# Stupid AIM Prank **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 6, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195 "2001-12-06T07:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/1 "2001-12-06T07:49:07Z")
I received an instant message earlier from a handle I had never seen before asking for my A/S/L. This was on my work handle, which is not available for random chat and, apart from coworkers, has only been given to a couple of people. I asked who it was, and they responded ‘Kimmie’. I told her that I don’t know anyone named Kimmie, and she said I was on her buddy list and asked if I wanted to see her picture. Bored, I accepted the image transfer, and received an obvious professional picture of a hot chick. She then asked me if I wanted to see a nude pic, and before I could respond sent me a few others from the series, obviously airbrushed softcore porn. I lied and said I had the rest of the images in that series in my collection, and they said ‘yeah whatever’ and signed off. Now I’m wondering how this prankster got my AIM handle. Aside from coworkers only my wife and two of my friends have it. One of them would never pull a prank like that and the other would have come up with something much better. What’s the point of sending porn to someone and pretending it’s you if there’s nothing else to the prank, and why do it to a random stranger (I figure it was done by someone who has access to the AIM profile of one of my coworkers)? Stupid people. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/2 "2001-12-06T08:01:25Z")
Is it possible that your screen name is similar to someone else’s, and they found yours simply by virtue of a typographical error? I mean, if your SN is something like “Bob1234”, and they were aiming for “Bob1235”, that would explain it… ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/3 "2001-12-06T09:04:27Z")
Nope, my work handle is 15 characters long, is my first initial, last name, and the abbreviation for the department I work in. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/4 "2001-12-06T09:23:01Z")
People can do a search for AIM names based on what e-mail addy you used when you signed up. If you have an e-mail address through work that people know you used to sign up for AIM, they can find it using that. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/5 "2001-12-06T09:54:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NightRabbit \* > \*\*People can do a search for AIM names based on what e-mail addy you used when you signed up. If you have an e-mail address through work that people know you used to sign up for AIM, they can find it using that. \*\* I did not know this - I went and fixed that immediately, though really my work email address (the one I registered the handle under) should not be any more well known than my work handle. I DID have several pranking handles registered under it and if any of my coworkers tried to find my handle by my email address they would have seen some embarassing pranking handles. Probably just some coworker’s kid or roommate, I’m thinking. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/6 "2001-12-06T11:42:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > **She then asked me if I wanted to see a nude pic, and before I could respond sent me a few others from the series, obviously airbrushed softcore porn.** ummm and you just HAD to accept them didn’t you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/7 "2001-12-06T13:44:54Z")
Am I the only person who doesn’t accept IM’s from anyone other than those on my buddy list when I’m at work? ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/8 "2001-12-06T13:55:09Z")
And am I the only one who’s never even used, or intends on using, AIM or any other instant messaging shit? ---
**Author:** ![LiquidLobotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/898d66/32.png) [@LiquidLobotomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiquidLobotomy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/9 "2001-12-06T14:16:30Z")
Yup CnoteChris, you’re the only one left… My question is: WHY DON"T I EVER GET ANY RANDOM IM’S? Never. Not even a mistaken one. Nothing, nada, zilch. I don’t even get dirty emails. What’s wrong with me? ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/10 "2001-12-06T14:19:53Z")
Just curious, **Chris** - what do you have against instant messenging software? It’s a fast, easy way to chat privately with friends and family. I like being able to talk to people at my own pace without having to hold a handset pressed against my ear. But to each his own, after all. And **Badtz** , they might have gotten your name from any of the information posted in your profile. I know I had only the city and state where I was and someone IMed me based on that info. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/11 "2001-12-06T14:54:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Syzygy \* > **Just curious, Chris - what do you have against instant messenging software?** It’s just soooooo… ersatzy. And it’s kind of childish, in a way, too. I don’t know… it’s just how I feel about it. And besides, it’s an AOL thing. I hate AOL. Good enough reasons for ya? ---
**Author:** ![LiquidLobotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/898d66/32.png) [@LiquidLobotomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiquidLobotomy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/12 "2001-12-06T14:57:09Z")
I just wanted to pipe back up here and say, AOL IM isn’t as private as you think it is. Every message goes through the AOL server and I’m sure there is a way for them to record your messages. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/13 "2001-12-06T14:58:58Z")
Does not the ‘A’ in AIM stand for AOL? 'nuff said. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/14 "2001-12-06T15:05:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > \*\*And am I the only one who’s never even used, or intends on using, AIM or any other instant messaging shit? \*\* You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/15 "2001-12-06T15:43:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > \*\* > It’s just soooooo… ersatzy. And it’s kind of childish, in a way, too. I don’t know… it’s just how I feel about it._\* Yeah I agree, it’s sooo childish. Kinda like the phone. I mean get real! Talking on the phone? What are you, in jr high?? I use AIM to talk to my friends back in my hometown, my family, and my husband while he is at work. It keeps my long distance phone bills down, you know? ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/16 "2001-12-06T16:15:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > > \*\*And am I the only one who’s never even used, or intends on using, AIM or any other instant messaging shit? \*\* > > You are not alone. \*\* Add one more to the rolls. Stand united, brethren and sistren! Refuse to be assimilated! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/17 "2001-12-06T16:35:45Z")
You Johnny-come-latelies - I was ranting about random IM _weeks_ ago. 😉 I’m also thinking that this was a porn spammer, intended to hook you with a few pictures, then send you a link to a pay site if you showed interest. She could have gotten your AIM screen name by simple random generation - I’ve seen this in spam e-mails I get where the list of addresses will be, “Esprix, Esprit, Espritdecorps, Esprit1, Esprit03,” etc. It’s pretty obvious they have a program that generates the names, sends a ping of some sort to see if they’re legitimate addresses, compiles them, and sends off the e-mail. Those who understand computers better than I could probably explain, but those are the deductions I’ve made based on my past experiences. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/18 "2001-12-06T16:52:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > **Yeah I agree, it’s sooo childish. Kinda like the phone. I mean get real! Talking on the phone? What are you, in jr high??** Nope. I graduated a long time ago. Maybe that’s why I don’t like instant messaging then. If you like it? By all means, knock yourself out. In fact, if I ever come around to IM’ing \ you’ll be the first person I ask to be on my **buddy** list. ‘Hieeiii. Cann\_IIII\_put\_you ON _my_ buddy LIST, ddeerrrr, ooppp…?. IDDD\_meen\_alot\_to\_ME’ Until I get smacked in the head with a large blunt-like object, I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/19 "2001-12-06T16:55:39Z")
Okay, **Chris** , point taken. I agree that much of the correspondence that gets sent through AIM in rather childish, but I think that has to do more with the ease of use than anything. When I write a snail mail letter, the grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc., are top-notch, simply because if I’m gonna spend the time to actually write a letter, seal it up, stamp it and mail it, I want to make sure the content merits the trouble. With AIM, I barely have to be coherent. 😃 And **Liquid** , I know that my conversations are not strictly private, but they’re more private than ICQ or another chat room. Finally, AIM is the closest I get to the AOL craptacular. I shun AOL itself with a passion, but the alternatives are lacking. Do I go to MSN Messenger? It’s a “lesser of two evils” thing, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195/20 "2001-12-06T17:03:42Z")
Why get all pissy about it? If you don’t like it, don’t use it. Many people find it a convenient way to communicate with others. Not everyone uses it for porn chat or random messages. We even have it installed at work for work related IMs and chat. Not all IM programs use AOL, by the way. What a strange thing to be uppity about. Zette [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-aim-prank/97195.md?page=2)