Readers occasionally send me a prank e-mail of their own, which I usually don't run because they're overtly hostile. I'd like to run more of your letters, but flame wars strike me as annoying, not funny.

A reader in Israel named Maya sent this exchange to me, and it's got the formula for a good prank e-mail: surreality, persistence, and a willing mark. (Remember: Maya is the one pretending to be the idiot.)

Edited for readability and privacy.

From: raman@telenation.net.il
Subject: WebSurfer Message
To: maq@actcom.co.il

hi maya

my name is raman , I'm 26 .
I would love to chet by E-mail.

my interests and things I do:

*music (I play and compose , I have a home studio )
*movies ( I use to be a video editor and director )
*fantasy ( I just love legends , stories etc.)
*I do dubbing in cartoons for channel 6.
* I use to work in a local radio station (I have a low deep voice)
* now I'm working for a multi media computer comp. as a copywriter and project manager.
* and a lot of other stuff...

I'll be happy to talk about all most any thing . . .

yours truly
raman

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E-mail: raman@telenation.net.il
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From: maq@actcom.co.il
Subject: NICE, VERY NICE!
To: raman@telenation.net.il

WHY DO YU WANT US TWO CHET BYE E-MAIL.?
I DONT KNOW.
MAYA

P.S. DOO YOU LIKE KAPITAL LETERX?

From: raman@telenation.net.il
Subject: RE: NICE, VERY NICE!
To: maq@actcom.co.il

hi maya.

Did you get my message in capital letters ?

I think that talking by E-mail is fun and you get to know interesting people .

any way how old are you ?

what do you do with your life ?

raman

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E-mail: raman@telenation.net.il
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From: maq@actcom.co.il
Subject: GOOD MORNING IN ISRAEL.
To: raman@telenation.net.il

>Did you get my message in capital letters ?NO, DID YOU GET MY MASSAGE AT CAPITAL LETERX????!

>I think that talking by E-mail is fun and you get to know
>interesting people .

I THINK THAT ELEKTRONIKX-MAIL SOMETIMS PEOPLES KNOW NICE PEOPLX.

>any way how old are you ? WHY DO YOU THINK I AM OLD? THATS NOT NICE ===> A LIE!
>what do you do with your life ?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!

>ramanCAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS CALLED MAYA.

DO YOU HENDSOM? I LIKE BEAUTY OF THE OUTSIDE VERY MUCH.

P.S. DONT FORGET TO WRITE ME YOUR EMAIL (ELECTRONIC MALE] ADDDDRES SO I WILL SEND YOU A LETTERX.

ANYWAY, HOW DO YOU HAVE MY EMAIL? I DIDNT NOT GAVE IT FOR YOU! [I'M NOT ANGRY, I'M AN INTERESTIVE

From: raman@telenation.net.il
Subject: RE: GOOD MORNING IN ISRAEL.
To: maq@actcom.co.il

hi maya

when you use capital letters it is like you shout
please stop shouting at me I did nothing wrong .

>>any way how old are you ?
>WHY DO YOU THINK I AM OLD? THATS NOT NICE ===> A LIE!

how many years are you alive ? :)

>>what do you do with your life ?
>WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!

do you work , learn , or any thing else .
please tell me more about yourself.

>>raman
>CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS CALLED MAYA.

in case you didn't read what is written just above your question .
My name is raman.

>DO YOU HENDSOM? I LIKE BEAUTY OF THE OUTSIDE VERY MUCH.

I'm tall , long dark hair .
but I stat to understand a little.
that's why I want to talk over the phone.

I MAKE games.
but I have many adventure game/

yours truly

raman.

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I got it on WWW.DANNA.COM server

TFET GAMEX SOLITAIRE, HE IS SI NICE GAMEX {

>do you want to talk over the phone?

I NOT DONENT TALK WITH PEPOLX .DXW SAMAN?3&76^

DO YOU NO METo: raman@telenation.net.il

ARE YOU NICE AND, ?

>>any way how old are you
>how many years are you alive ? :)

I CANT NOT KNOW THIS QUESCHEN/ ASK THE ANSWER, WELL NICW'

>do you work , learn , or any thing else .
>please tell me more about yourself.

I AM ONE WITH WORKING LEARN NICE EVERYTHING ELS.

>in case you didn't read what is written just above your question .

WHAT DO YOU MEANS?

>if you want more details , ask.
>HOW ARE YOUU .}?
>how do you look ?

I LOOK YOU NICE, HAIR, SKIN, BLACK, MY COLOR RED, EYES!

HELLO#, BYE BYE7

MAIA

From: avcom@netvision.net.il
Subject: RE: HELO,HOW ARE YOU.
To: maq@actcom.co.il

hi maya

you have a MESS in your E_mail.

do you speak hebrew ?

hebrew:

bat kama at ? [translation: Hoe old are you?]

my name is raman , I am 26 .

raman

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E-mail: raman@telenation.net.il
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From: maq@actcom.co.il
Subject: GOOD NIGHT OF ISRAEL6%
To: raman@telenation.net.il

>hi maya

HEELOW SAMAN

>you have a MESS in your E_mail.

PLEASE DONT INSOLTING

>do you speak hebrew ?

HOW MANY LENGWITCHES DO I SP EAK? THAT WHAT YOU ASK.

>hebrew:

WHAT SI IS.,

>bat kama at ?

T HE AGEE OF MINE SI IS 18. I AM V^ERY NICE AT ENGLICH, THE BETTER OF MY CLASS.

>my name is raman , I am 26 .

ARE YOU IN HI-SCOOL.!3!?

5SI IS THAT YOUR THE ADRES? (ELEKTRONIXAL-MALE> I WONT TOO RIPLY BUT I CANT CANNOT NOT!

PSSSS....YOUR ENGLI SH, I CANT UNDERS TAN *WHITCHX I DONT HASLIKED. WHY?

From: raman@telenation.net.il
Subject: RE: GOOD NIGHT OF ISRAEL6%
To: maq@actcom.co.il

hi maya .

I'm not at high school.
I work for a computer game company.

do you want to talk over the phone?

raman

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E-mail: raman@telenation.net.il
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From: maq@actcom.co.il
Subject: GOOD NIGHT OF ISRAEL6%
To: raman@telenation.net.il

>hi maya .
>HALO..W3
>I'm not at high school.

WHY ARW YOU $%SHINK THAYT I ASKED WIIL YOU?a989

>I work for a computer game company.

WHAIT GAMEX DU EWU HAV, PACK MA N, DDOOOM AND TFET GAMEX SOLITAIRE, HE IS SI NICE GAMEX {

>do you want to talk over the phone?

I NOT DONENT TALK WITH PEPOLX .DXW SAMAN?3&76^

DO YOU NO ME

From: raman@telenation.net.il
Subject: RE: GOOD NIGHT OF ISRAEL6%
To: maq@actcom.co.il

hi maya.

it is hard for me to understand every thing you are writing.
but I stat to understand a little.
that's why I want to talk over the phone.

I MAKE games.
but I have many adventure game/

yours truly

raman.

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E-mail: raman@telenation.net.il
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