ROFLMFFAO!!!! Nice!
On Tue, 26 Sep 2000, Renaud OLGIATI wrote:
>
> ***********************************************************************
> 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 same stories 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
> <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/hoax.html>
>
> * McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at
> <http://www.mcafee.com/support/hoax.html>
>
> * Dr. Solomons Hoax Page at
> <http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/hoax.html>
>
> * The Urban Legends Web Site at
> <http://www.urbanlegends.com>
>
> * Urban Legends Reference Pages at
> <http://www.snopes.com>
>
> * Datafellows Hoax Warnings at
> <http://www.Europe.Datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm>
>
> * Computer Virus Myths home page at
> <http://www.kumite.com/myths>
>
> * IBM - antivirus online hype alerts at
> <http://www.av.ibm.com/BreakingNews/HypeAlert/>
>
> * NCSA/ICSA Main Menu
> <http://www.ncsa.com/services/consortia/anti-virus/alerthoax.html>
>
> Hoaxes and myths on the Internet:
>
> * Evaluating Internet Research Sources at
> <http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm>
>
> * Evaluation of Information Sources at
> <http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm>
>
> * Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources at
> <http://refserver.lib.vt.edu/libinst/critTHINK.HTM>
>
> * Don't Spread that Hoax!
> <http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/index.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.
>
>
>
> On Tue, 26 Sep 2000, Gavin wrote:
> > To the House of Mandrake,
> > I'm sending you this message from Japan which was sent to me by my brother in Az.
> > This letter has nothing to do with mandrake, but for some of you who still use
>windows, Please
> > take heed in this letter and don't let it happen to you, as of now I don't know if
>it will affect linux or not
> > but I'm sending it anyway..
> <snip>
>
--
peace,
Rog
http://www.slammingrooves.com
