Breaking Some Chains

 Some of us are old enough to remember when chain letters were all the rage. It seems these days very few show up (if you don't consider MLM pitches chain letters) via the post office. Thanks to ever-developing technology, they're flooding the Internet.

One of the more recent describes a partnership between the Disney Corporation and Bill Gates. To summarize, it announces that Gates has developed a cutting edge technology which allows an email to be "followed" (traced) as it makes it's way a round the Internet. While it doesn't clearly state why Disney is so interested, it does say that they are going to help Mr. Gates by rewarding those who help "test" the software.

The "deal" is that the original email must reach 13,000 people. Once that happens, the first 1300 will be awarded $5,000. Everyone else gets a free trip to Disney. It includes numerous testimonials including one from an alleged Harvard Graduate. "I checked this out and it's for real."

Unfortunately, it only takes a couple of mouse clicks to pass this on and apparently most people who get it do just that. Some take the time to add a comment like "Sounds good!" and "I could use a vacation!" What they're not doing is thinking. If they were, they would consider a few minor details.

First, assuming such software has been developed for testing, is it something I should encourage and contribute to? The idea that someone can trace your email correspondence without your knowledge and consent ought to give you pause.

Second, it's worth doing a little math to fully understand the offer. Disney's allegedly going to give $5,000 to each of the first 1300 who participate. You may not have to use a calculator to determine this equals a cool 6.5 million dollars. And that doesn't include the cost of the trip for the other 11,700 people and their families. (At a conservative $500 each, that's nearly another six million.)

Without going much further, the offer starts to lose credibility. Large corporations often do dumb things, but it's doubtful that Disney would spend in excess of twelve million dollars to help Bill Gates test his software.

Some of the people who forward this message are skeptical and add a note like, "Can't hurt to try." Again, not thinking. It does hurt. In the first place this sort of junk clogs up the system and wastes other people's time. In the second place, sending a chain letter may well violate the senders' terms of service with their email provider. If this takes place at work, it may be a violation of company or organizational policy.

Why don't we think before we click? Most of these hoaxes (and just about every scam) appeal to our emotions and encourage us to react before turning on our crap detector.

Many contain a strong element of fear. (Email announcing viruses fall into this category.) They warn we're going to miss out on something or something bad will happen if we don't do whatever we're asked. Others appeal to our caring nature with heart-rending stories of terminal cancer patients and the like. Of course the big motivator is greed. We're perfectly willing to stop thinking and become a victim if there's the slightest chance we'll get $5,000 or a trip to Disney.

This isn't about being stupid. It's about reacting without thinking. From an eagle's perspective, it ought to take a lot more than $5,000 to get you to stop thinking, be made a fool of, and become a victim.

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Reprinted with permission from Eagle News, Vol 4 No 5. Eagle News is a newsletter of tips, tactics, and thoughts for achievers. For subscription information send an email to abilities@mindspring.com or visit http://www.mindspring.com~abilities