I thought I put an attachment but I don't see it-max
so here it is
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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 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, E-Mail viruses, taxes on modems, and get-rich-quick
schemes [perhaps conspiracy theories should be included here].
"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 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 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
* Rob Rosenberger's "Reality Check on viruses" at
http://www.kumite.com/myths * Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability
at
http://HoaxBusters.ciac.org/ * The Urban Legends Web Site at
http://www.urbanlegends.com * The Stiller Research virus hoax page at:
http://www.stiller.com/hoaxes.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.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm * Evaluation of Information Sources at
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm * Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources at
http://www.lib.vt.edu/research/libinst/evalbiblio.html 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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Forward this message 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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