> Unfortunately there are many
> bogus chain letters being circulated in the internet by
> sick people.
>
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WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE!
Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!
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WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Institute for the Investigation
of Irregular Internet Phenomena announced today that
many Internet users are becoming infected by a new virus
that causes them to believe without question every
groundless story, legend, and dire warning that shows
up in their In Box or on their browser.
The Gullibility Virus, as it is called, apparently
makes people believe and forward copies of silly
hoaxes relating to cookie recipes, E-Mail viruses,
taxes on modems, postcards for child cancer research
and the merits of melanza.
"These are not just readers of tabloids or people who
buy lottery tickets based on fortune cookie numbers,"
a spokesman said. "Most are otherwise normal people,
who would laugh at the same stories if told to them by
a stranger on a street corner." However, once these
same people become infected with the Gullibility Virus,
they believe anything they read on the Internet.
"My immunity to tall tales and bizarre claims is all
gone," reported one weeping victim. "I believe every
warning message and sick child story my friends forward
to me, even though most of the messages are anonymous."
Another victim, now in remission, added, "When I first
heard about Good Times, I just accepted it without question.
After all, there were dozens of other recipients on the mail
header, so I thought the virus must be true." It was a long
time, the victim said, before she could stand up at a Hoaxes
Anonymous meeting and state, "My name is Jane, and I've been
hoaxed." Now, however, she is spreading the word. "Challenge
and check whatever you read," she says.
Internet users are urged to examine themselves for
symptoms of the virus, which include the following:
* the willingness to believe improbable stories
without thinking
* the urge to forward multiple copies of such
stories to others
* a lack of desire to take three minutes to check
to see if a story is true
T. C. is an example of someone recently infected. He
told one reporter, "I read on the Net that the major
ingredient in almost all shampoos makes your hair fall
out, so I've stopped using shampoo." When told about
the Gullibility Virus, T. C. said he would stop reading
e-mail, so that he would not become infected.
Anyone with symptoms like these is urged to seek help
immediately. Experts recommend that at the first feelings
of gullibility, Internet users rush to their favorite
search engine and look up the item tempting them to
thoughtless credence. Most hoaxes, legends, and tall
tales have been widely discussed and exposed by the
Internet community.
Courses in critical thinking are also widely available,
and there is online help from many sources, including
* Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability at
<http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html
<http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html>>
* Symantec Anti Virus Research Center at
<http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html
<http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html>>
* McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at
<http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp <http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp>>
* Dr. Solomons Hoax Page at
<http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/vanalyse/va005.cfm
<http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/vanalyse/va005.cfm>>
* AltaVista's Urban Legends Web Page at
<http://dir.altavista.com/Society/Urban_Legends/29037.shtml
<http://dir.altavista.com/Society/Urban_Legends/29037.shtml>>
* Urban Legends Reference Pages at
<http://www.snopes.com <http://www.snopes.com>>
* Datafellows Hoax Warnings at
<http://www.Europe.Datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm
<http://www.Europe.Datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm>>
Those people who are still symptom free can help
inoculate themselves against the Gullibility Virus
by reading some good material on evaluating sources,
such as
* Evaluating Internet Research Sources at
<http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm
<http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm>>
* Evaluation of Information Sources at
<http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm
<http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm>>
Lastly, as a public service, Internet users can help
stamp out the Gullibility Virus by sending copies of
this message to anyone who forwards them a hoax.
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This message is so important, we're sending it anonymously!
Forward it to all your friends right away! Don't think
about it! This is not a chain letter! This story is true!
Don't check it out! This story is so timely, there is no
date on it! This story is so important, we're using lots
of exclamation points! For every message you forward to
some unsuspecting person, the Home for the Hopelessly
Gullible will donate ten cents to itself. (If you wonder
how the Home will know you are forwarding these messages
all over creation, you're obviously thinking too much.)
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ACT NOW! DON'T DELAY! LIMITED TIME! NOT SOLD IN ANY STORE!
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