# File linkbot.rb, line 76
   def getResponse input
     r = "Default response."

     puts "[link] input==#{input}" unless not $DEBUG

     if input =~ /#{@MY_NAME}[:, ]*(.*)/
       input = process $1
       #puts "[link] input==#{input}" unless not $DEBUG

       if input =~ /^help/ then return help end
     end

     # filter input

     if input =~ /(\w{60,})/
       puts "[link - WORD LENGTH EXCEEDED]"
       return "#{$1} is too long"
     end
     if input =~ /http:\/\//
       puts "[link - URL SKIPPED]"
       #return "Url skipped"

       return '' 
     end
     if input.size > 300
       puts "[link - INPUT LENGTH EXCEEDED]"
       return "Input is too long."
     end
     if input =~ /\001ACTION/
       puts "[link - skipping ACTION]"
       #return "ACTION skipped."

       return '' 
     end
     if input =~ /\%/ then return "Illegal character" end

     @patterns.each { |pattern|
       if input =~ pattern[0]
          r2 = self.send(pattern[1], pattern[0], input) #rescue r2 = r

          puts "[link - #{Time.now}:1] output==#{r2}" unless not $DEBUG
          return r2
       end
     }
     puts "[link - #{Time.now}:2] output==#{r}" unless not $DEBUG
     return r
   end