E-MAIL USERS, READ THIS!

 

1.      Big companies don't do business via chain letters. Bill Gates is not  giving you $1000, and Disney is not giving you a free vacation.  There  is no baby food company issuing class-action checks. Procter and Gamble is not part of a satanic cult or scheme, and its logo is not satanic. MTV will not give you backstage passes if you forward something to the most people. You can relax; there is no need to pass it on "just in case it's true". Furthermore, just because someone said in a message, four generations back, that "we checked it out and it's legit", does not actually make it true.      

 

2.      There is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans. No one is waking up in a bathtub full of ice, even if a friend of a friend swears it happened to his or her cousin. If you are bent on believing the kidney-theft ring stories, see http://urbanlegends.tqn.com /library/weekly/aa062997.htm  And I quote: "The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued   requests for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell   their stories. None have." That's "none" as in "zero". Not even your   friend's cousin.   

 

3.      . Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. And even if  they do, we all have it. And even if you don't, you can get a copy at:  http://www.bl.net/forwards/cookie.html Then, if you make the recipe,  decide the cookies are that awesome, feel free to pass the recipe on.   

 

4.       If the latest NASA rocket disasters DID contain plutonium that was  blown into particulate matter over the eastern seaboard, do you REALLY  think this information would reach the public via an AOL chain letter?   

 

5.      . There is no "Good Times" virus. In fact, you should never, ever,  ever forward any email containing any virus warning unless you first  confirm it with an actual site of an actual company that actually deals  with viruses. Try: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html   And even then, don't forward it. If a virus warning doesn't come from your technology support person IGNORE IT!    

 

6.      . There is no gang initiation plot to murder any motorist who flashes  headlights at another car driving at night without lights.   

 

7.      If you still absolutely MUST forward that 10th-generation message  from a friend, at least have the decency to trim the eight miles of  headers showing everyone else who's received it over the last 6 months.  It sure wouldn't hurt to get rid of all the ">" that begin each line  either. Besides, if it has gone around that many times we've probably  already seen it.   

 

8.       Craig Shergold (or Sherwood, or Sherman, etc.) in England is not  dying of cancer or anything else at this time and would like everyone to stop sending him their business cards. He apparently is no longer a  "little boy" either.   

 

9.       The "Make a Wish" foundation is a real organization doing fine  work, but they have had to establish a special toll free hot line in  response to the large number of Internet hoaxes using their good name  and reputation. It is distracting them from the important work they do.   

 

10.  If you are one of those insufferable idiots who forwards anything  that "promises" something bad will happen if you "don't," then something bad will happen to you if tech support ever meets you in a dark alley.    

 

11. Women really are suffering in Afghanistan, and PBS and NEA funding are still vulnerable to attack (although not at the present time) but forwarding an e-mail won't help either cause in the least. If you want to help, contact your local legislative representative, or get in touch  with Amnesty International or the Red Cross. As a general rule, e-mail  "signatures" are easily faked and mean nothing to anyone with any power  to do anything about whatever the competition is complaining about.  (P.S.: There is no bill pending before Congress that will allow long  distance companies to charge you for using the Internet.)      

 

12. Bottom Line... composing e-mail or posting something on the Net is  as easy as writing on the walls of a public restroom. Don't  automatically believe it until it's proven false... ASSUME it's false,  unless there is proof that it's true.                                             : )  Keep On Smilin! : )