Why do we continue to distribute these stupid email myths and what consequence?

That is something I have wondered myself. Now I can understand someone who is new to the Internet or who isn't computer savvy not knowing how to check them out but others should be able to check things out. I see many people that I know should be able to check such things out don't and just hit that forward button. For myself I usually will let the people know who sent it to me that it is an urban legend. They are usually glad to know that they are fake. What amazes me though are the ones who will post such things here in mylot before checking them out. I've seen it happen a lot. Emails they get that they just post up here and if they had taken a few minutes they would have found out and not looked foolish when several people post "that's an urban legend". Of course I'm amazed at how many people keep using to in order to forward emails instead of bcc. They allow anyone to get their emails and their friends and family's emails by doing this.

I actually received an email from one of my friends about 2 years ago, only this said it was happening one town over from me in the mall parking lots and the people were robbed and not raped. I actually emailed the mayor of our village and sent her the email to check it out in case it was true. She then forwarded it to the police and spoke with them. Three days later she contacted me to tell me all was okay and there were no incidents. I felt happy and stupid in a way. Then I thought...it's better to make sure than to ignore it in case it might be true. But you're right about some wierdos getting the idea to actually try it. It's the same thing with the news media too. The other day I saw them do a piece on some kid whose parents turned him in after they found evidence that he was going to blow up his school. The news actually spoon fed the viewers on how to make a bomb....brilliant!

Well personally I wouldn't feel responsible because I never forward these emails. In fact I'm notoriously grumpy about it when people forward them to me, mainly because most of them are just nonsense. I see your point though, some sicko might get a look at it and think "hey - that's an idea!" If I was one of the people that kept the chain going by forwarding them then I guess I would feel responsible if that happened. Having said that, unfortunately psycho's never seem to be short of ideas as to what to do next so they don't really need any encouragement.

I always check the mail before I sent it to anyones else and most of the time i never forward email at all

Hmm I think I have been very guilty of sending this type of thing in the past but I now try to verify any such mails and claims via snopes before sending! Would I feel responsible - knowing me definitely, should I - no I guess we shouldn't as if someone were sick enough to emulate this kind of behaviour they would have done something just as appalling with or without seeing this type of mail! xxx