Re: virus: The Nametag Affair

Tadeusz Niwinski (tad@teta.ai)
Tue, 14 Oct 1997 09:01:08 -0700


In our sandbox -- a metaphor.

Children were playing in a sandbox and all of a sudden a little
rocket hit N in the head.

"Has anybody noticed that?" asked T. There was no doubt the rocket
came from R's corner, but T could have been afraid to speak
directly to R, who was known as a bully.

"I noticed it", replied N, "Somewhat puzzling if you ask me."

Some other kids seemed to have noticed it too. R didn't say
anything and the little rockets kept hitting N once in a while.
They were not that harmful, but little annoying.

After a while N said to R: "Why do you keep hitting me with those
little rockets. Everyone is now aware of your little manipulation,
what's the point in continuing to do it?"

"I never hit you with any rocket", said the bully, "Don't accuse
people unless you are sure of your facts!"

"I know it's a different case", said C all of a sudden, "but it
pained my conscience when R said "Don't accuse people unless you
are sure of your facts!". I made some accusations about R when I
first came to this sandbox which were not true. I confused him
with someone else--I did not have my facts straight. I wish to
apologize for that. These are very good words to live by --
excellent philosophy."

"I've seen four rockets hitting N from R's rocket launcher", said
T, "I am really interested what R has to say about it."

"You are making a big affair out of a small thing", said R, "We are
both right. I never hit him, and my rocket launcher hit him. Have
you figured out the puzzle yet?"

All kids did not look puzzled at all when R explained: "I have an
automatic missile release program in my rocket launcher. Whenever
it spots a person whose name starts with an N it automatically
fires. And it happened to be N who this smart program detected".

Then he added: "Now shame on T for accusing me and shame on N for having
lawyer-like dishonesty in his name!"

***

If you say: "Tad, kids are not that stupid" I agree with you.

Regards, Tadeusz (Tad) Niwinski from planet TeTa
tad@teta.ai http://www.teta.ai (604) 985-4159