Subject: Gullibility Virus alert (fwd)
******************************************************************
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 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.
D.S. 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, D.S. 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
[12]Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability
[13]Symantec Anti Virus Research Center
[14]McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List
[15]Dr. Solomons Hoax Page
[16]The Urban Legends Web Site
[17]Urban Legends Reference Pages
[18]Datafellows Hoax Warnings
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 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
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.
**********************************************************************
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.)
**********************************************************************
