DON'T Pass It On

[Thomas Paine]

The big breaking story in Chicago today is about a Pakistani service station owner in the western suburbs who has suffered a loss of 1/3 of his business in the past two weeks. Why, you ask? It happened because someone created an e-mail that claimed that not only was the poor guy a terrorist supporter but that he had been displaying a picture of Osama bin Laden in his service station and that the local police had confirmed this. This e-mail, of course, got passed all over town.

The Naperville police say that not only have they confirmed none of this, but that the only thing the service station ever displayed was...an American flag.

The chief culprit in all this, and now chief defendant in a big ol' defamation lawsuit, is the director of public relations for a small Catholic college nearby.

Apparently network news is on the trail, so this story may get national coverage and local people are rallying to the service station owner's support.

I am offering this tale here because it is a perfect illustration of the power of the internet to wreck somebody's life. Since the attacks two weeks ago, I'm sure most of you have received the same e-mail dreck I have: endless iterations of Nostradamus nonsense, numerology for numbnuts, smoky Satans and so on. This is not to mention all the e-mail forwards that began: "I don't know if this is true, but I thought I'd pass it on..."

Friends and neighbors of Literotica, let's make a pact. The next time the urge strikes you to "just pass it on," DON'T!!! Let's make it a watchword of this crisis, the first Internet war, right up there with "Loose lips sink ships" and "Buy war bonds." "Don't Pass It On!" Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? I realize it may sound like a little like a public health campaign against STD's, but we can overcome that. *g*

Seriously, tell your friends, your family, your e-mail buddies: Don't Pass It On. When you get the next wave of cyber-bullshit in your mailbox, just respond: Don't Pass It On.

We ain't gonna win the war, but maybe we can help save a few reputations or calm some jangled nerves.

Thanks.

 

[lobito]

I heard this story just the other day before I flew back to the U.S., adn never considered it to be true or false, because i just didn't have enough evidence either way.

While I was away and having breakfast with my Step-Mom, she suggested to me that she thought that the U.S. should gather ALL people of Muslim religion, and place them ALL in concentration camps. WTF? I didn't even reply, just shook my head, and looked at her like that was the STUPIDEST thing I'd ever heard, because it was.

I told me father it wouldn't be fair to do this, because it's obvious that not every Muslim is for the "holy war", or terrorism. When he relayed my thought to her, then & only then did she say, well maybe you're right.

BTW - IF I ever get "FWD's" or "pass it on's" I delete them without ever even opening them. Even and especially if they are from my own family.

R

 

[GuyJD]

BTW - IF I ever get "FWD's" or "pass it on's" I delete them without ever even opening them. Even and especially if they are from my own family.

R

LOBITO: You are all so right. I have a friend who always forwards every type of mail that she receives, despite my asking her not to. Recently, she and another friend forwarded a letter that was so unbelievable, I couldn't tell you what it was about anymore. So the one thing that I did to stop it from any further forwarding, I replied to all of the individuals involved in the letter. I replied, "This sounds very interesting. But this is only hersay (word of mouth) and circumstantial evidence. Is there a newspaper report to back this story? Otherwise, please don't forward me any such mail for I want no part in your committment of slander."

I've received so many forwards from friends and relatives about criminal acts and fraud and so far, no physical evidence of any. This thread is, therefore, considered circumstantial and unfounded.

 

[shadowsource]

I'm hearing this crap, too -

While I was away and having breakfast with my Step-Mom, she suggested to me that she thought that the U.S. should gather ALL people of Muslim religion, and place them ALL in concentration camps. WTF? I didn't even reply, just shook my head, and looked at her like that was the STUPIDEST thing I'd ever heard, because it was.R

A really excellent, intelligent, sensitive, left-leaning friend just told me the same thing - "gotta lock up all the Muzzies." I'm still in shock.

Apart from the horror, Lobito, How the hell are YOU? How did it all go? Congrats!

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I am offering this tale here because it is a perfect illustration of the power of the internet to wreck somebody's life.

I think this is more indicative of the power of stupidity and gossip - the 'net would have no power in this case without some stupid malicious persons to spread the gossip. In this particular case, since it was in a small geographic region, I doubt the 'net played that much of a different role than any other medium for malicious gossip.

Since the attacks two weeks ago, I'm sure most of you have received the same e-mail dreck I have: endless iterations of Nostradamus nonsense, numerology for numbnuts, smoky Satans and so on. This is not to mention all the e-mail forwards that began: "I don't know if this is true, but I thought I'd pass it on..."

