David wrote:
> To help answer questions, I've prepared the following text.
 
Since we're sharing, appended below is my take on how to
calm people down.
 
My personal pet theory is that the "Good Times" virus warning
was a carefully crafted piece of work, generated by someone
who fully understands the psychology of chain letters, in a
misguided (or at least, failed) attempt to introduce an anti-
virus that would snuff the original "Good Times" chain letter.
 
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| Cara asked:
| > What do you tell people to calm them down?
|
| Some attempt to explain the real situation might be a good
| place to start.
|
| First, talk about chain letters.  Most people have the real-
| world experience of receiving one, and many well-educated
| knowledge workers are annoyed (rather than co-opted) by them.
|
| Second, explain that there are email equivalents, and talk
| about how they're even worse because the cost of duplicating
| an email message (i.e. forwarding) is so low.
|
| Third, draw the parallel between chain letters and biological
| viruses.  This can be hard, but is an important part of the
| overall message.
|
| Then say there really was a "Good Times" chain letter email
| message.  And suggest that one explanation for the message
| they received is that someone was trying to warn people about
| the original "Good Times" chain letter.
|
| That's about where you have to leave it, I think.  As Cara
| indicated, the desired result is to calm people down, and
| providing a rational explanation like the one above ought
| (IMHO) to help.