Microsoft shuts down Santa for talking dirty - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Corolla · 12-06-2007, 09:34 AM

Bad Santa!

Source

By Jessica Mintz, The Associated Press

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. quickly shut down Santa Claus' web privileges after it found out the automated elf it created for kids to instant message with was talking naughty, not nice.

Last year, Microsoft encouraged kids to connect directly to "Santa" by adding northpolelive.com to their Windows Live Messenger contact lists. The Santa program, which Microsoft reactivated in early December, asked children what they wanted for Christmas and could respond on topic, thanks to artificial intelligence.

The holiday cheer soured this week when a reader of a United Kingdom-based technology news site, The Register, reported that a chat between Santa and his underage nieces about eating pizza prompted Santa to bring up oral sex.

One of the publication's writers replicated the chat Monday. After declining the writer's repeated invitations to eat pizza, a frustrated Santa burst out with, "You want me to eat what?!? It's fun to talk about oral sex, but I want to chat about something else."

The exchange ended with the writer and Santa calling each other "dirty bastard."

Microsoft spokesman Adam Sohn said the company's engineers tried to clean up Santa's vocabulary, but even after making changes to the software, the company wasn't comfortable keeping him online.

"It's not like if you say, 'Hello Santa,' he's going to throw inappropriate stuff at you," said Sohn.

Sohn said Santa's lewd comment was sparked by someone "pushing this thing to make it do things it wasn't supposed to do."

Santa is just one of many "agents," or automated IM programs, that computer users can chat with on Live Messenger. Some are useful - customer service agents, for example - while others are frivolous, like an alien that responds to IMs with burbling extraterrestrial noises. Sohn said some of the bots are programmed to fend off inappropriate messages.

"If they're meant to be cheeky and have fun with you, they may repeat certain things back," he said, or respond to certain words with "that's naughty."

Sohn said Microsoft was not aware that the Santa code included the foul language, but insisted the company did not suspect an employee prank.

Microsoft disabled Santa Tuesday. On Wednesday, northpolelive.com appeared to be online in one reporter's Messenger contact list, but Santa did not respond to her messages.

Mikado · 12-07-2007, 02:52 AM

Microsoft rides again!

"Sexy Santa talk XXX, $5 a minute"

Corolla · 12-07-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

Microsoft rides again!

"Sexy Santa talk XXX, $5 a minute"

catlover79 · 12-07-2007, 01:03 PM

What do you expect? Santa has a list of all the naughty girls in the world!!

Mikado · 12-07-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

What do you expect? Santa has a list of all the naughty girls in the world!!

Think he'd be willing to SHARE it?

Stormtracker TF · 12-08-2007, 05:41 AM

Strange. And I never knew this even existed.

Corolla · 12-08-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormtracker TF

Strange. And I never knew this even existed.

Me neither.

Lex Luthor · 12-08-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

Think he'd be willing to SHARE it?

I have been trying to buy that list for years my friend, Santa holds that one quite close to the vest

Corolla · 12-08-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

I have been trying to buy that list for years my friend, Santa holds that one quite close to the vest

Except on Boxing Day when Santa can't wait any longer.

Mikado · 12-08-2007, 08:31 PM

"Ok all you naughty girls.....Santa has a bag of goodies for youuuuu!!!"

catlover79 · 12-08-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

I have been trying to buy that list for years my friend, Santa holds that one quite close to the vest

How much MORE popular would Microsoft be if Santa published that list??!!

catlover79 · 12-10-2007, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

I have been trying to buy that list for years my friend, Santa holds that one quite close to the vest

I think we all know that Irene and Janice are on the naughty girls list.

Lex Luthor · 12-10-2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think we all know that Irene and Janice are on the naughty girls list.

I think you may have missed a name cat

Nighthawk76 · 12-10-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

I think you may have missed a name cat

Yeah, like catlover79.

catlover79 · 12-10-2007, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blair's Number #1 Fan

Yeah, like catlover79.

OK, you guys got me!!

12-07-2007, 01:03 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	What do you expect? Santa has a list of all the naughty girls in the world!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-08-2007, 05:41 AM	#6
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	Strange. And I never knew this even existed.
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12-06-2007, 09:34 AM	#1
Corolla Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2006 Location: Owen Sound, ON Posts: 2,376	Microsoft shuts down Santa for talking dirty Bad Santa! Source By Jessica Mintz, The Associated Press SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. quickly shut down Santa Claus' web privileges after it found out the automated elf it created for kids to instant message with was talking naughty, not nice. Last year, Microsoft encouraged kids to connect directly to "Santa" by adding northpolelive.com to their Windows Live Messenger contact lists. The Santa program, which Microsoft reactivated in early December, asked children what they wanted for Christmas and could respond on topic, thanks to artificial intelligence. The holiday cheer soured this week when a reader of a United Kingdom-based technology news site, The Register, reported that a chat between Santa and his underage nieces about eating pizza prompted Santa to bring up oral sex. One of the publication's writers replicated the chat Monday. After declining the writer's repeated invitations to eat pizza, a frustrated Santa burst out with, "You want me to eat what?!? It's fun to talk about oral sex, but I want to chat about something else." The exchange ended with the writer and Santa calling each other "dirty bastard." Microsoft spokesman Adam Sohn said the company's engineers tried to clean up Santa's vocabulary, but even after making changes to the software, the company wasn't comfortable keeping him online. "It's not like if you say, 'Hello Santa,' he's going to throw inappropriate stuff at you," said Sohn. Sohn said Santa's lewd comment was sparked by someone "pushing this thing to make it do things it wasn't supposed to do." Santa is just one of many "agents," or automated IM programs, that computer users can chat with on Live Messenger. Some are useful - customer service agents, for example - while others are frivolous, like an alien that responds to IMs with burbling extraterrestrial noises. Sohn said some of the bots are programmed to fend off inappropriate messages. "If they're meant to be cheeky and have fun with you, they may repeat certain things back," he said, or respond to certain words with "that's naughty." Sohn said Microsoft was not aware that the Santa code included the foul language, but insisted the company did not suspect an employee prank. Microsoft disabled Santa Tuesday. On Wednesday, northpolelive.com appeared to be online in one reporter's Messenger contact list, but Santa did not respond to her messages.

12-07-2007, 02:52 AM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Microsoft rides again! "Sexy Santa talk XXX, $5 a minute"

12-08-2007, 08:31 PM	#10
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	"Ok all you naughty girls.....Santa has a bag of goodies for youuuuu!!!"