---------- : Date: Sunday, November 30, 1997 10:22:19 : From: THE.DUKE a.k.a. Perrin : To: Biscuit; my_bath_tub@innocence.com; parcha@hotmail.com; Jeff Crandall : (work); deanna@keylink.net; cjensen@smtplink.rockford.edu; yablo@hotmail.com; : Doug; Here; Denise; flood69@hotmail.com; Goddess; Guipe; : nailbomb666@hotmail.com; pierre@netins.net; jewlie@nwiowa.com; : mansonswonka@hotmail.com; jonesy@mindless.com; Luvdust; Me; Wales; Nick; : Nicole; philip@infospeedway.net; khanshaw@mindspring.com; Ryan; Sara Wilson; : shandave@hotmail.com; tabnit@hotmail.com; thetigress_@hotmail.com; Tom : Tindell; Tony Ortega; Yankee1428@aol.com; wrightk@tron.cochise.cc.az.us : Subject: Virus Warning!! IMPORTANT!!!! : : : : -------------------------------------------------------------------- : **************************************************************** : 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 [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 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 : <a href=http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html>here</a> : : * Symantec Anti Virus Research Center at : <a : href=http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html>here</a> : : * McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at : <a href=http://www.mcafee.com/support/hoax.html>here</a> : : * Dr. Solomons Hoax Page at : <a : href=http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/hoax.html>here</a> : : * The Urban Legends Web Site at : <a href=http://www.urbanlegends.com>here</a> : : * Urban Legends Reference Pages at : <a href=http://www.snopes.com>here</a> : : * Datafellows Hoax Warnings at : <a : href=http://www.Europe.Datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm>here</a> : : 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 : <a : href=http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm>here</a> : : * Evaluation of Information Sources at : <a : href=http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm>here</a> : : * Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources at : <a : href=http://refserver.lib.vt.edu/libinst/critTHINK.HTM>here</a> : : 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.) : : ***************************************************************** : ACT NOW! DON'T DELAY! LIMITED TIME! NOT SOLD IN ANY STORE : ***************************************************************** : : : : ______________________________________________________ : Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com :