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Manners Matter: Chain Messages

Dear Mary Pat,

I’ve never sent a chain letter in all my 71 years on earth and I’m certainly less inclined to do so on Facebook, even if doom may befall me or whatever nonsense they use to scare people into complying. I’ve got better things to do with my time and I don’t want my news feed or messenger cluttered with this junk. I guess I don’t have a question. I just wanted to share this annoying occurrence.

Signed,

Codswallop

Ephraim, Wis.

 

Dear Codswallop,

Not only are chain letters (chain status updates) nonsense, they can also be harmful spam. Someone with malicious intent wants you to share for reasons other than the outrageous claim they use to get your attention in the first place. Maybe they are trying to spread a computer virus or hack into your contacts or phishing for your financial information. Let’s apply logic here. Do you really think that if you share a post Bill Gates is going to give you $1,000? Do you really think that if you share a post Delta is going to give you and 999 others two free, first-class tickets to Hawaii? I think it’s safe to say that neither scenario is likely. Also, nothing bad will happen if you don’t share these statuses either. I haven’t come across one obituary that listed the cause as not forwarding something on Facebook. So next time you think “Oh, what’s the harm?,” remember there are some bad characters out there that would like nothing more than you to be trusting and foolish.

Good luck,

Mary Pat

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