Beware, there's a new virus going around called 'work.' If you receive any sort of 'work' at all, whether via email, Internet or simply handed to you by a colleague... DO NOT OPEN IT!
Description: Email joke / Parody
Circulating since: 2000
Status: Amusing
Example:
Email contributed by Zaida Z., June 23, 2000:
WORK ALERT
There is a new virus going around, called "work". If you receive any sort of "work" at all, whether via email, internet or simply handed to you by a colleague... DO NOT OPEN IT!
Work has been circulating around our building for months and those who have been tempted to open "work" or even look at "work" have found that their social life is deleted and their brain ceases to function properly.
If you do encounter "work" via email or are faced with any "work" at all, then to purge the virus, send an email to your boss with the words "Sorry... I'm off to the pub". The "work" should automatically be deleted from your brain. If you receive "work" in paper- document form, simply lift the document and drag the "work" to your trash can. Put on your coat and skip to the nearest bar with two friends and order three pints of beer. After repeating this action 14 times, you will find that "work" will no longer be of any relevance to you.
Send this message to everyone in your address book. If you do not have anyone in your address book, then I'm afraid the "work" virus has already corrupted your life.
Analysis: Get it? "Work" is a virus. Delete it before it ruins your life!
This anonymously-written parody of standard virus alerts has been circulating online since 2000. It mimics the overwrought tone of real virus warnings (and hoaxes) so brilliantly that it has probably fooled more than a few people who didn't read it carefully enough, but I doubt the author really intended to deceive anyone so I'm reluctant to label it a hoax. You're welcome to disagree.
Last updated: 08/22/08