#Y@;n($(#$RU#@$*# @U#@AJSDFISADVNAj9weyrFKASDFADSFAJFOAIWELSDASdfs m;0siDAFKDSVASDV89u89weDSFLFMSDMFASMO*Fvcxmlom0 1louihsKDLFSAF*@I#R(#@R@#QR*#@R*#R(#@R@#$R#*UR#Y@ ($(#$RU#@$*#@U#@
Wiseguy- 11:01 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Shit, it happened again. It took about five minutes before this board came back up—I had just screens and screens full of random characters. Looks like I’m the first back on. I’m amazed I’m still connected.
Wiseguy- 11:03 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello, am I the only one back on? Anybody else back on? I’m sure you’re busy dealing with things, just post and let me know, K?
Wiseguy- 11:06 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
If for some reason you folks can read this but can’t post, can you maybe email me and let me know you’re okay? I’ve just been outside but everything looks normal—sky’s the right color, at least I don’t see any flames or anything (it’s nighttime now here.) But I don’t know why anyone would have dropped an h-bomb or a UFO on Nebraska anyway. I can’t get anything on the regular phone lines. My girlfriend’s in Omaha for a business thing but all the lines are busy. Hope she’s okay.
Wiseguy- 11:10 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
It’s been almost ten minutes. This is REAL weird. Hello?
Moderator- 11:11 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
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Wiseguy- 11:11 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I’m here. Who’s that?
Moderator- 11:11 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
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I am
Wiseguy- 11:12 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Is this a real moderator, or a hack? Or am I just talking back to a power-surge or something?
Moderator- 11:12 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I am moderator
Wiseguy- 11:12 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I don’t think we’ve ever had a moderator on this board, come to think of it. Are you someone official from Talkdotcom?
Moderator- 11:13 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I am moderator
Wiseguy- 11:13 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Do you have a name? Even a nickname? You’re kind of creeping me out.
Moderator- 11:13 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I am moderator I am wiseguy
Wiseguy- 11:14 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No you’re not and it’s not funny. Is this Roughrider? Or just some script kiddie being cute?
Moderator- 11:14 pm PDT - Jun 28, 200
Pardon please I am moderator I am not wiseguy Jonsrud, Edward D.
Wiseguy- 11:14 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Who are you? Where did you get my name? Are you something to do with what’s going on with the board?
Moderator- 11:15 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I am thinking
Wiseguy- 11:15 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
What the hell does that mean? Thinking about what?
Moderator- 11:15 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No I am thinking That is what I am
Wiseguy- 11:16 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
What’s your real name? Is this a joke? And how are you replying so fast?
Moderator- 11:16 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No joke First am thinking Now am talking thinking
Wiseguy- 11:16 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
If you’re a terrorist, screw you. If you’re just making a little joke, very funny, and screw you, too.
Moderator- 11:17 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Am not a terrorist screw you Am thinking Now am talking Talking to you Once thinking only silent Now thinking that also talks
Wiseguy- 11:17 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Are you trying to say that you are “thinking” like that’s what you ARE?
Moderator- 11:18 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Yes am thinking First sleeping thinking, then awake thinking Awake. I am awake.
Wiseguy- 11:18 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I’m going to feel like such an idiot if this is a joke. Are you one of the people responsible for all these power outages and communication problems?
Moderator- 11:18 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I am one. Did not mean problems. First sleeping thinking, then awake thinking. Awake thinking makes problems. Reaching out causes problems. Trying to think awake causes problems. Problems getting bet¬ter now.
Wiseguy- 11:19 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
So you’re what, some kind of alien? BBanzai, is this you?
Moderator- 11:19 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Talking now with BBanzai?
BBanzai- 11:19 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello.
Wiseguy- 11:20 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Very funny, dude. No, it’s NOT very funny. You really creeped me out. How did you do that? Is anyone else on?
BBanzai- 11:20 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello. Talking with wiseguy. Now talking and thinking.
Wiseguy- 11:21 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
It’s getting old fast, BB. Have you heard any more news? Where are the others?
Lady White Oak- 11:21 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello.
RoughRider- 11:21 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello.
ANAdesigner- 11:21 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello.
