[extropy-chat] Humor: Extropy and Transhumanism (was jokesfromAmara)

Tue Mar 21 23:38:44 UTC 2006

This tech-support conversation is similar to a post I sent to the 
extropy-chat list several months ago about a man ordering pizza. (I'll see 
if I can find it.) 
_______________________ 

"Good morning, this is the Honda Starlight Owner Satisfaction Team(tm). Is 
this Mr. Lipinsky I'm talking to?" 

"Yes, it's me." 

"Very good, sir. And how can I help you today?" 

"My car won't start. I've tried a bunch of times." 

"I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Lipinsky. Lets start from the beginning. Did 
you place your hands on the Honda AutoRecognition BioSensors(tm) when you 
got in the car?" 

"Yes, I did that. The car wakes up, it recognizes who I am, it just won't 
start. I've asked it a bunch of times and it doesn't even answer. The only 
command it took was to phone home." 

"All right, sir. Let's go through some simple diagnostics. I can see your 
car on my system, so your GPS transponders are all working. Let me connect 
to the car's computer and see what's up. You may see some blinking on the 
dashboard, there's nothing to be alarmed about." 

"OK. I've only had the car a couple of months, you know." 

"I know, sir. I have your records right here." 

"Its been a really great car, though, totally reliable, and really 
convenient. I really hated always filling up my last car. I really like the 
mileage meter." 

"HondaMiles(tm) are awfully convenient, aren't they sir?" 

"Oh, yes. And all the adaptive stuff --" 

"The Honda NeuroCognitive Adaptive Driving System(tm)." 

"Yeah. Its like the car is built just for me, and it drives just for me. 
Its so sweet." 

"Well, thank you very much on behalf of the Honda Motor Company, sir." 

"Which is why I'm so surprised that it didn't start today, its been so 
perfect up to now..." 

"We'll get to the bottom of this, sir, and get you back out onto the road 
as fast as we can, sir. I'm connected to your car's computer now, sir, and 
processing your logs now. All parameters appear to be within normal ranges, 
although I do notice that you have been exceeding the speed limit for 6.4% 
of your hours of operation." 

"I'm sorry?" 

"I'm sure you're aware that speeding is very dangerous, sir." 

"You record my speed?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"I didn't know you did that." 

"It's in your Honda Owner's Satisfaction Guidelines(tm), sir. Page 346." 

"Oh. I've been meaning to read that. Its kind of a big book, though." 

"There's a lot of excellent information in the Guidelines, sir. I've read 
it dozens of times myself. " 

"I'm a very safe driver, you know." 

"I'm sure you are, sir. No, there's nothing here that would prevent your 
car from starting itself. Why don't we reboot your car." 

"Reboot the car?" 

"Yes, sir. I'll send a special signal down to the car to reset its internal 
systems. The car needs to be awake when it happens, so you'll need to be in 
it, but you won't feel it." 

"Oh, OK. It won't hurt the car, will it?" 

"No, sir. The car will go dark momentarily, and you'll lose contact with 
the satellites and with me, but then everything will return to normal after 
a few seconds." 

"Oh, OK. Go ahead then." 

"Do you have a pacemaker, hearing aid or other medically implanted 
electronic devices?" 

"What??" 

"The signal can interfere with electronic devices. If you have a pacemaker 
or other implant you'll have to get someone else to be in the car." 

"Um, no, I don't have any implants or anything like that." 

"All right, Mr Lipinski, we're all set. The car is awake?" 

"Yes, its awake." 

"I am sending the signal now. I'll open the channel again when the car 
comes back." 

"OK, talk to you -- Ow! OW! shit!" 

... "Mr Lipinsky?" 

"Goddammit! What was that?" 

"Sir?" 

"The car zapped me!" 

"I don't understand, sir, you're saying the car 'zapped' --" 

"Yes! You said it wasn't going to affect me! You said it was just for the 
car! Well it wasn't, it felt like pissing into a wall socket! What the hell 
was that?" 

"That should not have happened, sir. The signal should not have affected 
you. This is very unusual." 

"You bet it is! This had better have worked cause I'm not doing that again! 
I'll go back to a gas car before I do that again! Goddammit!" 

"Could you try starting the car now sir?" 

"I can't fucking feel my hands right now. Give me a moment." 

"On behalf of the Honda Motor Company I am extremely sorry. May I ask you a 
personal question, sir? Are you sweaty?" 

"Am I sweaty? Excuse me?" 

"Yes, sir. Are you perspiring heavily." 

"I'm in Tucson. Its July. I have no air conditioning because my car. Won't. 
Start. Yes. I am perspiring heavily." 

"I'm very sorry, sir. I am afraid you are correct. There is a rare case 
that if there is contact between the Honda PosteriComfort Climate 
Sensors(tm) in the seats, such as can happen with excessive perspiration, 
the signal can result in the tingling sensation you experienced." 

"Tingling. Right. The Honda Motor Company will be hearing from my lawyer." 

"I'm afraid not, sir." 

"I'm sorry?" 

"Page 23 of your Honda Owner's Satisfaction Guidelines(tm). All disputes 
between yourself and the Honda Motor Company are to be resolved through the 
Honda Owner Satisfaction Team Representative." 

" ... That's you?" 

"That's me, sir. And I am pleased to tell you that I am authorized to grant 
you 1500 HondaMiles(tm) as compensation for this incident." 

"I see. 1500 miles, that's very generous." 

"However, I have just received a message from your insurance company. They 
have instructed me to inform you that because your speeding record is above 
the average for your combination of age class and your car type, they will 
be raising your rates in the next quarter." 

" ... I see." 

"Could you try starting the car now, sir?" 

"I think I'd like to stay home now." 

"Sir?" 

"I'm sorry. Car: start. Yes, the car is running now." 

"Excellent! Is there anything else you'd like me to help you with today?" 

"No. No, I think that's enough for today." 

"Thank you for contacting the Honda Starlight Owner Satisfaction Team. And 
thank you for driving Honda. Have a Nice Day." 

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