ChaCha search - let someone else do the searching for you!

[Bioture]

Skate recently got me on this:

www.chacha.com

basically it's a search engine where you chat with a "Guide" who will search for whatever you want! You can even make small talk with these guides... if you take it too far they'll ban you though... try it and post some of your interesting convos!

Just type in your topic in the search field, then hit "search with guide."

[Vykromond]

What the fuck?

[Money]

Lolololol

[Bioture]

sample convo:

Status: Connecting ...
Status: Looking for a guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: CherylM
CherylM: Welcome to ChaCha!
CherylM: Hello!
You: Hi there. I"m looking to purchase a fondue set
CherylM: OK, hold on while I find one...
You: preferably good quality. I'm willing to spend around $100
CherylM: ok
You: do you know about fondue sets? if you get a cheap one the cheese will stick to the pot
CherylM: I'm clueless about the quality of fondue pots.
You: it's a pretty good thing to have.
CherylM: Do you have a certain finish that is acceptable
You: preferably metal. unless you somehow manage to find one that's plastic
CherylM: Here's a list of the top models.
CherylM: I track a few down.
You: ooh the stainless steel one is neato
CherylM: yea... I'm getting hungry just looking!
You: do you prefer chocolate or cheese
CherylM: chocolate all the way!
You: everything tastes good with chocolate!
You: Even cheese
CherylM:
You: ok I can take it from here... thanks!
CherylM: OK have a great night!
CherylM: Please RATE ME. Thanks for using ChaCha.
Status: Session ended.

i ended up buying this one:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...src=sch&clg=35

[Vykromond]

This went on until I got tired. I guess they would have shuffled me through every single search guide they had if I had kept at it. The search was "puzzling silences in campaign speeches made by hubert humphrey." There weren't any. Not to the best of my knowledge.

Status: Connecting ...
Status: Looking for a guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: MichaelT
MichaelT: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: hello
MichaelT: Hi there, I will be your guide for this search.
You: thanks
MichaelT: Feel free to ask any questions while I perform your search.
You: do you know about any puzzling silences in campaign speeches made by hubert humphrey?
MichaelT: No I do not, but I can look it up for you.
You: thanks
You: yes i know about Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. but i have a few problems with them such as the fact that they are vile slanderers and also they don't know about any puzzling silences in hubert humphrey's campaign speeches
MichaelT: Okay, I will come up with more results.
You: thanks
You: i tried to add what information i knew to their free encyclopedia but was rebuffed
You: i guess Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. has little to no interest in important matters
MichaelT: Okay I am going to transfer you to a different Guide.
MichaelT: I cannot find anything on this.
Transfer: You are being transfered to another guide who can help you search even better!
Looking for guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: Tiffanyj
Tiffanyj: Welcome to ChaCha!
Tiffanyj: Hello
Tiffanyj: Please be more specific as to what you're looking for on this topic.
You: hi
You: i'm looking for information on any and all puzzling silences made in hubert humphrey's campaign speeches
You: that's as specific as i can be, sorry
Tiffanyj: i am sorry i dont understand what a puzzling silence could be
Tiffanyj: can you explain what that is
You: often when politicians make campaign speeches they talk with great speed and consistency of speaking tone
You: in fact i cannot think of a single politician who flouts this general rule
You: however i have it on good authority that hubert humphrey not only paused frequently in campaign speeches but puzzlingly frequently
You: i need information about any or all occurrences of such pauses
Tiffanyj: i dont mean to transfer you again but i am not finding anything that resembles what you are referring too
Tiffanyj: but i do understand what you are searching for now
You: okay
Tiffanyj: makes a lot of since i just dont know how to word that correctly
Transfer: You are being transfered to another guide who can help you search even better!
Looking for guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: ToddP
ToddP: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: hi
ToddP: Please be more specific as to what you're looking for on this topic.
You: well i'll tell you what i told Tiffanyj
Transfer: You are being transfered to another guide who can help you search even better!
Looking for guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: JenniferW
JenniferW: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: hi
Transfer: You are being transfered to another guide who can help you search even better!
Looking for guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: SandyP
SandyP: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: hi
SandyP: Hello
You: can you help me? i'm looking for any and all information on puzzling silences made by hubert humphrey in his campaign speeches
SandyP: ok i will look for you
You: thanks
Transfer: You are being transfered to another guide who can help you search even better!
Looking for guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: AprilS
AprilS: Welcome to ChaCha!
AprilS: Hello
AprilS: How are you?
You: i'm alright AprilS but i am beginning to despair of ever finding the information i'm seeking
AprilS: I am very sorry
AprilS: How can I help you?
You: i'm looking for any and all information on puzzling silences in campaign speeches made by hubert humphrey
AprilS: Ok.....let me see what I can do
AprilS: One moment please while I conduct your search for you
You: thanks
AprilS: You're welcome
(five minute pause)
You: it's okay AprilS
You: there's nothing you can do
AprilS: My apologies
You: it seems humphrey himself is behind this lack of information
You: you have a nice night
AprilS: I cant seem to find anything
AprilS: You too

Favorite bits:
* "makes a lot of since"
* When the guy asked me for more information and then cut me off by transferring to another guide
* None of them questioned that what I was looking for was totally real. Good for them I guess, customer always being right and all. I wonder if, had I gone at it for long enough, I would actually have gotten somebody old enough to remember Hubert Humphrey, who would promptly have told me to go stick my head in a bucket. Next time, maybe.

