"Recipe" phone conversation

"Recipe" phone conversation

I thought an email inquiry I received in response to the "Make L$D Fast" chain letter was a joke. Then I got back to my office after the holiday break and found the following on my answering machine:

Message:   Hello Donald, this is [Omitted]. I just have a couple of questions for you. If you could give me a call back at [Omitted], it'd be much appreciated.

So I called the number. The conversation that ensued went something like this:

Sleepy voice: Hello
Me: Hello. Is [Omitted] there?
Sleepy: Who is this?
Me: I'm returning a call he left on my answering machine.
Sleepy: Well, ok....

(Muffled conversation: "[Omitted]... Someone returning your call. You left a message on his answering machine.")

[Omitted]: Hello?
Me: This is Donald Watrous from Rutgers University. You left a message on my answering machine?
[Omitted]: Hi, how are you doing?
Me: Ok, how are you?
[Omitted]: Good.
Me: Would you mind telling me what this is about?
[Omitted]: Yes. Just a minute.

(pause -- perhaps a door closes)

Ok. First of all, let me tell you I'm not a cop.

Me: Ok....
[Omitted]: Well, I found your recipe on the internet.
Me: What recipe?
[Omitted]: It was in your html.
Me: Yes?
[Omitted]: It was a recipe for L... S... (long pause)
Me: LSD?
[Omitted]: Yes. I was wondering if you could help me with it.
Me: Did you read it?
[Omitted]: Yes.
Me: Really?
[Omitted]: Yes.
Me: It's a joke. It's a parody of the "Make Money Fast" chain letter.
[Omitted]: But when I looked at the chemistry, the chemical structure was very similar.
Me: But it's a joke.
[Omitted]: Oh. Ok. Sorry.

Goodbye.

Me: Goodbye.

So I have to wonder. Did I just talk to a really thick kid -- or just a cop playing one on the internet?

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This page last updated January 5, 2004.