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Network Working Group V. Cerf
Request for Comments: 439 SU-ERL
NIC: 13771 21 January 1973
PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR
The session recorded below actually happened on 18 September 1972 and
is herewith reproduced for your entertainment.
Good Evening.
Tell me your problems. Please terminate input with a period or a
question mark.
*People get on my nerves sometimes.
I am not sure I understand you fully.
*You should pay more attention.
Suppose you should pay more attention.
*You're entitled to your own opinion.
What makes you think I am entitled to my own opinion?
*It bothers me just to be around people in general.
Please go on.
*I went to the track at Bay Meadows a while back.
What does that suggest to you?
*I went to the races.
What else would you like to discuss?
*Horseracing interests me.
Why do you say that just now?
*There's a lot of crooked gambling going on there.
I am not sure I understand you fully,
Cerf [Page 1]
RFC 439 PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR January 1973 *It's clear to me if not to you. Do you think its likely that not to I? *I went to the races. Please go on. *I gamble on horses. What does that suggest to you? *I went to the races. What else would you like to discuss? *Gambling has been nothing but trouble to me. Why do you say that just now? *I've had experience with crooks gambling at the track. I am not sure I understand you fully. *I've already told you enough about that. Oh? I enough about that? *I went to the races. comment: This has to be the most persistent and patient paranoid I have ever encountered. Please go on. *Do you know anything about bookies? What makes you think I know anything about bookies? *A bookie didn't pay me off once. What does that suggest to you? *I beat up the bookie who did not pay off, and I thought he might use his friends in the underworld to get even with me. Cerf [Page 2]
RFC 439 PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR January 1973 What else would you like to discuss? *What do you know about racketeers? Why do you ask? *What experience have you had gambling? Why does that question interest you? *I like horseraces. What else do you like? *I know the mob controls the big rackets. Who are you really talking about? *Have you ever really thought about the MAFIA? Suppose you ever really thought about the MAFIA. *Let's talk about something else. I am not sure I understand you fully. *You keep asking me the same things, why not change the topic? In what way? *What do you mean? Why are such questions on your mind? *I thought I told you, people get on my nerves. Your nerves? *Well, I don't know. Don't you really know? *I would say so. Please go on. *I would rather not discuss that anymore. Cerf [Page 3]
RFC 439 PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR January 1973 Would you like to discuss your nerves? *I guess so. What does that suggest to you? *What are you getting at? What answer would please you most? *It's not a matter or like or dislike. What else would you like to discuss? *I am getting tired of answering the same questions over and over. What resemblance do you see? *Why do you need to know that? What do you think? *I don't understand your motives. Why don't you understand my motives? *Shouldn't I be? comment: ??? Why do you say that just now? comment: I was wondering the same thing. *That's just the way it is. Suppose that's just the way it were not. *So? I am not sure I understand you fully. *You harp on the same questions too much. What does that similarity suggest to you? *I don't get you. Cerf [Page 4]
RFC 439 PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR January 1973 Do you wish that you did get I? *It's about time you showed some interest in my feelings. Oh? I showed some interest in your feelings? comment: must have been an accident... *I will help you if I trust you. Do you wish that you trust I? *Maybe yes, maybe no. You don't seem quite certain. ...Excuse me for just a minute. Sorry to have interrupt you please continue... *Really? Please go on. *In my opinion you have a one-track mind. What makes you think I have a one-track mind? comment: you ready for this? *I used to go to the track every week. What does that suggest to you? *I avoid racetracks now because the races are fixed. Is that the real reason? *I'd rather not discuss it. What else would you like to discuss? *That's something I don't want to go into. Does that trouble you? *I went to the races. Why do you say that just now. Cerf [Page 5]
RFC 439 PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR January 1973 *It's none of your business. Why are you concerned over my business? *I don't confide in strangers. Don't you really confide in strangers? *Let's change the subject. Perhaps that concerns your feelings. *I went to the races. I am not sure I understand you fully. *What's wrong with you that you keep on bugging me about this? Who are you really talking about? *The way you repeat yourself is getting ridiculous. Suppose you repeat myself is getting ridiculous. comment: howzat? *There are some tricky operators down there. Are there really some tricky operators down there? *The guys involved in the horseracing racket. Please go on. *You are a real nag. comment: just one of the horses. Does it please you to believe I am a real nag? *I have had enough of this. What does that suggest to you? Cerf [Page 6]
RFC 439 PARRY Encounters the DOCTOR January 1973 *Goodbye. It's been my pleasure, that's $399.29 please. comment: talk about tricky operators... PARRY was running at SAIL and DOCTOR at BBN Tenex, both being accessed from UCLA/SEX. [This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry] [into the online RFC archives by Helene Morin, Via Genie, 12/1999] Cerf [Page 7]