I keep double-taking here: "vixen" is also the name of one of the
characters assumed by lambdabot, an IRC bot (a human-impersonating
program, a bit like Eliza) on the #haskell channel. Sample
conversation follows:
<poetix> @vixen Do you like poetry?
<lambdabot>yeah, i like
<poetix> @vixen Do you prefer modernist poetry, or the romantics?
<lambdabot> i think you know the answer to that one, silly
<poetix> @vixen OK - are you a big fan of Jeremy Prynne?
<lambdabot> yes, i am
<poetix> @vixen Wicked! So can you tell me what he's on about, then?
<lambdabot> i dunno, what about?
<poetix> @vixen What's the White Stones about, for example?
<lambdabot> first you tell me.
<poetix> @vixen I would if I could! I hoped you might be able to help
<lambdabot> what if i don't?
<poetix> @vixen Well, then the mystery remains
<lambdabot> who's to say?
<poetix> @vixen Exactly. An impermeable enigma.
<lambdabot> first you tell me.
<poetix> @vixen But what about Keats? Do you like Keats?
<lambdabot> what about me?
<poetix> @vixen Oh! - you write poetry?
<lambdabot> let's don't talk about that
<poetix> @vixen Don't be coy
<lambdabot> no
<poetix> @vixen I bet your poetry is really good
<lambdabot> nope, i'm bad
<poetix> @vixen There's no such thing as bad poetry
<lambdabot> no?
<poetix> @vixen Just write what you feel, as Philip Sidney said
<lambdabot> why don't you guess?
<poetix> @vixen Apart from Brian Patten, obviously. He makes me sick!
<lambdabot> let's don't talk about that
<poetix> @vixen All poetry is good, as long as it's sincere
<lambdabot> sincerity is good
<poetix> @vixen And sincerity in poetry is the best kind of sincerity!
<lambdabot> yes
<poetix> @vixen So have you written any poems lately?
<lambdabot> no
<poetix> @vixen Bit of a dry patch?
<lambdabot> nevermind about that
<poetix> @vixen I understand. Perhaps I can help to inspire you?
<lambdabot> me?
<poetix> @vixen I'm sure I can give you some sort of creative stimulus
<lambdabot> i guessed that
<poetix> @vixen Perhaps I could be your muse
<lambdabot> who's to say?
<poetix> @vixen Your place or mine?
<lambdabot> is that really what you want to know?
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