[TheForge] Explaining stuff like- School Science Fair Project

[Phlip]

Dan Rathburn wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phlip" <phlip@99main.com>
>
> > WARNING, GUYS!!!!! THIS is another one of those pain in the ass chain
> letters. If you send it along, you'll anger a lot of people.
> >
> > Phlip
> >
> Following my sig is something you can send to your "friends" that send you
> the chain letters. Oh I did not write this but did some minor editing on a
> couple of words but I think still lets the message come through clearly.
>
> <Much snipped>
>
> Now forward this to everyone you know. Otherwise, tomorrow morning your
> underwear will turn carnivorous and will consume your genitals.

Sorry, dear, that's standard (lack of) equipment on the model ;-)

The real problem with emails like this, other than being mildly obnoxious, and
in some cases giving a spammer your address (and frankly, nowadays, it's easier
for them to spam folks with a "If you don't wish to receive anything else from
us, please send a remove request to etc." That gives them a solid confirmation
of your address to spam under another name, or to sell your address.) is that
some unscruoukous sorts will start one of these, to mail-bomb somone's email
addy. The victim has trouble blocking it, since it comes from so many addies,
and, at least in the earlier days of email, it would shut down people's
mailboxes. Thats why we have all these obnoxious filters and firewalls nowadays,
in part.

Yes, spam can be irritating, but delete keys work, too. Yelling at some Internet
newbie, who in all good faith, thought they'd do something nice, or interesting,
just lets the bastards win- they've caused hurt to innocents out of all
proportion to their efforts. They're sick, or thoughtless, but that's on them-
don't pass it around.

I'm slowly teaching my Mom about this. She still screws up occasionally- a one
paragraph funny does not benefit from having 47 forwarding messages attached to
it, but it's the job of all of us to treat each other gently- we're friends
here, mostly, on TheForge, and friends look out for each other.

Just try to think a bit. If it wants you to send a copy to everyone you know, or
who has black hair, or whatever, chances are it's a spam, unless you know the
person, and they're looking for something which makes sense- blacksmiths in N.
Dakota, for example, who might be interested in a hammer-in. Virus warnings need
to be checked out, and passed along only if you have been infected and may have
sent them along. And, I'll make you guys a deal. If you want to, and you really
think it needs passed along to the world, send it to me, and I'll investigate it
for you.

Rick, you made a mistake, no big deal. Just try to learn from it and go on. It's
the kind of mistake that any caring person might make, and frankly, if you make
more mistakes like that, I'll still be your friend ;-)

Phlip