I'm almost afraid to say this publicly, but for various reasons I need to use IM systems other than BitWise. [Dramatic pause while you recover from your shock.] You can only imagine my horror this morning when I received this message on AIM from AOLSystemMsg:
"AIM added a new AIM Bots group to your Buddy List. Send IMs to moviefone and shoppingbuddy for great holiday flicks and gift ideas. (To remove 'em, just right-click and delete!)"
Yes, I really want a machine recommending what presents I should buy for my loved ones. I'm sure dear old Mom would love to know that her gift was recommended by an AIM Bot. On the other hand, at least then I could blame someone else if I didn't get her what she always wanted. *gag*
What's next? Bots that initiate conversations with me, hawking everything from movies to music to cars? No, no, I have it: they'll start sending product Bot messages from actual contacts on your list to make you think you're getting personal recommendations! Maybe then dear old Mom will be recommending the latest Hip-Hop CDs, or some fast sports car. Where does it end?
The other systems keep giving BitWise more and more advantages without us doing anything. How's this for a new slogan: "BitWise, not BotWise." Ha!
I recieved the same thing, the funny thing is as you delete each one. You get another message from AOLSystemMsg telling you that you just deleted the bot from your list and how to add it back on. I recieved two of these, one for each bot. And then, upon the next signon. I recieved another message from AOLSystemMsg informing me that the bods have been deleted from my list and it once again told me how I can re-add them.
Yeah, I got the same thing. I can see some usefulness to the MovieBot if it told me when a movie is playing like I think it is supposed to. (I don't want links) Anyway, There use to be a bot you could buddy with that you could ask questions too, like when a movie was playing, and it would tell you. Because it wasn't provided by AOL it was actually useful. (and it wasnt forced on you)
I actully think it would be kind of cool if you could Message *Bitwise* to get questions about bitwise answered. But, don't feel you guys should be spending the time on it.