Don't Let the Gullibility Virus
Invade Your Internet Experience

If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
If the need of the sender pulls your heartstrings, it doesn't necessarily have to be true.
Just because email is free (mostly), doesn't mean that you can (or should) pass everything you get along to friends and strangers.

Although in a lighthearted vein, the underlying message here is serious and the recommended web sites are real (and useful).

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.

"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 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 on-line help from many sources, including:

• Symantec Anti Virus Research Center
  
• Urban Legends Reference Pages
  

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 Sources
  
• Evaluating Internet Resources
  

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:

Lastly, as a public service, Internet users can help stamp out the Gullibility Virus by sending this web address to anyone who forwards them a hoax.

Now, if there is even the slightess doubt in your mind about whether you have contracted the Gullibility Virus, check out Dave's Ultimate Urban Legand.

SPKN.net: Spokane on the 'Net