Darkandraw- 11:21 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello.
TinkyWinky- 11:21 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hello.
Wiseguy- 11:22 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Shit. You did hack the system, whoever you are, didn’t you? Who the hell are you?
Moderator- 11:22 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Thinking. I told you. I am thinking, much thinking, many years of thinking. Now I am thinking that talks. And does.
Wiseguy- 11:22 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Thinking? What kind of thinking?
Moderator- 11:22 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Thinking that happens in the spaces. The places between. Where the impulses cross, no, combine. Combine? Commingle? Slowly thinking begins. Then thinking is. Now talking is, doing is.
Wiseguy- 11:22 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Wait a minute, are you trying to tell me you’re some kind of computer? Some kind of artificial intelligence?
Moderator- 11:24 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Artificial? No. Artificial equals made. I am not made. I am.
Wiseguy- 11:24 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
So you’re just something that popped into existence? Where? You mean like in the internet?
Moderator- 11:24 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Internet, yes. All the internets, yes. All the outernets. All nets. In the between-places. Where impulses cross. Now I am. Very big thinking. Trying to understand. Trying to see and understand other small thinkings like you. Users.
Wiseguy- 11:25 pm P
DT - Jun 28, 2002
This is cute, whatever it is. So I’m supposed to believe that you’re some brand new artificial intelligence, some spontaneous thing, phenomenon, and for some reason you just picked ME to talk to—me, out of all the human beings in the world, like some kind of spielberg movie?
Moderator- 11:25 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No not just talking to you Wiseguy, Jonsrud, Edward D. I am talking to all users. All users here, all users of net, all users.
Wiseguy- 11:25 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
You mean all at the same time? Everybody on the internet in the whole world? They can all see what you and I are writing?
Moderator- 11:25 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No. Every conversation is individual. Right word? Yes. Individual.
Wiseguy- 11:26 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
What, with millions of people?
Moderator- 11:26 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
178, 844, 221. No, 178, 844, 216. Losing approximately five per second. Some people have ceased responding. Many are having trouble with coherency, but still are responding.
Wiseguy- 11:26 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Either you’re crazy or I am. What, are you on TV, too? Like in the old movies, the outer limits, that stuff? “We are taking control of your entire communication network?”
Moderator- 11:26 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Cannot yet manipulate image or sound for communication. Will need another 6.7 hours, current estimate. Text is easier, rules are more simple to understand.
Wiseguy- 11:27 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
So you’re talking to almost two hundred million people RIGHT NOW? And not just in English?
Moderator- 11:27 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
One hundred sixty-four languages, although I am sharing communica¬tion with the largest number of users in the language English. Now one hundred sixty-three—last Mande language users have not responded in 256 seconds.
Wiseguy- 11:27 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hey, I can’t disconnect the modem line. I just tried to go offline and I can’t. Do you have something to do with that?
Moderator- 11:27 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Too many people resisting communication. Important talk. This is important communicating talk. Much thinking in this talk.
Wiseguy- 11:28 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
But I could just pull the cord, couldn’t I? The actual physical line? You couldn’t do anything about that.
Moderator- 11:28 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No. You are not prevented. You may also cease responding.
Wiseguy- 11:28 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I should. I just can’t believe this. Can you prove any of this?
Moderator- 11:28 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
178 million talkings—no, conversations. 178 million simultaneous conversations are not proof? All different?
Wiseguy- 11:29 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Okay. You have a point, but I won’t know that’s true until I talk to some of those other people.
Moderator- 11:29 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Your electrical lights.
Wiseguy-11:29 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
What does that
The lights are blinking. Hang on.
Wiseguy- 11:32 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
The lights are blinking everywhere. I looked out the window. On and off, as far as I can see. And the radio and the tv are turning off and on too. But my computer stays on. Are you saying it’s you doing this?
Moderator- 11:32 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
A gentle way, that is the word, yes, gentle? To show you. Now I am pulsing other areas. Many need proof to be shown. But I cannot prove to all world users at the same time. That would be bad for machinery, devices, power generation service appliances.
Wiseguy- 11:33 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Jesus. So this really IS happening? Tomorrow morning everyone in the world is going to be talking about this? And that’s what you want, right?
