For Real
1. Big companies don't do business via chain letters, and there are no computer programs that track how many times an email is forwarded, letalone by whom.
2. Bill Gates is not giving you $1000, and Disney is not giving you a free vacation.
3. There is no baby food company issuing class action checks. Even whenthe message says they "checked it with their attorney, and it's true", it's a bucket of garbage. Since when does an attorney represent the pillar of truth, especially when money's involved?
4. Proctor and Gamble is not part of a satanic cult or scheme, and its logo is not satanic.
5. MTV will not give you backstage passes if you forward something to the most people.
6. The Gap is not giving away free clothes. You can relax; there is no need to pass it on "just in case it's true."
7. 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 says it happened to their cousin. The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued requests for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell their stories. None have. Not even your friend's cousin.
8. Despite your fears, Touched By An Angel will not be taken off the air because they use the name God. There's no federal law or regulation giving the FCC authority to prohibit broadcasting stations from presenting religious programs.
9. Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. Even if they do, we all have it.
10. If the latest NASA rocket disaster did contain plutonium that went to particulate over the eastern seaboard, do you really think this information would reach the public via an AOL [America On Line chain letter?
11. There is no "Good Times" virus, no "Bud Frogs" virus, and no "Elf Bowling" virus. You should never forward any email containing a virus warning unless you first confirm with the site of a company that actually deals with viruses.
12. There is no gang initiation plot to murder any motorist who flashes headlights at another car driving at night without lights.
13. 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 cards. He apparently is no longer a little boy either.
14. 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.
15. The American Cancer Society does not give 3 cents for each person you forward an email to. They ask for you to donate money; they don't give it away.
16. Women really are suffering in Afghanistan, but forwarding an email won't help their 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.
17. The Kettering Foundation does not send out big blue envelopes containing the anthrax virus. In fact, there is no Kettering Foundation.
18. Email signatures are easily faked, and mean nothing to anyone with the power to do anything about whatever the competition is complaining about.
19. KFC really does use chickens. Why did they change their name? In this health conscious world, what was KFC's name? Kentucky Fried Chicken. Fried is not healthy. So with the help of a focus group they changed the name to KFC. It's short, doesn't offend dieters and it's easy to remember.
20. 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.
21. There is no conceivable way for an email message to be able to pop up a cool movie if you forward it seven times.
22. The missing girl from Minnesota (Kelsey Brooke Jones) has been found. This hoax is almost two years old now.
23. There is no bill pending before Congress (Parliament) that will allow long distance companies (or Canada Post) to charge you for using the Internet.
24 Concerning the virus warning "Sometimes it takes guts to say Jesus" this Is a hoax too, read the message and be blessed.
Bottom Line: Composing email or posting something on the Net is as easy as writing on public rest room walls. Don't automatically believe a warning until it's proven false. Assume it's false, unless there is proof that it's true. And, "We checked this with police" (or whatever authority), doesn't mean it's true. Check it for yourself.
