Don’t Help Spread Internet Rumors

Re “You Might Be Infected -- With an Urban Legend,” Commentary, Nov. 28: Andrew Noymer’s article on urban legends touches only the tip of the iceberg. The Internet has probably spread more urban legends than any other source. It seems like every time one of my friends discovers “e-mail” I am again warned about a (nonexistent) computer virus, making money by forwarding e-mails from Microsoft, “missing” children and, yes, even the cookie recipe.

I know these people think they’re being helpful, but what they’re really doing, aside from passing on false rumors, is spreading lists of valid e-mail addresses (the recipients) to spammers and who-knows-where because most of them don’t use the “blind” feature in their address configuration.

The best source for verifying rumors (Web and otherwise) before spreading them around is a fascinating and well-known Web site called www.snopes.com. Every urban legend has either been validated or debunked on that site. At least that’s what I’m told.

Andy Pearlman

Marina del Rey