A SCAM FUNNY
By John Abbott (Bentsen Grove Computer Club)
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
the Good Times virus, 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:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org
~ Symantec Anti Virus Research Center:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
~ McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List:
http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp
~ The Urban Legends Web Site:
http://www.urbanlegends.com
~ Urban Legends Reference Pages:
http://www.snopes.com
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:
http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
~ Evaluation of Information Sources:
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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