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Chain letters
Oct. 18th, 2005 10:52 pmAggrrhh! People who forward chain letters without checking the facts should have their Internet privileges revoked for a month.
I got this email yesterday, the upshot of which was that some bloke reckoned he had a Cure For Cancer, and the medical industry was blocking it ( Miracle Cure For Cancer! Suppressed by EVIL capitalist pigs! Sign and Save the World from the ravages of Cancer! And SPAM EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!111!!!ELEVENTYONE111! )
Being the naturally curious (and skeptical) person that I am, I did what the email suggested, and checked it out on the web. 5 minutes later, and guess what? There IS a report published by the NHMRC. You can find it here. Alternatively, there is a plain english translation (for us non-medical geeks), in the form of a press release, here
So, I decided that I should actually reply to this (well, to everyone who got the same email as me)
( my actually very polite and informative reply )
I didn't even include the harsh stuff - where they analysed his patient data and totally shredded his '100% cure' delusion. Mostly because I thought they wouldn't understand it - what is this 'research' you speak of? Clinical study? Bah. We don't need no stinking study.
I also left alone all the logical and factual flaws in the letter itself, as well as the numerous unsupported claims - mostly cause I couldn't be bothered.
Before anyone says anything - I realise that the fact the study HAS been completed will not bother anyone who believes in the 'conspiracy to stop cancer cures', but at least it invalidated this particular piece of spam. You know, I can see the next one now.... NHMRC study on CURE FOR CANCER coverup by global american corporations!!!1!! Sign petition for new, unbiased survey conducted by TRUE BELIEVERS ONLY!!!!!1!!1
Just don't send it to me. Or do, so I can laugh (or possibly bang my head against a brick wall)
So please, if you are going to send me spam, even well-intentioned spam, then at least make sure it is WELL RESEARCHED spam. Up-to-date well-researched spam would be even nicer. And I would also like a pony and a toy rocket.
OK, now I feel better. Still worried about the stupidity of the human race, but better.
Random Observation for the Day - how the hell can supposedly intelligent people sign these things? I mean, really, com'mon people. *sigh*
I got this email yesterday, the upshot of which was that some bloke reckoned he had a Cure For Cancer, and the medical industry was blocking it ( Miracle Cure For Cancer! Suppressed by EVIL capitalist pigs! Sign and Save the World from the ravages of Cancer! And SPAM EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!111!!!ELEVENTYONE111! )
Being the naturally curious (and skeptical) person that I am, I did what the email suggested, and checked it out on the web. 5 minutes later, and guess what? There IS a report published by the NHMRC. You can find it here. Alternatively, there is a plain english translation (for us non-medical geeks), in the form of a press release, here
So, I decided that I should actually reply to this (well, to everyone who got the same email as me)
( my actually very polite and informative reply )
I didn't even include the harsh stuff - where they analysed his patient data and totally shredded his '100% cure' delusion. Mostly because I thought they wouldn't understand it - what is this 'research' you speak of? Clinical study? Bah. We don't need no stinking study.
I also left alone all the logical and factual flaws in the letter itself, as well as the numerous unsupported claims - mostly cause I couldn't be bothered.
Before anyone says anything - I realise that the fact the study HAS been completed will not bother anyone who believes in the 'conspiracy to stop cancer cures', but at least it invalidated this particular piece of spam. You know, I can see the next one now.... NHMRC study on CURE FOR CANCER coverup by global american corporations!!!1!! Sign petition for new, unbiased survey conducted by TRUE BELIEVERS ONLY!!!!!1!!1
Just don't send it to me. Or do, so I can laugh (or possibly bang my head against a brick wall)
So please, if you are going to send me spam, even well-intentioned spam, then at least make sure it is WELL RESEARCHED spam. Up-to-date well-researched spam would be even nicer. And I would also like a pony and a toy rocket.
OK, now I feel better. Still worried about the stupidity of the human race, but better.
Random Observation for the Day - how the hell can supposedly intelligent people sign these things? I mean, really, com'mon people. *sigh*
