********* From: Max Cacas <MCacasat_private> To: "'Declan McCullagh'" <declanat_private> Subject: Cautionary tale on using e-mail Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 11:57:39 -0400 Declan, Here's an item that might be interesting to your Politech subscribers. Today's (5/17/01) Washington Post has what can best be described as a "cautionary tale" on indiscriminately using e-mail to pass around seemingly innocuous items to friends and colleagues. It concerns the aide to a top official in Fairfax County, Va. who spread what she thought was a credible story about HIV-infected needles attached to the bottom of gas station pumps - a story that turned out to be a hoax. By sending the message to 100 friends and colleagues, the aide set the story loose all over the world, and she -- and her boss -- are continuing to pay the price to this day. The best quote from the story comes from the aide: "I can tell you, after this experience, if the sky is falling, no one will hear it from me." The story headlined "Apocryphal E-Mail Bedevils Va. Sender" can be found on washingtonpost.com at: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36923-2001May16.html Cheers, - Max Max Cacas - Senior Online Producer[radio/webcasting] Technology & Programs The Freedom Forum / Arlington, Va. USA email: mcacasat_private http://www.freedomforum.org "Inanimate objects are out to screw you." - Fred W. Friendly ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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