Renee,
Thanks for this - not so much re the virus as I'm not sure there will be a
global cure - but I do appreciate the refs for critical analysis of info, I
found them very useful. This should be a topic taught at the same time as
"how to use the internet" courses. I am sending this to a few friends and
my nieces with the virus!!!! Lynda
>From: Renee Cordrey <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: physio listserv <[log in to unmask]>,
>"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>,
>"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: About hoaxes and virus alerts
>Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 13:11:17 -0700
>
>I recently received this, and chuckled. It does have some good information
>in
>it, though, so I am sending it on since there have been a rash of virus
>alerts recently.
>
>Renee
> >
> > 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 In Box 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,
> > 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 stated, "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 3 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
> >
> >
> > * 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 stampout 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.
> >
> >
> > -not sure of the authenticity of this warning,
> > since it came without six pages of address
> > headers indicating how much it had already
> > been distributed.
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