Sixth Grade Science Fair Project Chain Letter
Netlore Archive
Description: Email chain letter
Circulating since: March 2002
Status: Pointless
Analysis: See below
Email example contributed by an AOL member, 04/05/02:
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Subject: Project for a 2002 Science Fair
Dear Recipient: We are keeping track of how many e-mails we get back, and what cities, states, and countries they are coming from. We are hoping that you will be willing to help us with our project! There are only 2 simple steps that will help us to track this email: 1. Please send an e-mail to the following address: science2002fair@yahoo.com In the subject of the e-mail please include your city, state, and country. You do not need to include your name. Please respond only one time. 2. Please forward this e-mail to everyone on your mailing list. We will be keeping track of the number of responses, as well as the locations. Therefore, send them even to people in the same town. In our science project, we are trying to demonstrate how fast and how far information can travel on the Internet in a six week period. If you receive this e-mail after May 1, 2002, please disregard it, since the project will be over. Thank you VERY much for your help! |
Comments: This is neither an original idea, nor a particularly smart one. In the eyes of system administrators, chain letters are indistinguishable from spam. All mail sent to the above address is returned with the following error message: "Possible forgery or deactivated due to abuse."
Teachers have been instigating online "class projects" of this ilk for several years now, often coming to regret it when their email accounts are overwhelmed with responses -- if not canceled by their ISPs -- within a very short period of time.
The Internet can be a wonderful tool for education, but this is one of the least advisable ways to make use of it.
Further reading:
More 'Class Project' Chain Letters
Specimens from 1999
