Archive for July 28th, 2009

Password recovery is like a memory test

July 28th, 2009



It has been about a week that I have not checked my personal inbox. Every time I try to log into it, the email service provider asks me whether I have forgotten my password. My reply to it is always no because I am sure that I have a good memory. However, this reply fails to convince the email service provider. He wants to personally test whether I have a good memory or not. So he gives me a memory test whenever I try to log into my email account.

Unfortunately, the test used by it is appropriate to test patience rather than memory. I type a different password than the one which I thought was correct and the email service provider happily rejects it. This continues until the email service provider who is griped by Harry Potter fever sends me to the password recovery wizard.

The wizard asks me several questions. I am able to reply all of them correctly. However, the wizard does not like my mother's maiden name. He is adamant that he will handover the keys of my inbox only after I tell him my mother's maiden name.

I have tried several permutations and combinations but as far as I can remember, my mother has only one maiden name. I have tried to convince the wizard to ask me another question such as what is my birthdate? However, the wizard wants me to change my mother's maiden name. I can't do that without my mother's permission and I don't think she will allow me do it so that I access my inbox.

This has led to a creation of deadlock between us. However, solutions emerge when people talk. To get us talking I tried an icebreaker that I was taught during a management game. However, the icebreaker failed to work its magic because the wizard is not a person.

The failure of icebreaker has killed my hope of obtaining back the keys of my email account. The sad part is that I don't have anyone to blame for it.

To sum up

My inbox has become like my room. Its has got my name on it but I have no idea what lies in it.
 

 






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