http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/school/syfrett.asp
has this to say about Shannon Syfrett's science project: <quote> This umpteenth variation of the "message in a bottle" school project is prone to the same basic problem as all the others: the people who initiate them don't anticipate the tremendous volume of e-mail these projects generate, and most of the replies sent by respondents end up bouncing when the recipients' mailboxes overflow their allotted limits. AOL's mailbox limits are not particularly high, so much of the mail sent to the address listed above is returned to sender; even worse, the bounce message makes it appear that the account is a non-existent one: <end of quote> It's always good to check this sort of thing out with a good urban legends website before passing it on. My personal favorite is www.snopes.com. Rosalind Nelson Bancroft neighborhood Andy Driscoll wrote: > > >From a friend regarding the student email project: > > Just a quick response, Andy: In the past, these have been hoaxes, with > the specific (and highly effective) intent and ability to bring systems > at schools, in communities, and at internet service providers to a > screeching halt, simply by being completely overwhelmed with volume. In > addition, the problems can persist for months and months as the info is > circulated and re-circulated. I first saw one of these several years ago > and then the subsequent panics and system crashes -- so my advice, esp > w/a ridiculously generic name like "Central Academy" w/no location info, > etc., and an AOL (vs. school) acct, is to delete it as fast you you can, > and if you've sent it to lots of others, to advise them to do the same. > > Some of us on this and other lists, including my own, have bitten. > > Andy Driscoll > Saint Paul > -------- > What does it matter to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless whether the > mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy > name of liberty or democracy? � Mahatma Ghandi > > TEMPORARY REMINDER: > 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. > 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. > > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
