Forward Ye Not
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Don't be intimidated!
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Urban legends, scams, and practical jokes have been around long before anyone ever heard of e-mail. However, the use of the forwarding feature of e-mail has provided a tool for spreading this garbage much more easily.
I choose not to forward anything to a large number of people in my address book. Occasionally I get something that I think someone may enjoy, and I cut and paste it into an email to that person. That is the proper way to pass things on.
I very seldom forward petitions, unless I know someone who might really be interested. I certainly do not forward them to everyone in my address book. There are friends of mine who don't hold the same political views that I do. I don't want to offend them.
Here is something I did receive in my e-mail that is a humorous way of saying the same thing. I don't know who wrote this. I did edit and revise some of the items. These statements are all correct. You can check them out at the following web site:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/
1) I will NOT get bad luck, lose my friends, or lose my mailing lists if I DON'T forward an email!
2) I will NOT hear any music or see a taco dog, if I do forward an e-mail.
3) Bill Gates is NOT going to send me money, and Victoria's Secret doesn't know anything about a gift certificate they're supposed to send me
4) Ford will NOT give me a 50% discount even if I forward my e-mail to more than 50 people!
5) I will NEVER receive gift certificates, coupons, or freebies from Coca Cola, Cracker Barrel, Old Navy, or anyone else if I send an e-mail to 10 people.
6) I will never achieve virus protection by relying on warning e-mails from friends about viruses that do not even exist. The e-mail is the virus.
7) There is NO SUCH THING as an e-mail tracking program, and I am not STUPID enough to think that someone will send me $100 for forwarding an e-mail to 10 or more people!
8) There is no kid with cancer in England collecting anything through the Make-a-Wish program. He did when he was 17 years old. He is now cancer free and 35 years old and DOESN'T WANT ANY MORE POST CARDS, or GET-WELL CARDS.
9) The government does not have a bill in Congress called 901B (or whatever they named it this week) that, if passed, will enable them to charge us 5 cents for every e-mail we send.
10) There will be NO cool dancing, singing, waving, colorful flowers, characters, or program that I will receive immediately after I forward an e-mail. NONE, ZIP, ZERO, NADA.
11) The American Red Cross will NOT donate 50 cents to certain individuals dying of some never-heard-of disease for every e-mail address I send this to. The American Red Cross RECEIVES donations.
12) And finally, I WILL NOT let others make me feel guilty by telling me I am not their friend or that I don't believe in Jesus Christ if I don't forward their emails.
Now, repeat these statements to yourself until you have them memorized, or you will surely be constipated for the next three months and all of your hair will fall out. J
For further information on proper internet ettiquette, see the following web page written by yours truly:
http://www.jdweaver.com/humanint/email.htm
Copyright © Jay D Weaver - Decembeer 19, 2002
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