Warning!!! Gullibility Virus!!!!
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, E-Mail 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 virus,' 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 e-mail, 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
* Rob Rosenberger's "Reality Check on viruses" at
http://www.kumite.com/myths
* Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability at
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/
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:
*The Urban Legends Reference Pages at
http://www.snopes.com
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.
Forward this message 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.)
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The four steps of coping with e-mail rumors
Jim Norton | csmonitor.com
As the hype mounts, and more and more of us find ourselves on the receiving
end of war-related rumors and hype, it's likely most of us will go through
an evolution of attitude eerily similar to Dr. Elisabeth KÃ*bler-Ross's
famous stages of dying.
Step 1: Acceptance
The recipient is deeply moved by the online effort to [insert one] prevent
World War III / spread the true prophecies of Nostradamus / win a free trip
to
Disneyland, and participates by passing the email along to 40 or 50
close friends and relatives.
Step 2: Anger
Having been the victim of a near-infinite number of previous dubious
communiques, the recipient lashes out at the most recent e-mail's point of
origin. "How can you be so incredibly foolish as to fall for a scam such is
this?" rages the recipient, who, at one point or another, was probably
shocked to learn that the initials "JS" on every US dime actually stand for
"Josef Stalin."
Step 3: Irony
"Thanks for passing along the fascinating e-mail about Nostradamus," begins
a typical reply. "Who knew that his wise words could be so relevant in this
modern day and age? I'm sure you've done your research to ensure he
actually wrote all the things this e-mail claims he did, and that you've
accepted the disturbing and ridiculous spiritual implications of a random
14th century Frenchman being able accurately predict the future.
I look forward to many more unsolicited nuisance emails from you and your
ilk."
Step 4: Acceptance (realistic)
The recipient reads the email, sighs poignantly, and deletes it before
moving on with life.
(Article includes obligatory snopes.com links.)
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