The only relatives of mine that have passed along such crap in the past now know better - I usually refer them to the Urban Legends website - but only after explaining (usually nicely) in detail why they are full of shit. I have gotten no more emails of that kind since.

A good idea though; just say no to gossip.

STG

 

[GuyJD]

Re: Re: DON'T Pass It On

The only relatives of mine that have passed along such crap in the past now know better - I usually refer them to the Urban Legends website - but only after explaining (usually nicely) in detail why they are full of shit. I have gotten no more emails of that kind since.

A good idea though; just say no to gossip.

STG

Exactly STG......I would reccommend those Urban Legend websites to everyone who sends me that crap. I often do the same thing.

Just a thought.......has anyone gotten rich after forwarding those gossip mails about Microsoft yet?

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: Re: Re: DON'T Pass It On

Just a thought.......has anyone gotten rich after forwarding those gossip mails about Microsoft yet?

SInce I don't track or listen to gossip if I can help it (sometimes the news media has nothing but gossip) I am not sure which emails these are, so I do not know. But I doubt very many people are getting rich off stocks right now - I know I am not, I will be lucky if I break even this year. I was breaking even or even making money for a while, then I was down just a little, but right now I am not even looking at my funds as it would only depress me. There is nothing I could do about it anyway - I am certainly not going to sell at a loss.

STG

 

[GuyJD]

Re: Re: Re: Re: DON'T Pass It On

SInce I don't track or listen to gossip if I can help it (sometimes the news media has nothing but gossip) I am not sure which emails these are, so I do not know. But I doubt very many people are getting rich off stocks right now - I know I am not, I will be lucky if I break even this year. I was breaking even or even making money for a while, then I was down just a little, but right now I am not even looking at my funds as it would only depress me. There is nothing I could do about it anyway - I am certainly not going to sell at a loss.

STG

No, no, no STG, you're talking about stocks. I was referring to those crappy emails that suggest that you forward them and you'll receive a check from Microsoft. So far, I'venever heardof anyone getting a check yet.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: DON'T Pass It On

No, no, no STG, you're talking about stocks. I was referring to those crappy emails that suggest that you forward them and you'll receive a check from Microsoft. So far, I'venever heardof anyone getting a check yet.

Oh those - I am sure someone is getting rich; if you send out several million of those emails, and just 2% are stupid enough to send back a check for $50 (or whatever) then someone is making money for nothing.

STG

 

[Starfish]

I would never send out, or pass on anything that was intended to deface an American citizen, and most people I know won't do that either. I didn't recieve this email, and I am glad for not getting it. It is a total shit shame that people are so assuming, and are that petty.

So, does this mean I can't send out, or forward the hilarious Osama/Revenge pictures anymore?

 

[lobito]

Re: I'm hearing this crap, too -

A really excellent, intelligent, sensitive, left-leaning friend just told me the same thing - "gotta lock up all the Muzzies." I'm still in shock.

Apart from the horror, Lobito, How the hell are YOU? How did it all go? Congrats!

Shadow, it was great, I'm glad I left the U.S. when I did. After what happened, I thought we'd not be able to come back, but that would have been great too for us personally.

How did it go? Well, two weeks, and STILL married! he he

I watched alot of TV down there, and kept up quite well, maybe to my wives shagrin, on what happened here. I was actually inj the shower when my Step-Mom knocked on the door, and told me I had to come see what was on TV. When I saw what was going on, I literally ran from the room in tears. My initial thought was one of horror of course, BUT, then I told my little brother, "Man you see this shit in the movies or on TV, and think it's cool, but THEN, when it happens in real life words can NEVER describe your feelings".

The day of the crashes, I drove by the U.S. Embassy, adn already it was cordened (sp?) off, and you couldn't get near to them, adn seeing the Flag st half staff, was very disheartening, though, it made me feel like the WHOLE U.S. was going to band together, which I'm proud they are. Support for the U.S. from my vantage point was/is SO GREAT, from people telling me, I'm sorry what happened, to people wearing t-shirts that simply had an "American" flag on them.

When we flew back to Houston yesterday on my way back home, the first thing I did was go by a U.S.A. shirt, then say many others in shirts, or red, white & blue ties. It really warmed my heart. When we arrived back in St. Louis, there were flags all over the place, and that made me feel even better.

I will never condone hatred to ANY politcal party, race or religion, so why some can think the ways they do, baffles me to NO end.

R

 

[Cheyenne]

Hey, I liked the Smoky Satan email. I thought it was interesting. Don't like it? Don't look. Get an email you don't want to read? Delete. It's easy. Really.