As an e-zine publisher, you strive to do right thing by your subscribers.When you find an interesting link, you pass it on. When you write or read an informative article, you print it. When you get a piece of information that could benefit your readers, naturally you make it known to them.
But, sometimes inevitable happens and percentages of good/bad information catch up to you.
They did for me.
Recently, I fell prey to a *deadly virus* hoax.
It was sent to me by a credible source and I sent it to my subscriber list via my list server.
These types of hoaxes serve no purpose except to confuse and confound people, causing only worry.
Of course, they can perpetuate themselves in form of emails that are sent in REPLY from unsuspecting readers. They click on their REPLY button and then hit SEND and emails begin to do *Hippy Hippy Shake* and bounce repeatedly from one email box to next.
I'm not sure of extent of bounced emails or if any damage occurred but I know it caused a ruckus. I received minimal comments chastising my action, although, in retrospect, I probably deserved more.
I sent out an apology to list members after discovering my blunder. Surprisingly, reactions were largely supportive and forgiving.
Here are samples of some of comments:
"Nice to know you're "one of us"." --Roger
"Better to err on side of caution than not at all." --Comet
"The 2 virus' you have listed are very well know hoaxes. Just by spamming warning you have propagated hoax just as a virus would have. Shame on you! Do your research before you send out warnings." --Shelly