Frequent readers of this blog know of my verbal jousting with the wrong number scammers: they introduce themselves, apologize for getting me by accident, and then pursue a closer friendship on WhatsApp. I enjoy messing with them through improv and sometimes they can’t handle it. Oh, no, looks like I got the wrong number forContinue reading “What Confusion?”
Tag Archives: improv
Wrong Number (2)
And this one went on too long. I thought at first that  it might be a real person pretending to be this persona but the answers do seem a bit reactive and formulaic. And at that point I just hit the block button to wait for the next one.
Wrong Number (1)
I’ve written a lot about the wrong number texts—someone sends a message to a friend but has entered the number incorrectly. Oh, no, sorry, but can we be friends? I used to have fun improvising with them, but lately they’ve been taking a darker turn. And so have I. This week I’ve gotten about 12Continue reading “Wrong Number (1)”
And It Continues…
Awhile back I was posting a lot of these “wrong number” texts and my improv’d responses to them. A friend suggested that the origin of those might in fact be AI bots, but I don’t think it makes it less funny or tragic. Take these two; their approach is slightly different but I responded theContinue reading “And It Continues…”
You’re a Character—Or Two
Another wrong number text message hit my phone this past weekend. “She” started on the offensive (there’s probably some chess gambit I could refer to here) but I hit back immediately. You have to admire them for only wanting to be friends. Anytime the conversation goes sexual, they deflect. I should probably be grateful forContinue reading “You’re a Character—Or Two”
Short-Circuit the Scam
Last week I had a half dozen of those wrong number scam messages. Frequent readers of my blog know that I usually like to play along with them. But lately I’ve decided to play against them and see what happens. This is an example of attempting to short-circuit their script. I did expect some sortContinue reading “Short-Circuit the Scam”
Stick to the Script!
My latest wrong number scammer put up a valiant attempt at sticking to the script, but ultimately failed in the key principle of improv: “Yes, and…” You see, in improv, you always take what the other person gives you and then build on that. You don’t go off on tangents, and you don’t contradict theContinue reading “Stick to the Script!”
Another Improv Attempt
Those wrong numbers just keep coming! I decided to be Anna and even have AI creat a photo of “me.” They gave up after that.
Improv Now? No….
Last week was a banner week for the surprise texters. Most notable were the two who wanted me to think it was a wrong number, and one who found me on a dating site I had never heard of before. She at least kept the conversation going, but the one I include below wasn’t upContinue reading “Improv Now? No….”
Gimme a Murder Mystery
In discussing possible performance events with a local organization, we were asked if we could do a murder mystery dinner. Why, sure! But… I began researching them. They tend to fall into two categories: expensive (no, thanks!) and lame. The latter seem to have been created by some amateur theatre groups who thought they wereContinue reading “Gimme a Murder Mystery”
MUSOFYR 