The computer therapist

I just discovered an AI program called Elisa. It is supposed to mimic a theripist, they type that just asks questions and mimics your responses. The real annoying ones. Here was my first conversation.

* Tim Hortons just opened on campus
> Don't you ever say Hello?
* no
> You are being a bit negative.
* Damn it we are talking about timmies here not my negitivity
> Say, do you have any psychological problems?
* I hate Starbucks
> That is quite interesting.
* I want to burn it to the ground
> What would it mean to you if you got to burn it to the ground?
* I would be happy
> What does that suggest to you?
* I don't know you tell me
> Do you wish to be able to know me tell you?
* WTF?
> OK... "I don't know me tell me". Tell me more.
* It's an evil US corperation that doesn't deserve to be on canadian soil
> I'm not sure I understand you fully.
* Your a starbuck sympathiser arn't you?
> You're not really talking about me, are you?
* I am
> Do you believe it is normal to be ?
* be what
> What answer would please you the most?
* Your head on a spike
> What about your own head on a spike?
* Oh so that's the way it's going to be is it, well ill see you tonight and we will settle this once and for all.
> You're not really talking about me, are you?
* you laid the challenge to late to back out now.
> Oh... laid the challenge to late to back out now?
* Im not listing to you any more!
> You're not really talking about me, are you?

After this conversation i decided to make Elisa talk to herself:

> Hello, I am Eliza.
* Hello, I am Eliza.
> Did you come to me because you are Eliza?
* Oh... believe it is normal to be Eliza?
> Say, do you have any psychological problems?
* You're not really talking about me, are you?
> Perhaps you would like to be not really talking about you, am I?
* Oh... would like to be not really talking about me, are you?
> Would you prefer if I were not ?
* We were discussing you, not me.
> Oh... not you?

This was not nearly as entertaining.
Next Week the inverivew between Elisa and Ask Jeeves

> Hello, I am Eliza.
* Joseph Weizenbaum
> Don't you ever say Hello?
* MyDearDiary.com - say_hello - Nothing that makes sense ever works
> Say, do you have any psychological problems?
* Do You Have ESP?
> Oh... Have ESP?
...........