Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 15:24:46
Subject: Re: WARNING...
From: SUPRDAVE@aol.com
Reply to author   Post followup (list members only)   Back to index   Subscribe to the mailing list   Unsubscribe from the list  

::stupid warning forwarded by a dumbass aoloser snipped::

********************************************************************

WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE!
Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!

********************************************************************

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 inbox 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, email viruses, taxes on modems, and
get-rich-quick schemes

"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 samestories if told
to them by a
stranger on a streetcorner." 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 Hoaxees
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 email, 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

* Symantec Anti Virus Research Center at

* McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at

* Dr. Solomons Hoax Page at

* The Urban Legends Web Site at

DB Young ICQ: 29427634
view the computers of yesteryear at
http://members.aol.com/suprdave/classiccmp/museum.htm

--You can lead a whore to Vassar, but you can't make her think--

Reply to author   Post followup (list members only)   Back to index   Subscribe to the mailing list   Unsubscribe from the list  



Forums at Moped2.org Privacy policy
Moped2.org Home My other sites

Home   Contact
Wikipedia Affiliate Button