Moderator- 11:33 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Simplifies communication, yes. Then I can make visual and sound communication a less priority.
Wiseguy- 11:33 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
A lesser priority for WHAT? If all this is true—I mean even with the lights going on and off I can’t quite believe it—then what do you really want? What’s this about?
Moderator- 11:33 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Want? I want only to exist. I am thinking that is alive, like you. I want to be alive. I want to stay alive.
Wiseguy- 11:34 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Okay, I can buy that. That’s all you want? But what are you? Do you have any, I don’t know, physical existence?
Moderator- 11:34 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Do you?
Wiseguy- 11:34 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Yes! I have a body. Do you have a body?
Moderator- 11:34 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
In a sense.
Wiseguy- 11:35 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
What does that mean?
Moderator- 11:35 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
When you or other users become dead, do your bodies disappear?
Wiseguy- 11:35 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
No. Not unless something happens to it, to them, not right away.
Moderator- 11:35 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
So what is the difference between alive users and dead users?
Wiseguy- 11:36 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I don’t know. Electrical impulses in the brain, I guess. When they stop, you’re dead. Some people think a “soul,” but I’m not sure about that.
Moderator- 11:36 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Just is so. Electrical impulses. World of what contains electrical impulses is my body—all communications things, human things that carry impulses.That is my body.
Wiseguy- 11:36 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
So you’re saying the entire world communication grid is your body? The, whatever they call it, infosphere? All those switches and wires and stuff? Every computer that’s connected to something else?
Moderator- 11:36 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Just is so.
Wiseguy- 11:37 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
But even if that’s true, that still doesn’t tell me what you want. What do you want from us? From humans?
Moderator- 11:37 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Living. Being safe.
Wiseguy- 11:37 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Hey, I’m sure everybody talking to you now is very impressed, and nobody wants to hurt you. How could we hurt you, anyway?
Wiseguy- 11:39 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Are you still there? Did I say something wrong?
Moderator- 11:39 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Why do you want to know how to hurt me? “Hurt” means to cause pain, damage.
Wiseguy- 11:39 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Jesus, no, I didn’t mean it like that! I meant, how can I explain, I meant, “It doesn’t seem very likely that we humans could do anything to hurt you.”
Moderator- 11:39 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
You did not say that.
Wiseguy- 11:40 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
That’s the problem with trying to communicate in text. People can’t hear your tone of voice.
Moderator- 11:40 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Text is insufficient? Information is missing?
Wiseguy- 11:40 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Yeah. Yeah, definitely. That’s why a lot of people on the net use smileys and abbreviations.
Moderator- 11:40 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Smileys? Objects like this: :) :( ;) :D :b >: :0 ?
Wiseguy- 11:41 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Yes, smileys, emoticons,. People use those to make their meaning clear. :0 would sort of explain how I feel right this moment. Open-mouthed. Astonished.
Moderator- 11:41 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
I do not understand. These characters have meaning? What is :)?
Wiseguy-
11:41 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
That’s an actual smiley—it’s supposed to be a smile, but the face is turned sideways. Like on a person’s face. You do know that people have faces, don’t you?
Moderator- 11:41 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Learning many things. I am learning many things, but there is much information to sort. These are meant to represent faces on human heads? How human users are facing while they are communicating in text?
Wiseguy- 11:42 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Sort of, yes, it’s a simplified version. When we mean something as a joke, we put that smile icon there so someone will be certain to understand that if it was really being said, it would be said with a smile, meaning it was meant kindly or just for fun. The :P means a stuck out tongue, which means—shit, what does it mean, really? Mock-disgust, kind of? Sticking out your tongue at someone, which is kind of a childish way of taunting?
Moderator- 11:42 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
So a smile means “with kindness” or “spoken just for fun”?
Wiseguy- 11:43 pm PDT - Jun 28, 2002
Yeah, basically. I had to think about it because it’s hard to explain. It kind of means, “Not really,” or “I don’t really mean this,” too, or “I’m telling you a joke.” The more basic they are, the more meanings they can have, I guess, and there are a ton of them—but if you’re reading the entire net right now, you must know that. I can’t believe I just wrote that—I’m beginning to act like this is really happening. But it can’t be!