Published November 24, 1999
How wondrously blessed are we! Let’s count them all, with a computer, “of curse.” Anyone still remember how to use an abacus?
Information and communications sharing via the common connectivity thread of the Internet is a blessing incomparable to any other human experience, thus far. It flows unbounded and unchecked: no postage and no censorship.
Anyone can send any message easily, for any purpose. The only imposition is responsibility, and effective messaging cries for courtesy. The written word isn’t always truthful.
Distributing a message that is known to be deceptive or misleading is not illegal, nor should it be made a crime. However, recognizing falsehoods is a personal skill worth developing. Someone else’s cause need not be our own, nor are we expected to cooperate by disseminating their message. Here are a few examples of Email hoaxes:
“Congress to vote on long distance charges to access Internet. They are pulling a fast-one. Another of those quiet bills being pushed through Congress will come back to bite us later. Reply to this now or pay higher phone bills in the future. Congress is voting in less than two weeks. CNN stated that the government would allow a charge to your phone bill equal to a long distance call each time you accessed the Internet. Act now.”
Superficially, it sounds compelling however doesn’t ring true. A complete check of the facts reveals a total falsehood. The experienced Email user wants verification: in this instance, the CNN’s story, the official House of Representatives bill, its number, the committee that is considering the issue and their members’ names.
The Web addresses are missing, and the author’s name and return Email address is not intact. The omissions are further suspicion of content inaccuracy or worse. “Two weeks” from when?—alerts the reader to ask for more information. No responsible net-citizen would forward this unverifiable Email to their friends and business contacts.
Typically you’ll read: “Forward this message to everyone you know to prevent this injustice from happening.” The sender’s responsibility is to supply sources, not for the recipient to expend time researching it. Almost all “Email Alerts” are hoaxes.
About three years ago the FCC rejected the telco’s petition for by-the-minute Internet-use tariffs. Unlike Europe, Asia and the rest of the world, the U.S. is fortunate to pay a flat rate for local calls.
Does the unsolicited Email sounds real or a bit phony? Is it missing legitimate markers? Ask the sender for more information or send an inquiry to the author of the original message. If it returns to you (bounces) undeliverable, then it is unworthy of your time; delete it.
Then along came a car-giveaway, supposedly from Honda. The submission form was to be forwarded to your friends (?) not to Honda. “You will be credited with $200 for each one who also submits their applications at this fabulous offer.” No such promotion.
“This is no hoax.,” the hoaxing Email states. “I thought it might be too good to be true too,” writes the unknown person, “so I called Honda’s headquarters in Japan and spoke to an American representative there, and they assure me it’s the real thing.”
Sorry. This is absolutely ridiculous. Just saying “it’s the real thing,” doesn’t make it ligitimate. There is no purpose to pass it on “just in case it’s true.” Where’s the validation?
Big companies don’t do business via chain letter! Disney is not giving away free vacations, and Bill Gates is definitely not giving away a thousand dollars.
Plutonium was not spewed over populated eastern seaboard when a hush-hush NASA rocket exploded, revealed in an AOL chain-letter.
Craig Shergold in England is not a “little boy” dying of cancer. He urgently requests everyone dispense with sending their business cards to him.
There is no baby food company issuing class-action checks. Neiman Marcus doesn’t sell a $200 cookie recipe. And, there is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans, even if a friend of a friend swears it happened to their neighbor. The National Kidney Foundation repeatedly issued requests for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward. None have.
There is no U.S. Postal Service attempt to bilk Email users out of “alternate postage fees.” There is no such thing as a “Bill 602P,” and no congressman named Schnell. The U.S. Postal Service has no authority to surcharge Email messages sent over the Internet, nor would it support such legislation. There is no technical way for the Federal Govt. to charge an ISP for each Email delivered. The ridiculousness of such pretense is boundless.
Corresponding with your senator or representative about a non-issue derogates from their real work, and solicits a Cry Wolf reaction. The congressman’s representative will ask for specifics, identity of the people, departments or authorities.
And, there is no “Good Times” virus. Most virus warning Emails are fraudulent. The real ones come unannounced. Two valid sources that track virii online are: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/ and http://www.arac.com.
Please do NOT pass-on questionable material. Everyone’s first obligation should be respect to other’s time and attention.
See part 2 next week of Blessed Net, Cursed Email