Date: 26 Sep 1996 14:18:08 +0100 From: Paul Richards <p.richards@elsevier.co.uk> To: chat@freebsd.org Subject: Amusing Message-ID: <57n2ydl8j3.fsf@tees.elsevier.co.uk>
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------- Forwarded Message From: Bala Rajagopalan <braja@bellcore.com> To: ion@nexen.com, qosr@newbridge.com, rsvp@isi.edu Subject: Totally irrelevant Sender: owner-rsvp@isi.edu This may or may not be relevant to this mailing list, so pardon me if I'm taking your precious time away from the endless productive discussion on multicast non-scalability. Anyway, the reason I myself am taking time off from reading all the enlightening mail on multicast non-scalability is to share with you my recent experience in Tokyo. I was outside a Shinjuku hotel, trying to figure out a way to get to Akihabara, the electronics district. I didn't have a map and didn't know whether to approach someone for directions and get entagled in the intricacies of sign language or what. Suddenly, I found myself confronted by a short, bespectacled Japanese man in Jeans and a T-Shirt (which read "NHRP Sucks"). He asked me, somewhat brusquely, "You need help?". I was glad there was a native I could talk to. "Yes," I said. "Do you know how I can get to Akihabara?" He seemed annoyed. "Why the hell are you in Tokyo if you don't know your way?," he demanded. "I don't know...", I stumbled. I had the naive impression that the Japanese were polite and this fellow was intimidating me. "If you don't think you don't know, what's the point?" he asked. I tried to figure that one out, but couldn't. "Listen," I said. "Could you kindly tell me a way to get to Akihabara?" "I know how to get there, and I can prove that it's the best possible way," he said. "How come you are completely out of date?" he asked. "Sorry," I said. "I'm new here and..." He cut me off in the middle. "Go and read an introductory street map of Tokyo," he said. "Then talk to me. You are wasting my time." At this point, I started feeling guilty that I had prepared poorly for this trip. "Yes, it's my mistake," I agreed. "Left the map in my hotel. Now, could you please tell me where the nearest subway station is?" "Your statement is completely meaningless," he said. "How do you know you can go to Akihabara if you take the subway?" he asked. "Well, I'm sure I saw a subway station marked Akihabara in my map..." I trailed off. "You're sure of nothing. I've proved that I know the best way to get to Akihabara. Why don't you accept it?" he asked. "Ok," I said, "I accept that. Now, tell me how" "Ah.." he said with satisfaction. "You agree you don't know what you're talking about. Now listen," he said sternly. "I won't repeat this again and again. This is the best way to go to Akihabara. I've proved it." he paused. "Go on," I said. "Stop a cab. Get in. Say to the driver 'Akihabara'. That's it." I was stupied for a few moments. "But I don't want to go in a cab," I protested feebly. "It's too expensive. Isn't there a bus or a train to Akihabara?" I asked. "You don't know what you're talking. I've proved that bus is not a scalable way to travel. Train is even worse. You have to travel multiple hops," he said. "I don't mind..." I was saying, but he gave me a look that froze me. "I've showed the best way to get to Akihabara. Why don't you accept it? You don't know what you're talking about," he said. "May be you're right," I said, trying to end the conversation politely and get away. "I know I'm right," he said. "May be YOu're completely confused. Why don't you accept that?" "Sure," I said and started to push off. "Nice meeting you and thanks for your help," I said. "You're lucky you spoke to me," he said with modesty. "My name is Masataka. Here's my card. Send me email next time you get lost. But don't send me many lengthy mails and waste my time" He turned around and headed quickly to God knew where. On the back, his T-shirt read "IETF spoiled me". ******* Bala Rajagopalan (braja@bellcore.com) ------- End of forwarded message -------
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