[Scurvy]

Status: Connecting ...
Status: Looking for a guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: VeletaG
VeletaG: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: thank you
VeletaG: Hello there
You: hi, i'm looking for vintage pez dispensers
VeletaG: Thanks for being patient! Rest assured I'm finding the most relevant results for your search.
You: super
You: it is probably difficult to find them...
VeletaG: still searching
You: what are you wearing?
VeletaG: one moment
You: gotcha...change into something more comfy
VeletaG: ok
You: okay?
You: still with me veleta?
VeletaG: Are these results sufficient?
You: yeah, i finished..
You: was it good for you?
VeletaG: Is there anything else on this topic I can find for you today?
VeletaG: Have a good night
VeletaG: Please RATE ME. Thanks for using ChaCha.
Status: Session ended.

[Vykromond]

Haha, you got the brush-off. Over the Internet.

[MirrorriM]

Interesting site, mine's not so creative but here it is:


Status: Connecting ...
Status: Looking for a guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: SandyP
SandyP: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: hi
SandyP: Hello
You: so how do I get a job at chacha?
SandyP: are you 18
You: yes
SandyP: you get invited by a master guide like myself
SandyP: do you live in us
You: oh, how did you become a master guide?
You: yes
SandyP: by doing searches
You: You just search the internet?
SandyP: its easy to become a master guide
SandyP: yes and find results for people
SandyP: do you have high speed internet
You: yes
You: how much does the job pay?
SandyP: ok send me your email i will have a invite sent too you
SandyP: 5-10.00 a search hour
You: (My junk email)
You: I'm not very creative with my email name, sorry
SandyP: thats ok
SandyP: you will get a email from chacha then your on your way i love it its a great job .. work from home you make up your own hours
You: ooo nice
You: how many hours do you work a day usually?
SandyP: i put in alot fulltime 10-12 hours .. but there is no set hours
You: oh wow
You: so this is your main job then
You: you must be good at finding everything!
SandyP: yes i have done over 2000 searches
SandyP: yes my only job i am a stay at home mom
You: so is there a tutorial? or do you just go to google and wikipedia and yahoo by yourself and look things up
SandyP: chacha is our search engine we use
SandyP: the people put in what there looking for then we search it
SandyP: you learn alot
You: oh. will chacha ever be free to use by people instead of someone helping them?
SandyP: you also pick keywords things that interest you thats what we train on
SandyP: it already is you can search with a guide or without
You: oh interesting
You: well thanks for the help!
SandyP: we also get our own toolbar to have people download and every time they search with it we get credit
You: very nice
SandyP: sure have a great night i will get a invite sent out
You: have a good night!
You: thanks
SandyP: Thanks for coming to chacha.. Have a great night..
SandyP: Please RATE ME. Thanks for using ChaCha.
Status: Session ended.

[Bioture]

hmm.. I might do this and make a few extra bucks while I'm at work.

[Scurvy]

i definately would want to...but you have to find a veteran guide to sponsor you, apparently....how does one go about finding that?

edit: its apparently very easy

Status: Connecting ...
Status: Looking for a guide ...
Status: Connected to guide: johns
johns: Welcome to ChaCha!
You: hi
johns: hello!:]
johns: how can i help you?
You: i'm wondering how you managed to get this job!?
You: apparently you need a reccomendation/sponsorship?
johns: haha
johns: correct.
You: i'll cam for you if you sponsor me!
johns: you need a recommenddation from a master level or higher.
You: i see..
You: well, i guess i'll look into it, thanks for clarifying
johns: wait..
You: ok
johns: lol.
johns: how old are you?
You: 18
johns: where you from?:]
You: michigan
johns: do you have yahoo messenger my brother is single and desperate haha
You: oh?
johns: hes sitting right here.
johns: im a master level.
You: i do have yahoo...
You: you are?
johns: i can send you an invitation.
You: i have yahoo...
You: but no cam on this computer...i can send pics for an invite tho
You: and talk more later
You: w/cam
johns: haha okay.
johns: you'll be talking with my brother not me.
johns: but give me an email i can reach you at.
You: sultansean@yahoo.com
johns: man..your a dude!haha
johns: sean!?
You: shawna...
You: yeah, i'm tired of that
johns: oh but its spelled sean. :]
johns: lol
You: shawn/shawna etc was taken
johns: i must be crazy even better show him some pics of you haha ill get a good laugh outa it.
johns: even with your last name in it?
johns: ill send you an invite anyways
johns: but you'll be working under me.
You: well if i had my last name in it, i wouldnt be giving it out to you
You: ok..
johns: but that just means i make a cent or two off your dollars
You:
You: well lucky you
johns: uhm.did you need me to search for anything for you tonight ma'am?
You: nope
You: just looking for some cash
johns: okay is that all?:]
You: yes, thank you
johns: ok!have a great night!
johns: Thank you for using ChaCha!
Status: Session ended.

[Bioture]

i definately would want to...but you have to find a veteran guide to sponsor you, apparently....how does one go about finding that?

just ask

[MirrorriM]

I think anyone who works for chacha is a "master guide" so just ask them like I did

[Scurvy]

i hope i dont actually have to cam for anybody...they'll be in for a suprise

[genocidal]

I'm going to have a lot of fun with this tomorrow. But tonight, Phillip Roth awaits.

[Vykromond]

10-12 hours a day? Ick.