psychoceramics: WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER AND BEWARE!

[Room 101 <room101 @ teleport.com>]

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            WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE!
            Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!
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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 samestories if told to them by a
stranger on a streetcorner."  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.

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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.)

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     ACT NOW!  DON'T DELAY!  LIMITED TIME!  NOT SOLD IN ANY STORE!

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