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 that 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 Hoaxes 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/%7Eagsmith/evaln/evaln.htm
Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources at
http://refserver.lib.vt.edu/libinst/critTHINK.HTM
It *is* possible to design responsible alerts for people to circulate on
the Internet. Here is a how-to that draws positive conclusions from long
experience with the evils of badly designed alerts:
Designing Effective Action Alerts for the Internet at
http://weber.ucsd.edu/%7Epagre/alerts.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.
__________________________________________________________
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! Lots!! For every message that 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.)
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