Message-ID: <960110184753_87459292@emout04.mail.aol.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 18:47:55 -0500 From: Kathleen Gillogly <mailto:Kagillogly@AOL.COM> Subject: Re: (Fwd) (Fwd) Re: INTERNET VIRUS WARNING -- IMPORTANT To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
A well-meant warning was sent to the Associaton for Social Anthropology in Oceania (ASAONET) e-mail list just a few weeks ago. This was my comment on it then.I'm still finding the occurrence of this hoax fascinating. For those interested in urban legends, read *The Choking Doberman and Other Urban Legends." Thanks, Chris, for yet another example to add to my files. This may be a fun paper to write some day!
Forwarded: Subj: Re: Good Times Virus Date: 12/27/95 To: mailto:ASAONET@UICVM.CC.UIC.EDU
I must agree with a previous post-er: The Good Times Virus is an legend. As such, it's really interesting.
Note to whom the virus is attributed: AOL. There's a lot of animosity toward AOL out there. Some of it is from AOL users. There's entire BBSs of AOL people getting really virulent about AOL, so sending out this hoax message periodically seems to be one way of keeping the fires burning.
What's interesting from the anthro point of view, of course, is that people regularly *believe* that a virus is being sent out via AOL. From a practical point of view, I think it's goofy because I can tell that the average AOL user would have no idea how to construct and disseminate a virus. I think of that skill as the domain of hackers, who have home computers or work out of universities...
This is the 3rd time I've seen a message re: the Good Times Virus since I returned from the field and got wired. That's once every 3 months. This is better distribution than any urban legend reprinted in Ann Landers' column. As an anthropologist -- I love it! Are there any other Virus Legends circulating out there, or is this the only one?
I guess we can't continue this conversation too much further as it's not about the Pacific, but if anyone knows of similar hoaxes, please e-mail me. It might be a fun paper to do, post-dissertation.
Kate Gillogly Univ. of Michigan