Laura Adams
SLM 521
June 2002
Elective 5 –
Internet Hoaxes, Myths
and Urban Legends
Introduction:
Anyone can create a web site;
just because it is on the web does not mean the information is accurate. In fact, there is a tremendous amount of information
on the web published with the intent to misinform, start rumors, and scare the
public. We see the results of these
actions in our email boxes and in the media every day. Thankfully, listed below are some resources
to use to verify information.
Hoaxes – Center for Disease Control - http://www.cdc.gov/hoax_rumors.htm
Urban
Legends – Urban Legends - http://www.urbanlegends.com/
About.com Urban
Legends - http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/cs/urbanlegends/
Activity:
Respond to discussion section on Blackboard
entitled Urban Legends, Hoaxes and Myths.
Response –
Gina, Your email reminded me again to be thankful for being
detached from my last corporate email. (I cannot get outside email at my
current job and am not in any "junk" loops at home)When I was on the
corporate email it seemed everyday someone in the office was sending those
chain letters or trying to save the dying women of some small country, or like
you said warning you not to smell anything! I would get so mad to have to deal
with those MOST of the time I would just delete. BUT we all have those weak
moments when we want good luck for the rest of our lives so we bother all the
poor people in our mail boxes. At least the ones that wouldn't kill us! I have
somehow managed to stay away from this in my home email and am often hesitant
to give it out because of what could happen. I rate this up there with
telemarketers! I have not completed the elective on this topic but the topic is
very interesting and one that I think teachers should be knowledgeable about so
we can pass it on to our students and others!
Response –
After reading through the sites included with activity, I am again glad
I no longer have, and have managed to keep out, of the email hoaxes and legends
trail! I was surprised to see the $250
dollar cookie receipe listed, I actually have a copy
of that from years back and thought it to be true, heard it from a reliable
source! I had not heard any of the stories being passed around since Sept 11
attacked, it is really sad.
Anyway, I think my first step in the education of others on this subject
would be to make sure they knew the definitions of hoaxes and legends. Legends begin with at least an element of
truth and as they are passed along they are changed and evolve. I truly think
some people believe everything they recieve or hear
so I would make sure they know how to locate the resouces
to check it out. The links in this assigment were great, many people
would not think to use the internet. In addition, they could also do a search
on specific words from the story on a search engine such as google.
I would advise my student and others to learn the signs/identifier of
these types of emails, etc. and then they do not have to waste their time
reading them. For instance, these message are almost always forwarded to you. Sometimes the list of addresses of the people
who have received the message is longer than the message itself. Also the subject line is usually inflammatory
or one you have seen before.
I would strongly recommend that they do not forward these messages to
anyone. If they have to read it, then
they should make the effort to verify the information themselves before passing
it on. I would also make sure they know
not to open any attachment, you would think that would be obvious by now but I
think people detach before they think.
As for me, I think if I ever get back in the loop, I am going to create
a draft email to send to anyone who sends me a chain letter, hoax or legend.
This email would kindly ask them to omit me from further forwards, suggest that
they verify the information they are passing around and even give them the
links to do investigate!!