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An urban legend is the equivalent
of ancient folklore, accelerated a few hundred years. Folklore took
centuries to develop. Now with the help of the internet and email,
an Urban Legend can begin in a matter of days. They begin to take on
a life of their own.
Treat all email stories like mythology. If it
smells funny, there's probably a reason for it. Before you replicate
such "thought contagions", track down the source and
confirm it for yourself. Don't believe
everything you read on the Internet, especially if it satisfies
several of the following conditions:
Signs of an Urban Legend, Myth or
Folklore:
- Appears mysteriously and spreads spontaneously in varying forms.
- Contains elements of humor or horror (the horror often "punishes"
someone who refuses to forward the Legend).
- Makes good storytelling.
- Does not have to be false, although most are. Urban Legends often have a
basis in fact, but it's their life after-the-fact (particularly in
reference to the second and third points) that gives them particular
interest."
- It is highly inflammatory.
- It asks that you send a copy on to everyone you know.
- It does not mention any names. References to a "friend of a friend",
or an unnamed relative, such as "my cousin", or
"some girl/boy/man/woman" are highly suspicious.
- It does not
cite any specific sources ("the NY Times" is not
a citation -- "the January 22, 1996 edition of the
NY Times" is, though).
- It does
cite sources, but the sources cannot be found. Anyone can tag onto
a piece of e-mail a bogus source to make it sound more
authoritative.
- It does not say exactly when this event occurred. "Last month" is a
relative term that means "the month before the one that I,
the reader, am currently in". If the story has been
circulating on the Internet for three years (not unusual for urban
legends), then "last month" becomes completely
meaningless unless there is a specific date mentioned.
- It says,
"THIS IS A TRUE STORY!" That's an automatic warning flag.
So we,
as Christians, must develop a sense
of Christian Discernment. If it seems too good to be true,
it probably is. Read this article from
Truth Miners about '
What's the Harm'. If it seems to horrible to believe, it probably
is. No, Microsoft is not giving away money if you forward an email.
No, Timmy won't get the money for his new liver if you forward an
email. No, using deodorant doesn't cause cancer. No, you cannot
email guardian angels. No, you do not have a black heart and God will not
strike you down if you don't forward this or that email. We must remember
that we are the light of the world. We are the witness of Jesus
Christ. How does it look to the lost world to see Christians perpetuating
myths and promises of luck and evil? Telling untruths and half truths by
way of email and then expecting the lost world to believe anything else we
may say.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
Guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" --
which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
Check out this article:
Why are Americans So Naive?
When
you get one of these spammed emails, be sure to let the person who sent it
know.
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