Gullibility Virus Warning

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, email 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 Hoaxees 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

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 online help from many sources, including

For Virus hoaxes:

• Symantec Anti Virus Research Center Hoax Page at http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
• F-Secure Hoax List at http://www.europe.f-secure.com/hoaxes/hoax_index.shtml
• McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp

• Urban Legends Reference Pages at http://www.snopes.com
• About.com Urban Legends Page at http://urbanlegends.about.com
• Urban Legends and Hoaxes Resource Center at http://www.scambusters.org/legends.html
• Christian Urban Legends at http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_cul.htm

• Truth or Fiction at http://www.truthorficiton.com
• Scambusters at http://www.scambusters.org
• Inboxer Rebellion at http://www.snopes2.com/inboxer/inboxer.htm
• Don't Spread that Hoax at  http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/hoax_big.html
• The Museum of Hoaxes at http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/

• Evaluating Internet Research Sources at http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
• Evaluation of Information Sources at http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm

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