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Internet concerns (fwd)
Poster: Elizabeth Urbanik <eurbanik@vsla.edu>
According to Terry Dawson:
> From owner-LIBADMIN@list.umaryland.edu Tue Jan 13 10:42:18 1998
> Message-Id: <3.0.4.32.19980113093101.00706d74@apl.org>
> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 09:31:01 -0600
> Sender: owner-libadmin@list.umaryland.edu
> Precedence: bulk
> From: Terry Dawson <tdawson@apl.org>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <libadmin>
> Subject: Internet concerns
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>
> PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY!!
>
>
> **********************************************************
> 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
>
> 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
>
> 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
>
> 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.
> ( Where are those BLUE LINKS???....I NEED THOSE BLUE LINKS!! )
>
> **********************************************************
> 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.)
> **********************************************************
Have a great day!
Elenore Spyrling
--
-----
Elizabeth Urbanik, Cataloger
Pittsylvania County Library
Chatham, VA
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