Why Do People...
 

...continue to pass on useless e-mail chain letters/messages? I'm referring to the kind that says you will get money or gifts if you pass this on to a certain number of people, if you love God you will pass this on, or that Microsoft has a new tracking device and if you participate you will get something in return.

One of the local television stations did a story on several of the e-mail messages that were circulating to find out if there was any truth to them. They discovered each one was a hoax. I even heard of a website that lists whether or not an e-mail is a hoax or not.

I receive several of these e-mails a week, sometimes more than once from my friends or co-workers. Are people really that superstitious or just that naive? I just don't get it! I simply delete them because chances are, I've read it before or something very similar to it.

Can I have your attention puhleeeze:

Victoria's Secret will NOT give you any free lingerie, no matter how many people you send that e-mail chain letter to. Neither will Old Navy!!!

Bill Gates and Microsoft will NOT give you a free computer!

God will continue to bless you whether or not you send the e-mail prayer back to the person who sent it to you.

For those people who make the cute little pictures by using the following symbols: : ()#@% ---- You have entirely too much time on your hands!!!!

[This message has been edited by PinkCashmere (edited July 25, 2000).]

AKAtude- That website you are talking about is http://www.snopes.com

On a lighter note- I work at Microsoft in messaging, and somebody tried to tell ME it was the truth after I told them it wasn't. LOL! Hello, I think I would know!

ZetaAce

[This message has been edited by ZetaAce (edited July 25, 2000).]

You guys have hit on my ALL TIME TOP PET PEEVE!!! This grates on my nerves like you would not believe.
I certainly don't mind the informative forward, but dang it can you take 5 minutes to verify it's validity before you pass it on to everyone and their mother?!?!? And just because the e-mail SAID it was true because their boyfriend's mother's sister's next door neighbor used to work with a guy that it happened to does NOT mean that it is true!! Check it out for yourself!! Ask yourself, have you heard about this on the news, radio (although this is not always an indicator given the situation on the Tom Joyner Morning Show with Compaq recently)? How could they keep it a secret from the major media but it got in your email chain?

I enjoy the motivational message too, but if it worthwhile why do you feel the need to try to guilt me into passing it along by saying a pox will be placed on my house if I do not forward it???

FYI...a website for people who enjoy tracking down these legends and will give you back-up on why they are not true is http://www.delphi.com/ab-urbanlegends/start
check them out BEFORE you pass on that message.

And if this is you....go sit in the corner and no internet for you!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif

Thank You Sorors and friends for spreading that word!!
I HATE forwards, especially the one about 'If you love the lord ....' I almost feel GUILTY if I don't send it. But what really gets me is that people pass it on just because - and they say 'I don't know if this is true but ...' URGH! Is your belief system built of water, come on.... And how about the 50 million other names on the list did they get money yet, Jeez!!

The name of one of the web sites is: http://www.urbanlegends.com/

Lastly as Soror PinkCashmere said Bill Gates/AOL/Netscape/Vicky Secrets/ and Walt Disney (or his grandsons - anyway) have all stated many times that all those e-mails are bogus....I wish people would stop filling up my inbox with GARBAGE...I do however, like an occasional funny story :-0)

[This message has been edited by LadyAKA (edited July 25, 2000).]

Another thing,
What is that picture supposed to be when you are to scroll down slowly? And don't you hate it when you get the ones that say if you send it to 10 people at once a little animated movie will pop up.

LOL - I did that to the people at work and they screamed on me so bad (it was all love). No picture ever popped up for any of us, that is how I got the urban legend site and that is one of the reasons I hate forwards, I even told people not to send me them because I don't know what viruses may be attached 'Hey you never know' ....
Sisterly

P.S. What about if you send it to 10 people you will have good luck for three years, but if you only send it to 5 people then you are dooooomed for life http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
LOL

Oh, yeah! There was one that stated if you send the message to five people, the Taco Bell dog would run across your screen. What?!?! Come on, now!

Pink Cashmere, Lady AKA, AKAtude,

i am crashing on your party

i am a recovering addict of forwarding...countless times, i've forward over 300 messages looking for the little dog to do the dance across the screen, i've ran home expecting a package home from V. Secrets, Tommy, and Ralph, and i've sent that dang rose that blesses up to 10 people 10 times.

and i am proud to say, i no longer participate in that foolishness....

OK, did anyone get the one about KFC not being chicken? Do you know my students tried to convince me that it was true after I told them I saw on "Extra" that it was a hoax.

Months later, the story was still circulating. When the new semester started, my new students were still passing around this misinformation. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

Ladies yall have me over here rolling on the floor laughing, and I am still at work, gosh this is a good way to end the night.
My girl MaMaBuddha and her 300 messages waiting for the dog to dance across the screen is the funniest !! Gurl, I am so glad you gave up that profession.

Greetings Ladies:


You all have me cracking up here. I don't like the one fwd. that always seems to circulate with a different child's name that goes......YOU HAVE NO HEART IF YOU DON'T FORWARD THIS....then it goes on to say that this child is sick and some corporation will pay money for every person it's forwarded to. Is there any truth to this? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

Take Care,
Cookee

The award for my all time most hated internet forward goes to the many "helpful emails" I get from friends that are looking out for me. Emails that warn about stolen kidneys, AIDS infested needles sticking out of public phones, tampons containing asbestos, Taco Bell selling a taco with a pregnant roach that laid eggs in a woman's cheek <GROSS http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif>, Proctor and Gamble (?) belonging to satan, Tommy Hilfiger admitting to the world (and Oprah) he is a racist, yadda, yadda, yadda. Those are the WORST because they contain just enough truth (or appear to) that people acually pass it along, so I get the email from 10 different people.
The email that claims to the reveal the secrets of the BGLOs is a close second. Who in there right mind would walk up to a sorority member and press on their breast, hop up and down, cross their eyes while rubbing their belly and saying gibbldy goop nine times fast to perp? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif
Good Grief!
http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif HumbleBumbleBee http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by humblebumblebee (edited July 25, 2000).]

