Are you part of the problem?

Schmika · 11-14-2005, 02:18 PM

I just received another e-mail "chain letter" and finished reading the post about massive numbers of Hummers being hidden...and I got to thinking....do you see yourself as a promoter or encourager of these things....or do you see yourself as a voice of reason who tries to dispel such things.

Myself....I look at the potential for harm. Around work, I occasionally participate in the "rumor mill" with two caveats....if it about a person, always do it with them around to hear the original comment by me, then, after a good laugh, I tell them I am kidding...if it is about an event, I only do it if no one will be identified or get into trouble.

Otherwise, I work hard at dispelling rumors. So much so, many people I work with come to me to ask if something is true, since I typically find out.

The e-mail to me (and a whole buch of others) I replied to all advising them it was incorrect and told them where they could find the truth. I find myself doing this quite frequently. I used to just delete them, now I feel it is my duty to reply with the truth or a differing idea. Hey, they wrote me, I should be able to write back.

BTW, the e-mail today was about the muslim christmas stamp and how we should boycott it. This particular issue is from 2001 and it isn't as it sounds (snopes.com)

For those of you who pass along e-mails or tales...if it isn't true...you are either hurting someone or passing along ignorance. I wonder how many people who would never "tell tales" face to face but forward this stuff without thinking. Maybe I should use the word gossip...same thing.

jeneric · 11-14-2005, 02:42 PM

I do what I can to dispel such things without being a jerk about it. I'm in I.T. and a Math major, so I know what a problem they can be.

LaughingMan · 11-14-2005, 02:50 PM

I am generally a promoter of reason...

For such things, I try to put myself in the shoes of Penn & Teller on their Showtime show Bullsh*t... debunkers of fake science, baseless illogical misconceptions and outright lies that people want to believe...

basically, Bullsh*t.

.

Jack 06 · 11-14-2005, 03:04 PM

Schmika: I agree 100%. Much as I love the Net, the Dumbing Down of America and the Net do not a promising marriage make. The Net has magnified deception and greed a hundredfold in the course of "democratizing" it concurrent with democratizing hard information and worthwhile ideas.

If the average IQ by definition is 100, who can be surprised at what many will believe?

Mystery Squid · 11-14-2005, 03:06 PM

Quite frankly, I just don't give a damn.

I pretty much don't believe anything I read on the internet/e-mails anyway...

Schmika · 11-14-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mystery Squid@Nov 14 2005, 04:06 PM
Quite frankly, I just don't give a damn.

I pretty much don't believe anything I read on the internet/e-mails anyway...

[snapback]155428[/snapback]

That can be just as dangerous in the opposite sense...reminds me of

"I don't believe anything I hear and only 1/2 of what I see."

The 'net can open your eyes to a lot of things. By having the attitude that you don't believe anything...starts making you real cynical.

I like Ronald Reagan...Trust...but verify!

<_<

Jack 06 · 11-14-2005, 07:47 PM

I think Squid was in Movie Mode, doing his Clark Gable imitation. He just didn't call you "dear". :P

geologyrox · 11-15-2005, 07:17 PM

heh, last time someone sent me the "Boycott Pepsi! They're a bunch of commie bastards who took "Under God" out of the pledge on a can of Pepsi!" e-mail I sent them one of the 'show this to a friend' linkers to about thirty different sites busting the e-mail myth.

chain letters in general bother me. chain letters that make people look like wooly idiots bother me even more

Schmika · 11-15-2005, 07:27 PM

In the beginning, i just replied to the sender as a kind of "psst..that's wrong ya' know!"

Now I "reply all". On this last one, one of the recipients "replied all" and told the original poster to ask how to send blind copies so that everyone wouldn't see their address. Kinda gave me a chuckle.

aaf709 · 11-15-2005, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geologyrox@Nov 15 2005, 04:17 PM
chain letters in general bother me. chain letters that make people look like wooly idiots bother me even more

[snapback]156068[/snapback]

I think of them as a virus where the originator wants you do to the work of sending it on to others.

