Principia Cybernetica Web

ANNOTATION:
The Good Times Email Virus Meme

Recently a memo was passed around suggesting that opening email with the subject "good times" would contain a virus.

The virus is a hoax.

However the Virus Meme is not. It is mildly auto-toxic merely since it is false. The bait is the promotion of computer security and the unhindered use of the email vector. It also has an effective hook, when the meme is believed you will want to tell all those with whom you commonly exchange email so as not to get infected from them. It preys upon the futureshock of unsophisticated computer users. Science is the most effective vaccime, specifically computer science.


Copyright© 1996 Principia Cybernetica - Referencing this page

Author
Joseph Vaughn-Perling (72764.254[ at ]compuserve.com)

Date
Oct 24, 1996

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