No More Craptacular Hoax Emails

Ok... I'm working on adding a new title. How does "Debunker of Email Crap" sound? Or, perhaps "Email Hoax Evangelist." "Killer of Email Joy?" Whatever the case, stop forwarding me ridiculous, too good (or bad) to be true, trumped up, forwarded 70 bazillion times, based on few or no fact whatsoever - emails.

If it sounds too good to be true (forward this to ten people and you will get a puppy) or too bad to be true (don't forward this and a puppy will die) or if by forwarding it someone, somewhere will receive money - it's a load of shit!

Please go to Snopes.com right now and bookmark that site. I said now, dammit! And when your idiot friend sends you something that you feel like turning around and forwarding, simply plop a couple of the key words into the Snopes search box and see what they have to say. Chances are it's bunk.

Here are a couple recent examples of hoax emails I've received in the last three weeks:

• One about a bunch of phrases supposedly from the 1500s
• And another about how AOL and others will donate to help a baby that needs an operation
• This one talks about how Denzel Washington donated money to a military hospital on the spot (based slightly on fact).
• A scary one about how phone companies are gonna give your cell number to telemarketers
• A sweet parable about how god exists, at least in a USC classroom

Now, don't get me wrong... they're not all bullshit. Got this one today about clicking on the www.thebreastcancersite.com website and you can help them give women free mammograms.

So, take a second to check it out, and you'll save lots of people a major headache (and me from wishing ill upon you and your family).