Sunday 24 August 2014

Chain Mail on Social Media

The following text is posted frequently on Facebook, and it is a form of social engineering, very much of the same kind that is used to trick people to send chain emails about viruses, or to worry people about security and get them to click on an email link.
 
For all my friends, whether close or casual, just because, One of the longest posts I will ever do.. and the most real, too. Everyone will go through some hard times at some point. Life isn't easy. Just something to think about...did you know the people that are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to get mistreated? Did you know the ones who take care of others all the time are ...usually the ones who need it the most? Did you know the three hardest things to say are I love you, I'm sorry, and Help me? Sometimes just because a person looks happy, you have to look past their smile and see how much pain they may be in. To all my friends who are going through some issues right now--let's start an intention avalanche. We all need positive intentions right now. If I don't see your name, I'll understand. May I ask my friends wherever you might be, to kindly copy and paste this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune. I hope to see this on the walls of all my friends just for moral support. I know some will!! I did it for a friend and you can to. You have to COPY & PASTE this one, NO Sharing.
 
It is a form of chain mail, made up of the kind of platitudes that you might also find from a Fairground Fortune Teller. Who among us, after all, has not had "family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind"? Its is designed to tug the heartstrings, and get people to repost it, rather than just share it. It makes out that anyone who fails to do so is somehow heartless. Is it good to manipulate people's emotions in this way? Isn't this a kind of emotional blackmail?
 
By way of a satire, here is my alternative version of this chain mail, which takes some of the phrases and uses them to are rather more surreal and comic effect:
 
For all my friends, whether close or casual, just because. One of the longest posts I will ever do, and the most real too. Sherbert lemons are delightful to suck and even crunch, although your dentist bills may increase. Life isn't easy. Just something to think about. Did you know that Boris Karloff's real name was William Henry Pratt. Sometimes just because a person looks like a monster and has a scar and bolts through their neck and hurl people from windmills, they may actually be very sweet. Did you know the three hardest things to say are: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, antidisestablishmentarianism, and triskaidekaphobia. If I don't see your name, I'll understand. I may even sue. Messrs Soo, Grabbitt and Runne are my solicitors. May I ask my friends, wherever you might be, to kindly copy and paste this status for one hour to show that you think I really should be carted off to the funny farm by men in white coats.

3 comments:

James said...

Another reason not to be on Facebook...

Anonymous said...

James, Just because someone does not know how to drive does not mean you or someone else shouldn't.

Anonymous said...

James, just because someone does not know how to drive does not mean that no one else should. We all need to learn how to be defensive drivers if we are on any social media, including FB.