The email claims the Coronavirus is a biological weapon unleashed by China. The writer points to ā€˜evidence’ that no major Chinese cities have been affected by the virus and suggests the country may be hiding an antidote. After every statement it says ā€˜SOMETHING IS FISHY!’
Not going into the flaws in logic or outright falsities of the email but here’s how my dad (74,m) reacted when he got the email from a mate. ā€˜I read it and thought it was interesting so I forwarded it onto 5 people to see what they think’. But he didn’t ask for their opinions.
Dad says he thought it was ā€˜a bit dodgy’ but didn’t ask his mate who sent it to him where it came from. He didn’t see the problem with passing it on to maybe ā€˜start a conversation’. But I was the only person he actually talked to about it.
The partial email chain shows 14 people. If they did what dad did and sent it to 5 friends that’s 70 other’s who got it. If THEY did what Dad did that’s 350 etc etc. No questions asked about veracity or source. Dad agrees it’s probably ā€˜not great’ and ā€˜a bit harsh on the Chinese’
Dad says he realises how dangerous forwarding without questions is. He’s an avid BBC News viewer/ listener but says he wants more reporting on this stuff. I told him we have an entire team on this full time (!). Clearly, as others have said, this is a cultural problem.
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