From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (qmail 10683 invoked by alias); 6 Jun 2008 18:14:08 -0000 Received: (qmail 10671 invoked by uid 22791); 6 Jun 2008 18:14:07 -0000 X-Spam-Check-By: sourceware.org Received: from mxout-04.mxes.net (HELO mxout-04.mxes.net) (216.86.168.179) by sourceware.org (qpsmtpd/0.31) with ESMTP; Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:13:34 +0000 Received: from Owner-PC.purplemath.com (unknown [24.15.214.36]) by smtp.mxes.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id A24F4D05A2; Fri, 6 Jun 2008 14:13:31 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <5.2.0.9.2.20080606131351.045b1f98@mail.mxes.net> X-Sender: stapel_purplemath.com@mail.mxes.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.2.0.9 Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:14:00 -0000 To: UKI_ENG_XPS_Dimension_Support , UKI_Support_SC , "Western Digital Support" , "Will Brimley" ,xconq7@sources.redhat.com, "zitta novovic" From: Purplemath Subject: Re: I don't condone chain emails but ... [debunked] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Mailing-List: contact xconq7-help@sourceware.org; run by ezmlm Precedence: bulk List-Id: List-Subscribe: List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: , Sender: xconq7-owner@sourceware.org X-SW-Source: 2008/txt/msg00005.txt.bz2 Dear fellow recipient, Today, you and I received the following, apparently as part of a "forward to all" listing on which we both were listed: > Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations > have conditioned us to think that the cost of a > litre is CHEAP.... While it can be amusing to think of oneself as being privy to "secret" or "vast right-wing" "conspiracies", etc, the laws of supply and demand are, I'm afraid, fairly well documented and are not, in fact, "plots" of any sort. I regret to inform that chain letters and other potentially-illegal activities are unlikely to disprove, let alone overturn, these economic facts. My personal experience has been that, before forwarding messages of this sort to "everybody", it is often helpful to do a little research. Widely-broadcast hoaxes are generally quite-thoroughly documented. In this case Snopes ("the" urban-myth reference site) http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp Truth or Fiction http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/fuelprotest.htm Investopedia: Why You Can't Influence Gas Prices http://investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/gas-price-emails.asp As can be discerned from the above, this oil-boycott myth has been popping up online -- usually in the late spring or early summer (that is, near the beginning of the summer vacation / road-trip season) -- since at least the year 2000. If you have been buying petrol (gasoline) during that period, then you are aware that the previous "campaigns" had no appreciable effect; logically, it would seem unlikely that this year will produce any better result. In particular, there is no "need" to foward the solicitation to everyone in your "address book". In general, you can learn more about how to combat chain letters on this dedicated-purpose site: Break the Chain http://www.breakthechain.org/index.html My best wishes to you all, and my apologies for any offense. Sincerely, Elizabeth Stapel ========================================== ========================================== It should be noted that sending "snail-mail" chain letters is often a violation of national law: United States Postal Inspection Service http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/sweepstakesfraud/ChainLetters.aspx United Stated Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/chainalrt.shtm United Kingdom Royal Mail (see page 4) ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/rmg/Suppliers_Information_Security_Schedule.pdf And sending e-mail chain letters is usually a violation of the "Terms of Use" for one's e-mail or Internet account. Check with your ISP or other provider for specifics.