11-14-2005, 02:18 PM	#1
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I just received another e-mail "chain letter" and finished reading the post about massive numbers of Hummers being hidden...and I got to thinking....do you see yourself as a promoter or encourager of these things....or do you see yourself as a voice of reason who tries to dispel such things. Myself....I look at the potential for harm. Around work, I occasionally participate in the "rumor mill" with two caveats....if it about a person, always do it with them around to hear the original comment by me, then, after a good laugh, I tell them I am kidding...if it is about an event, I only do it if no one will be identified or get into trouble. Otherwise, I work hard at dispelling rumors. So much so, many people I work with come to me to ask if something is true, since I typically find out. The e-mail to me (and a whole buch of others) I replied to all advising them it was incorrect and told them where they could find the truth. I find myself doing this quite frequently. I used to just delete them, now I feel it is my duty to reply with the truth or a differing idea. Hey, they wrote me, I should be able to write back. BTW, the e-mail today was about the muslim christmas stamp and how we should boycott it. This particular issue is from 2001 and it isn't as it sounds (snopes.com) For those of you who pass along e-mails or tales...if it isn't true...you are either hurting someone or passing along ignorance. I wonder how many people who would never "tell tales" face to face but forward this stuff without thinking. Maybe I should use the word gossip...same thing. __________________ "In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments, there are consequences." Robert Greene Ingersoll I'll add that, with God, there are all three! With God, ALL things are possible '05 Driftwood Pearl- Pkg 6- Body side mouldings only

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Which part of zero?	paulccullen	Gen II Prius Main Forum	6	03-19-2007 09:55 AM
If you're not part of the solution, then you're a part of the problem!	Mirza	Environmental Discussion	29	02-20-2007 01:02 AM
Do I Really Need This Part?	kenmce	Gen II Prius Modifications	8	11-27-2006 10:40 AM
Climate System Problem (Thought to be MFD Problem)	losaltosprius	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	2	03-17-2005 06:08 PM
The easy part is over now the hard part	skew	Order Tracking	4	09-19-2004 10:29 PM

11-14-2005, 02:42 PM	#2
jeneric Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 442 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I do what I can to dispel such things without being a jerk about it. I'm in I.T. and a Math major, so I know what a problem they can be.

11-14-2005, 02:50 PM	#3
LaughingMan Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marlborough, MA Posts: 1,387 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I am generally a promoter of reason... For such things, I try to put myself in the shoes of Penn & Teller on their Showtime show Bullsht... debunkers of fake science, baseless illogical misconceptions and outright lies that people want to believe... basically, Bullsht. .

11-14-2005, 03:04 PM	#4
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Schmika: I agree 100%. Much as I love the Net, the Dumbing Down of America and the Net do not a promising marriage make. The Net has magnified deception and greed a hundredfold in the course of "democratizing" it concurrent with democratizing hard information and worthwhile ideas. If the average IQ by definition is 100, who can be surprised at what many will believe?

11-14-2005, 03:06 PM	#5
Mystery Squid Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Quite frankly, I just don't give a damn. I pretty much don't believe anything I read on the internet/e-mails anyway...

11-14-2005, 07:47 PM	#7
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I think Squid was in Movie Mode, doing his Clark Gable imitation. He just didn't call you "dear". :P

11-15-2005, 07:17 PM	#8
geologyrox Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 513 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	heh, last time someone sent me the "Boycott Pepsi! They're a bunch of commie bastards who took "Under God" out of the pledge on a can of Pepsi!" e-mail I sent them one of the 'show this to a friend' linkers to about thirty different sites busting the e-mail myth. chain letters in general bother me. chain letters that make people look like wooly idiots bother me even more

11-15-2005, 07:27 PM	#9
Schmika Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 1,622 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	In the beginning, i just replied to the sender as a kind of "psst..that's wrong ya' know!" Now I "reply all". On this last one, one of the recipients "replied all" and told the original poster to ask how to send blind copies so that everyone wouldn't see their address. Kinda gave me a chuckle.