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My aunt used to occasionally forward emails to me that were obviously part of viral messaging attempts. They would often be religious in nature, but they'd als

• christophilus 2y ago
  My grandpa used to forward me similar emails. Any idea what the motivation is for whoever originally writes these things? There doesn’t seem to be any sort of financial angle. Is it just boomer-trolling for the sake of it?
  • rapjr9 2y ago
    The above research paper says one purpose of some of the emails was to collect email addresses. If you wanted to target a religious, military supporting, older crowd this was a way to collect their email addresses. They are also intended to encourage faith, support the military, and support caring for those less fortunate. And perhaps to spread the occasional political message urging people to "write your congresspeople", etc. I remember getting a few that were obviously racist or which spread lies. I used to collect all the spam email I got and besides those pushing porn there were a lot of them that were twisted. Maybe those were early attempts to create "word of mouth", peer-to-peer communication channels.
• rapjr9 2y ago
  Some research on chain letters that might be of interest: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344339739_Internet_Hoaxes_Chain_Letters_-_How_Dangerous_Are_They https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344339739_Internet_... I could totally see this kind of thing being co-opted for spreading political messages.
• brazzy 2y ago
  I'm pretty sure the "send a copy of this to X people or something bad will happen to you!" meme already existed in the paper mail days.
  • rapjr9 2y ago
    Yes, the research paper above says it started centuries ago.
• rapjr9 2y ago
  Here's one that is more political, anti-Obama: Subject: Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way! Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way! {picture of Lee Iococca's book} Just as true today as it was when his book first came out. He was, and still is, a brilliant businessman! Often we need to be reminded of Iococca's words. Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?'. Lee Iacocca Says: 'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage with this so called president? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of tax cheating clueless leftists trying to steer our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even run a ridiculous cash-for-clunkers program without losing $26 billion of the taxpayers' money, much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'trust me the economy is getting better..' Better? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned, 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the Democrats out along with Obama!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.. The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs.. While we're fiddling in Afghanistan , Iran is completing their nuclear bombs and missiles and nobody seems to know what to do. And the liberal press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you? I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.) Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with thumb up your butt and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down. On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war now with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. But our soldiers are dying daily. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the world, and it's getting worse every day! We've lost the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are going to skyrock again, and nobody in power has a lucid plan to open drilling to solve the problem. This country has the largest oil reserves in the WORLD, and we cannot drill for it because the politicians have been bought by the flea-hugging environmentalists. Our schools are in a complete disaster because of the teachers union. Our borders are like sieves and they want to give all illegals amnesty and free healthcare. The middle class is being squeezed to death every day. These are times that cry out for leadership. But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point. Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened. Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping the government will make it better for them. Now, that's just crazy.. Deal with life. Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, look what Obama did about it! Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving theenergy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry. I have news for the Chicago gangsters in Congress. We didn't elect you to turn this country into a losing European Socialist state. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on NBC or CNN news will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change? Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America . In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The 'Great Depression,' 'World War II,' the 'Korean War,' the 'Kennedy Assassination,' the 'Vietnam War,' the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years since 9/11. Make your own contribution by sending this to everyone you know and care about. It's our country, folks, and it's our future. Our future is at stake!! *********************************** LET'S GET THE MUSLIM ROOKIE OUT OF THE WHITEHOUSE!!!