Why you don't believe everything you encounter on the internet

robert zellmer zellmer.1 at osu.edu
Mon Jun 25 22:49:54 EDT 2018


Awhile back I was looking at a page at a web site (Tutorvista) covering 
acid-base titrations.
I found a number of mistakes, on the first page or two alone.  A "chat" 
window opened asking
if I needed help.  The following is a copy of the "conversation". I'm 
"guest" in red and "their"
responses are in blue.  I put "their" in quotes because I believe it was 
a "bot" responding with
automated responses.  Either that or it really wasn't someone you would 
want answering
your questions.

Note, I even identified myself as "Dr." Robert Zellmer so they would 
realize I wasn't a student.
Initially their responses came w/in a few seconds of me sending my info 
but then lengthened
when it didn't know quite how to respond.  I even asked a nonsensical 
question and it took
quite awhile to answer telling me to call.  I continued on since they 
check these files, hoping
someone might contact me but they never did.

I found it somewhat amusing at the time but troublesome as well.  I 
thought you could maybe
use a laugh while studying.

Dr. Zellmer

*
*Welcome to TUTORVISTA !*
Type your question in chat window below.
[ 11:51:55 PM ] Guest : I'm looking at your site about acid-base 
titrations and there are several errors. Just so you know I'm a Senior 
Lecturer in Chemistry at The Ohio State University. Who should I contact 
about the errors on this page, and there are many.

[ 11:51:57 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Hello, I am your Academic Counselor 
and will help you. May I please know your name?
[ 11:52:43 PM ] Guest : Dr. Robert Zellmer
[ 11:52:46 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Which grade and subject are you 
looking for help in?
[ 11:53:36 PM ] : I don't need help. I'm a senior lecturer in Chemistry 
at Ohio State University and have been teaching for 24 years. I don't 
think you read my initial message.
[ 11:53:40 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Do you need help with your Homework 
or help with a Test?
[ 11:54:33 PM ] : I'm eating spaghetti right now.
[ 11:55:26 PM ] : Do not know how to respond now?
[ 11:56:10 PM ] : Are you still there?
[ 11:56:31 PM ] Acad Coordinator : You can call us on our toll free 
number 1-855-666-7440
[ 11:56:48 PM ] : And they will help you further .
[ 11:57:57 PM ] Guest : I don't need help. I'm trying to help your site 
correct many errors you have on your acid-base titration help page. 
Perhaps your staff can contact me at the Ohio State University so they 
can fix the errors on your site.
[ 11:58:18 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Thank you.
[ 11:58:51 PM ] : We will look into that. and take those wrong equations 
down from our website.
[ 12:01:58 AM ] Guest : It is not just equations. Actually, I didn't 
even get that far. There were too many errors on the first page alone 
for me to continue. When I saw someone trying to chat I decided to let 
you know there were problems. The problems are so extensive and bad I 
can't imagine telling anyone of your site. I just thought someone might 
want to know what the problems are. Thanks for your time. If anyone is 
truly interested in fixing things it would be very easy for you to 
contact me.
*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.osu.edu/pipermail/cbc-chem1220/attachments/20180625/5200e4aa/attachment-0001.html>


More information about the cbc-chem1220 mailing list