WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE!
   Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!
****************************************************
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 Hoaxes 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,

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:

-- Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability at
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html

-- Symantec Anti Virus Research Center at
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

-- McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at
http://vil.mcafee.com/villib/hoax.asp

Lastly, as a public service, this is one email you should
forward to your friends - to help stamp out the Gullibility
Virus, especially to those forward you a hoax.
Then you get the last laugh :)