When I started to get the wrong number text scams, they at least tried to stay on script for awhile. Now, the present the introduction and—violating the first rule of improv—say, “Yes, but” to themselves. There’s no continuity to the idea that this is a wrong number…unless they are psychic and read my mind toContinue reading “Forget the Ruse…Back to the Script”
Tag Archives: improv
Stephen/Not Stephen
Sometimes the wrong number texters really let me play. Well, they don’t let me; they prompt me. And when I prompt them to insult me in obscure ways, even better. (Read to the end for your new favorite insulting epithet.)
WhatsUpp??
For awhile now, I’ve been documenting the “wrong number” scam. They text me, suggesting I’m someone they know and, when I say I’m not that person, they follow their script, apologizing and then asking questions to “know me better.“ The middle game seems to be to get connected on WhatsApp or Telegram, but lately they’veContinue reading “WhatsUpp??”
What Confusion?
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?”
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!”
MUSOFYR 