Political lessons from the chat room

By GENE WEINGARTEN, Washington Post

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 25, 2001

The following is excerpted from one of AOL's "hottest sites," the Britney Spears Chat Room.

You are in BRITNEY SPEARS

PumpBody14: n e hot ladies in here?

Stinqwinky: Any hott guys want to chat?

Weinpost: Anyone want to talk about George W. Bush?

FN233: Ummmm. No.

CRAZY10Guy: No.

Weinpost: anyone have any views on the issues facing the new administration?

Iamhorny18f: Any Hot Men Here I'll Strip For You on My Webcam. Click here.

Weinpost: Anyone think Geo W. Bush is a hottie?

ZCC101: Bush sucks.

Crazy10Guy: I'm from Hawaii.

Weinpost: Do you folks disagree with his politics?

ZCC101: He's a lier.

ChickDx: He's just a jerk lier wannabe. Why do you like him.

Weinpost: I don't like him, totally. I just think he's hott.

ChickDx: GROSS!!!

Weinpost: um, how old are you, Chick?

ChickDx: 14 u?

Buki7: n e one got naked pics of Spears?

Weinpost: i'm 49

ChickDx: wow

GymnastKatie2000: ewwww

Weinpost: Do you feel that Bush will have problems establishing his legitimacy, vis a vis the closeness of the election?

ChickDx has left the room.

GymnastKatie2000 has left the room.

JERaptor: n e 1 got nud pix of brit press 123

DirtyCrazyChico: You people saw her MTB Music Awards Performance? That was MAD TIGHT

Weinpost: Anyone here have any feelings about the new presidential administration of Geo W. Bush?

Angerrelated: WASSSSUUUUP

Jmaster96: I like feet.

Weinpost: I like George W. Bush and compassionate conservatism. Any takers?

MagicCircle449: this room sucks who seriosly likes Brittney here?

StoneColdsGirlie: Britney Spears is a hoochie.

Weinpost: Is Richard Cheney a hottie?

Scoobdoo1fan: no he is an old guy

Scoobdoo1fan: he's like 58.

Weinpost: Do you trust Cheney as the number two guy?

Scoobdoo1fan: I dont trust Cheny.

Scoobdoo1fan: Or whatever his name is.

Scoobdoo1fan: I hate bush and gore.

Weinpost: Why, Scoobs?

Scoobdoo1fan: bush wants to make it illegal to have an aborshone

Samkam1209: Gore tries bush lies

Scoobdoo1fan: And Gore wants us not to have cars.

Weinpost: NO CARS?????

Scoobdoo1fan: For the enviornment

Slyfox1988: WWWWAAAZZZZUUUUPPPP!!!!

JERaptor: ne 1 got nude pix of brit press 123

Cutiepie19545: this is a weird question but does anyone know what hospital britney was born in?

Weinpost: Do you believe in compassionate conservatism?

Scoobdoo1fan: I don't know what it is

Weinpost: Me neither!

Biznatchboy96: who thinks Britney iz hot?

Weinpost: Scoobs, do you like Britney?

Scoobdoo1fan: ya

Weinpost: Do you like George W. Bush?

Scoobdoo1fan: no

Weinpost: Do you like Scooby Doo?

Scoobdoo1fan: i used to. I like the grincg now

Weinpost: grincg?

Scoobdoo1fan: grinch. sry. bad spellar.

Weinpost: Are you concerned by the effects of this election on the nation?

Scoobdoo1fan: i stayed up all that night watching them get the polls from the states.

Weinpost: me too!

Scoobdoo1fan: i turned it in for extra credit.

Weinpost: uh, how old are you?

Scoobdoo1fan: 13/f/az.

Weinpost: what do your parents do?

PimpadelicMan: Hey, whats going on in here

McnacLeah: any girls want to give me their honest opinion of my pic? IM me.

Scoobdoo1fan: my mom is a nurse. i dont live with my dad

Weinpost: What is the most important issue facing the new administration?

Scoobdoo1fan: sorry i dont know what that means

Weinpost: OK, what is your biggest worry? Personal worry, in your life.

Scoobdoo1fan: dieing.

CHAd 1 MuSkA: britany spears is hot!

Scoobdoo1fan: or my dog passing away and my mom dieing.

Weinpost: What is your dog's name?

KrOnIcpLaYeR: Any fine gurlz want to talk 2 a 15/m brown hair brown eyes 5'5?

Scoobdoo1fan: peanut.

Weinpost: Scoob, do you think we need a more conservative approach in government?

Scoobdoo1fan: no

Weinpost: Why?

Scoobdoo1fan: Ppl might rebel.

Papakorn Jim: hey, scoobdoo1fan, want to chat?

Scoobdoo1fan: in a lil bit K?

Papakorn Jim: K.

Weinpost: Rebel? How?

Scoobdoo1fan: Well they might move and how would the US pay for itself then

Bfavre141: 16/f fu want nude brit spears pics IM em now

Weinpost: Whoa. Good point. If the govt is too strict people will leave. Erode the tax base. Where will they go?

Scoobdoo1fan: France

Weinpost: Could be. So you think Bush should sort of pretend to be liberal to keep people happy?

Scoobdoo1fan: he could.

Weinpost: What would be a good first step?

Scoobdoo1fan: help homeles ppl

Weinpost: Good plan. Think it will happen?

Scoobdoo1fan: no

SwTa2nRyCeLuVr17: Britney is like my computer.

Weinpost: why not?

Scoobdoo1fan: Becus the US doesn't care i think

SwTa2nRyCeLuVr17: Cheap and plastic.

Scoobdoo1fan: theyd probly say

Scoobdoo1fan: look its ur fault

Scoobdoo1fan: get a job

Iamhorny18f: Any Hot Men Here.

Scoobdoo1fan: brb

Weinpost: brb?

Scoobdoo1fan: Be right back. I think my jello is done

Papakorn Jim: Do you think Britney really likes Justin?

Marie86877459984: ya

Papakorn Jim: i dont

Scoobdoo1fan: she IS going out w/ him. duh?

Weinpost: if i could get one message to George W Bush from Scoobs, what should I tell him?

Scoobdoo1fan: take some time get used to being the prez dont rush into things

Weinpost: good advice

Scoobdoo1fan: and dont be mean remeber the homeles its not there fault

Supercow5688: Britney Spears has fake ones but theyre still nice.

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