I know, I know, this is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. If I get an email that has a "send this to __ people or else" message on it, I never send it, even if it's the funniest thing in the world. The thing about the dancing taco bell dog --- the thought alone was funny enough for me, I didn't send it.
A little off the subject, I will, however, tell you one that I fell for, hook, line and sinker (so MaMa, don't feel bad) http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif. ---> How many of you have ever recieved the email with the "magic" eyeball on it and the deck of cards? You look at the deck of cards, then pick one, stare at the eyeball, and then flip to the next screen. The email then says they are "reading your mind" through "mind manipulation" via the eyeball, and when you flip to the next screen, the card that you thought of is not there. Ya'll, I seriously freaked out and stepped back from the screen. When I figured out the secret (it really doesn't take rocket science) I was like --duh!!-- http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I am back and it is morning time and I am still laughing ...
humblebumblebee, every e-mail you mentioned I have received and it is sad that sometimes I can't tell what is real or fake .... But they had me with the Taco bell roach thing - LOL

Cookee, I think there maybe some truth to the 'My child got hit by a car ...' but how in heck would we know ... can any one speak up about this?

tickledpink, I have never seen the magic eye one but it sure sounds FUNNNNNNNNNY!

Ladies, I have to admit I fell for that KFC one! I didn't eat their food for about 6 months! I scoffed at all the "foolish, unsuspecting" people whenever I passed the restaurant. I shunned family members and friends who did not heed my warning and still ate the perp chicken. When I finally cashed my reality check, I realized who was REALLY foolish and unsuspecting! Boy...I sure learned my lesson. And as soon as I receive my free stuff from Victoria Secret...I'll really be through with all of this forwarding non-sense! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I have sent one message regarding beware of this...it dealt with AIDS, but at the gas pump, though. I, too have received the emails saying If you believe, but I don't forward those, either. I had a friend who everyday sent me something like that. I had to kindly tell her not to send that kind of mail to me. I think I will have to do that to others as well. However, I do enjoy reading poems and various sayings that are sent. If I want to forward something to someone, let me decide...

Hello Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha and SFs,

I usually don't post on message boards, but I HAD to respond to this one. This one of my hot buttons, and from the looks of my inbox, I thought I was the only one who hates getting these silly e-mails.

I am really feeling you for starting this thread, AKAtude, and I'm sending you a big virtual high-five!

Why do intelligent, oftentimes, college-educated people who SHOULD know better, believe this stuff (Bill Gates really needs YOU to help him test a new e-mail program, deodorant causes cancer, etc.) and load up my in-box with virtual junk mail?

The worst, though, are the "If You're Really My Friend You'll Send the Forward I Just Sent You Back to Me So that You Can Prove You're My Friend" e-mails.

I swear, give a few black folks access to some technology, and they lose their minds!

Thanks for letting me vent,

Epitome

I hope you ladies don't mind if I pipe in on this. I saw it in the active boards for today list or whatever. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. I see you all don't buy into the forward it and get free stuff or anything like that, but I did notice a question about paying money to sick kids for forwarding it. Those aren't true either. If they claim to be, check out the website of the corporation that is "donating" this money. Also, most of the missing kids emails started out as true, but they've found the kids by now. Some are at least 5 years old! I hope this helps. The websites mentioned above are great for telling what's true, and what's a total lie.

BTW, I hate those that say if you believe in God you'll forward this. I believe in God, but I HATE forwards, unless they are jokes or funny stories.

------------------
Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

Thanks Epitome, nothing like a good laugh to start the day and yours has me ROTF.

I am being sarcastic here, but that's why "WE" will still be behind on the Information Highway, cause we still tryin to get rich quick and send all that chain e-mail junk! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Hi my Friend!!
How are you? I'm just writing you to tell you of this wonderful website I discovered just last month. It's address is www.sucker.com, and it is a really cool site. The best part is, they pay you money just to READ your e-mail, something I'm sure you do anyway. Who couldn't use some free money? I know I am enjoying all the money I earn everytime I log on to the 'net. Don't let this opportunity pass you by, I didn't, and I am well on my way to a dream trip in Cancun.
P.S. Hurry and sign up for this; before the government tries to shut it down. They're GIVING money away!

Any CollegeClub regulars recognize this one?

BTW: How can you make certain words bold or in italics within a post?

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif HumbleBumbleBee http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Humblebumblebee,

When you reply, look to the left of the screen and click on *UBB Code is ON. It will tell you how to put words in italics and bold. Hope that helps.

Here's another site that can be used to verify the validity of an email:

http://HoaxBusters.ciac.org/

I've gotten 2 hoaxes this week: One stating that you will recieve a check for over 200.00 for every email that you forward because Intel & AOL was merging

and

One "bewaring" everyone of people who ask you to smell perfume because it's actually ether and they will knock you out, abduct, or either rob you.

Also, there was a hoax floating around that Whitney Houston had died.