[wplug] OT -- Hoax Information Websites

[Michael A. Smith]

You've told her that the forwards are not true: have you told her
explicitly not to forward them?

I don't have any additions to your list of websites; however, (if you
haven't already) I would suggest explaining to her the damaging nature
of such exponentially reproducing emails to the Internet as a whole.
You've probably taught the concept of 'netiquette, but forwarding
garbage, especially after your first explanation that it's a hoax, is
rude, IMHO, and I think it's fair to say so, especially in your capacity
as an educator.

Regards,
Mike

Kevin Squire wrote:

>Dear Group,
>
>I am a Middle/High school teacher who works for a Virtual Charter School
>(www.pavcs.org).  There is a lot of the communication between the
>parents and I that is done via email, and a number of these families
>and/or parents are new to the Internet.  I have one parent that
>regularly sends me those annoying, forwarded 300 times, urban
>legends/hoaxes/chain letters/etc.  Each time, I reply politely telling
>here that it is fake/not all true.  
>
>This last time she replied with a "How do you know?"  I told here some
>of the tell-tale signs, and even gave her a few websites that keep track
>of this kind of thing --
>	http://www.truthorfiction.com/
>	http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/
>	http://www.scambusters.org/
>	http://urbanlegends.about.com/
>
>I was wondering 2 things:
>(1) What are some sites that you might use to "debug" a hoax?
>    (besides a quick google search)
>(2) What are some of the tell-tale signs the you notice/use to separate
>the possibly true from the down right false? (besides the subject line
>being filled with "FWD:FWD:FWD:" )
>
>Anything that I could use to help some of these parents become better
>"net-izens" would be appreciated.
>
>Kevin
> 
>
>  
>