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chain letters
Feb. 5th, 2007 09:01 pmI always thought I was reasonably superstitious, with some occasionally wild ideas about what might be behind life and the world, at least compared to most of my scientifically-minded friends. But I do get somewhat bemused and also irritated by the amount of stupid chain letters that get posted on websites that seem to derive their popularity from people's willingness to believe the absurd. Although I see many on MySpace, today's example is from YouTube:
What the hell is that all about? Since when did malicious spirits take an interest in the home of emo video logs and Chad Vader? The ones on MySpace are equally ridiculous, typically damning you with bad luck or a shortened lifespan if you fail to inform 300 barely-known acquaintances whether you'd sleep with whoever is number 3 on your friends list or if you ate an Oreo in the last week or not.
I appreciate that these things are nearly always started off by someone who wants to have a bit of fun at others' expense. But that doesn't explain why so many other people repost them. Surely they can't all believe in comment-counting spirits? Even if these people think, "it's probably not true, but I'll post it anyway, just in case", they are somehow still thinking the benefit of posting it is more significant than the amount of annoyance caused to others that have to read it, and the ones who then become afflicted by this illogical need to repost. They need a good dose of common sense, I think.
In 1945,a young girl named katu lata kulu came over to America in a grey boat from Africa. A mysterious man killed her by cutting the word "LATUALATUKA" into her back. now that you have read this message she will come to your house on a full moon and steal your soul unless you follow these directions:
1. Retype this message as a comment for three other videos
What the hell is that all about? Since when did malicious spirits take an interest in the home of emo video logs and Chad Vader? The ones on MySpace are equally ridiculous, typically damning you with bad luck or a shortened lifespan if you fail to inform 300 barely-known acquaintances whether you'd sleep with whoever is number 3 on your friends list or if you ate an Oreo in the last week or not.
I appreciate that these things are nearly always started off by someone who wants to have a bit of fun at others' expense. But that doesn't explain why so many other people repost them. Surely they can't all believe in comment-counting spirits? Even if these people think, "it's probably not true, but I'll post it anyway, just in case", they are somehow still thinking the benefit of posting it is more significant than the amount of annoyance caused to others that have to read it, and the ones who then become afflicted by this illogical need to repost. They need a good dose of common sense, I think.
