How to Not Get Creeped out by a Chain Letter
Think: What is the chain mail?, Usually at the top there is something such as, "Don't read this" or "Stop"., Often the email or comment will be some story, commonly about some monster or fictional dead kid attacking people., After you read the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Think: What is the chain mail?
Is it, "BBQ at my house! I won't like if you don't come!"? If it is, you're fine (it's not really an alarming thing, just a friend who expects you to show up and might be sore at you if you don't).
If not, continue on. , If there is, you should stop and delete it.
Chain letters often tell you to "read" or "don't read" as a ploy, playing on your initial curiosity so if you read them, they'll eventually hit you with a bunch of baloney designed to push your panic button or use any other emotion you have against you for one purpose only: to get you spreading it further.
However, if you are curious, or a rebel or just want to read it, continue.
It's just a piece of text with maybe some graphics and animations.
It can't actually do anything to you. , Don't lose your head and get scared.
There's no such thing as monsters, you've known that since you were small.
No chain letter is going to cause one to blip into existence to kill you or anyone else.
You know dead people are dead, and can't go around attacking you, pulling you down some nonexistent well or do any of the things these supposedly creepy chain letters claim.
None of these creepy story forwards can actually cause that to happen, either.
If you choose to read it, keep in mind the fact that every one of these scary chain email stories are absolutely untrue.
Keep thinking this as you read it. , Think again:
Will this really happen to you? Will you actually die because you didn't send an email? How is it even possible that a made up story and text and pixels created by some anonymous hoaxer actually kill you.
It can't, any more than your computer monitor and keyboard.
There's no more chance of a piece of made-up email tracking you down and killing you than there is of your computer suddenly coming to life and giving you a hug or a slap.
Chain letter emails are not living beings and they are not magic.
They can't physically do any more harm to anyone than an email you personally write. , Doing this stops other people getting it and passing it on and it getting worse. , Write out all of the things wrong with it and make yourself laugh at the utter ridiculousness of the story and the threat attached.
Keeping the message is also a good way of stopping a troublesome emailer: you tell someone (teacher, parent, friend, etc.) you have proof of getting this unwanted email.
If convenient, ask anyone else who is definitely not creeped out by the chain letter for their ideas.
If you get them to dissect and ridicule the story for the fake-creepy, absurd junk it is, you and probably them will end up having a good laugh over it.
This completely turns the tables on whoever actually started the chain letter that creeped out the unthinking, easily scared people who got it before you did and passed it on.
Being a chain-breaker is good and never killed anyone. , (Hopefully they'll take the hint and the situation ends here). ,, You can even report them to their internet service provider if they keep sending you unwanted email.
The situation is getting out of hand.
Tell the person you will block their address if they keep sending you this junk.
Chain letters are against the terms of service of many ISPs
- they are a type of spam. ,"
you may need to tell an authority (police, principal, etc) but only under dire circumstances such as when it isn't a mere hoax chain letter, but a real threat from an actual person who you know is capable of real violence. (see Warnings). -
Step 2: Usually at the top there is something such as
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Step 3: "Don't read this" or "Stop".
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Step 4: Often the email or comment will be some story
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Step 5: commonly about some monster or fictional dead kid attacking people.
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Step 6: After you read the story
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Step 7: it will say something like
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Step 8: "If you do not send this to ten more people
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Step 9: you will die in two days."
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Step 10: Don't send it to anyone else.
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Step 11: Even if it is absolutely creepy
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Step 12: keep the mail and smash it.
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Step 13: If you know the person who sent you the email
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Step 14: tell them that it is really bad manners for them to send you nonsensical curse emails and they should stop and think
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Step 15: because they're either panicking over nothing
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Step 16: or else they sent it on as a joke and it just isn't funny
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Step 17: and makes them look like a gullible schmuck for panicking and forwarding something that is 100% rubbish.
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Step 18: If they send you another email
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Step 19: follow steps 1-7 again.
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Step 20: If the person sends you 3 or more emails
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Step 21: tell someone else.
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Step 22: if an email ever says something like
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Step 23: "I will break into your house myself and (enter bad event) you!
Detailed Guide
Is it, "BBQ at my house! I won't like if you don't come!"? If it is, you're fine (it's not really an alarming thing, just a friend who expects you to show up and might be sore at you if you don't).
If not, continue on. , If there is, you should stop and delete it.
Chain letters often tell you to "read" or "don't read" as a ploy, playing on your initial curiosity so if you read them, they'll eventually hit you with a bunch of baloney designed to push your panic button or use any other emotion you have against you for one purpose only: to get you spreading it further.
However, if you are curious, or a rebel or just want to read it, continue.
It's just a piece of text with maybe some graphics and animations.
It can't actually do anything to you. , Don't lose your head and get scared.
There's no such thing as monsters, you've known that since you were small.
No chain letter is going to cause one to blip into existence to kill you or anyone else.
You know dead people are dead, and can't go around attacking you, pulling you down some nonexistent well or do any of the things these supposedly creepy chain letters claim.
None of these creepy story forwards can actually cause that to happen, either.
If you choose to read it, keep in mind the fact that every one of these scary chain email stories are absolutely untrue.
Keep thinking this as you read it. , Think again:
Will this really happen to you? Will you actually die because you didn't send an email? How is it even possible that a made up story and text and pixels created by some anonymous hoaxer actually kill you.
It can't, any more than your computer monitor and keyboard.
There's no more chance of a piece of made-up email tracking you down and killing you than there is of your computer suddenly coming to life and giving you a hug or a slap.
Chain letter emails are not living beings and they are not magic.
They can't physically do any more harm to anyone than an email you personally write. , Doing this stops other people getting it and passing it on and it getting worse. , Write out all of the things wrong with it and make yourself laugh at the utter ridiculousness of the story and the threat attached.
Keeping the message is also a good way of stopping a troublesome emailer: you tell someone (teacher, parent, friend, etc.) you have proof of getting this unwanted email.
If convenient, ask anyone else who is definitely not creeped out by the chain letter for their ideas.
If you get them to dissect and ridicule the story for the fake-creepy, absurd junk it is, you and probably them will end up having a good laugh over it.
This completely turns the tables on whoever actually started the chain letter that creeped out the unthinking, easily scared people who got it before you did and passed it on.
Being a chain-breaker is good and never killed anyone. , (Hopefully they'll take the hint and the situation ends here). ,, You can even report them to their internet service provider if they keep sending you unwanted email.
The situation is getting out of hand.
Tell the person you will block their address if they keep sending you this junk.
Chain letters are against the terms of service of many ISPs
- they are a type of spam. ,"
you may need to tell an authority (police, principal, etc) but only under dire circumstances such as when it isn't a mere hoax chain letter, but a real threat from an actual person who you know is capable of real violence. (see Warnings).
About the Author
Marilyn Murphy
Experienced content creator specializing in organization guides and tutorials.
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