Talk:Chain letter

Too Focused on Negative Aspects

There is no suggestion that a chain letter is a form of mass communication. I would guess a high percentage of the efforts are fraudulent. Though many other forms of mass communication are not motivated with good intentions. This article should describe how a chain letter compares to other forms of communication. How it compares in participatory dialogue? Is it a many to many or one to many form of communication? How does it funnel conversation? From one to the masses. Does it provide engagement? Does it propagate understanding or provoke a continuation of thought? BenDoGood (talk) 11:04, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

Could "purely accidental imperfect copying" really make a chain letter more likely to be sent? This seems a little far-fetched, considering the time span that most chain letters last. --Berdidaine 21:14, 11 July 2005 (UTC)

, a kid at my school got a chain letter and it didn't purport to offer any kind of financial award, and didn't threaten the recipient with bad luck, it only wanted to be replicated as a kind of deliberate attempt to create a meme, like a viral marketing campaign with no actual product. Are chain letters inherently bad? --Victim Of Fate 10:32, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

If nothing else it wasted paper, postage and time. I suppose one possible example of a "good" chain letter might be Samizdat publication, but "good" is inherently POV - I'm sure Soviet officials didn't consider it so. :) Bryan 00:23, 4 October 2005 (UTC)

I spent hours copying and sending chain letters that promised real rewards, i.e. Little Golden Books, recipes, postage stamps from around the world, quilt squares. You sent the item to the first person on the list and added your name to the bottom. I never got a single thing back, but somebody got the things I sent them - so you could say some good came of them. Chocklit 23:43, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

What good came to them, other than free toilet paper? --Mista-X 23:08, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

The item Chocklit wrote about is known as a pyramid scheme and is illegal, matter of fact it is a Federal Offense, and would not qualify as a chain letter, chain letters while annoying to some, are not illegal.--75.17.193.238 (talk) 23:15, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

The page today says chain letters are either hoaxes or urban legends. This is way too narrow a definition. I like David Mikkelson's take on Snopes because it matches my experience: many chain letters are harmless or at worst annoying. Meonkeys (talk) 03:13, 15 April 2020 (UTC)

examples....

Should we include some examples?
I get plenty of these I could donate :) 70.59.187.173 00:00, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

no.Dunc|☺ 00:22, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

Actually, perhaps you could put some on Sourceberg? I wonder what sort of licence a chain letter would be considered to be under, since the letter grants permission to freely copy it. :) Bryan 00:25, 4 October 2005 (UTC)

Oh, the dreaded afflictions of the chain letter....

examples of the longest lasting, or forwarded by the most people, would be good. Saccerzd 16:33, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Nice examples would be the ones from the series with include the Baklaliviatatlaglooshenian boy... That's just so sad.. =( lol 200.230.213.152 02:54, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

"#09/90 hoax" chain letter has been circulation around for some time. Now it has arrived to Latvia. It's translated to Latvian language and even got published into largest daily newspaper together with police warning to not follow any callers instructions. Unfortunately newspaper article is only in Latvian: http://www.diena.lv/lat/tautas_balss/lasitaji_vaica/bridina-par-telefonkrapniekiem —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.234.162.11 (talk) 10:45, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

Memes and human hosts

A chain letter can be considered a type of meme, a self-replicating piece of information that uses a human host to distribute copies of itself.

The present language of this article carries certain assumptions that may not be widely held. Perhaps they are good assumptions, but it would be nice to distance the article from them. Eric 08:27, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

The Amy Bruce chain letter hoax

Hey, I was wondering if this was something good to write an article about. I`ve heard about this infamous chain letter hoax that started back in the 1990`s.

The letter talked about a 7 year-old girl named Amy Bruce who said she was dying from lung cancer(from "second hand smoke") and a brain tumor(from "repeated beatings"). She said every time her letter was forwarded, the Make-A-wish foundation would donate 7 cents to her cause because her parents couldn`nt pay her hospital bills.

Of course, the whole letter was a hoax. But I thought it was intresting. I was wondering if i could... ummm... write an article about it. I first had some doubts about asking since Amy does`nt exist and the whole thing is a hoax. Please tell me what you think. 67.33.252.42 22:04, 11 March 2006 (UTC)4.153.2.35 5:02 10, march 2006

It would be best to mention it in this article first. Then, if there is enough information, a separate article yea one time after dark alex hale was walking and he heard his name 5 times then that was the eand ==YouTube==

Chain posts have been popping up all over YouTube lately. Just look around. World Challenge 01:23, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, here's a good example:

In 1945,a young girl named katu lata kulu came over to America in a grey boat from Africa. A mysterious man killed her by cutting the word "LATUALATUKA" into her back. now that you have read this measge she will come to your house on a full moon and steal your soul unless you follow these directions: 1. Retype this message as a comment for three other videos

It also appears on Bebo.com. Dessydes 01:57, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

There's also a similar story about a ghost coming out of a mirror and killing you. I hate those friggin' chain e-mails!

Yeah, me too. Here's another one:

PLEASE DON'T READ THIS. You will get kissed on the nearest possible Friday by the love of your life. Tomorrow will be the best day of your life. However, if you don't post this comment to at least 3 videos, you will die within 2 days. Copy and paste this, to be saved

Dessydes 15:25, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

More YouTube

I f*cking hate those chain letters on YouTube, pisses me off everytime i see one. Like this one: 'this is a true thing that can happen! its not a chain letter! its kinda scary at first but it really works!! paste this message into 3 comments and press ATL F4 and your crushes name will appear on your screan!!! is so weird this is a true thing that can happen! its not a chain letter! its kinda scary at first but it really works!! paste this message into 3 comments and press ATL F4 and your crushes name will appear on your screan!!! is so weird'

Retards. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 86.132.49.27 (talk • contribs) 19:25, March 23, 2007 (UTC)

LOL. The very act of instructing them to copy it off to others qualifies it a chain letter, hilarious that they deny it. --Stratadrake 04:00, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

'Now uv started readin dis dunt stop. This is so scary. Send this to 5 ova videos in 143 minutes. When ur done press F6 and ur crushes name will appear on the screen in big letters. This is scary cause it actually works. If u break the chain u will have problems with relations p.s for the next five years x-x-x '. Never fails to amuse. Is there a name for this kind of chain mail? --86.152.105.70 22:16, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

Yeah. its called "chav mail". --Coolspanner 19:55, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

More of this

I found this teddy crap on Newgrounds first.

Hi, I am Teddy. Once you read this youkill you. Don't believe me? Case 1: Patty Buckles WAIT IM JENNIFER IF UR READIND THIS UR STUPID IT AINT REAL GOD IS ND HE IS COMING BACK GET READY get saved b4 its to late!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got this e-mail. She doesn't believe in chain letters. Well, Foolish Patty. She was sleeping when her TV started flickering on and off. Now she's not with us anymore. Ha ha patty, Ha ha! You don't want to be like Patty, do you? Case 2: George M. Simon Hates chain mail, but he didn't want to die that night. He sent it to 4 people. Not good enough George. Now, George is in a coma, we don't know if he'll ever wake up. Ha ha George, Ha ha! Now, do you want to be like George? Case 3: Valarie Tyler She got this letter. Another chain letter she thought. Only had 7 people to send to. Well, That night when she was having a shower she saw bloody Mary in the mirror. It was the BIGGEST fright of her life. Valarie is scarred for life. Case 4: Derek Minse This is the final case I'll tell you about. Well, Derek was a smart person. He sent it to 12 people. Later that day, he found a $100.00 bill on the ground. He was premoted to head officer at his job and his girlfriend said yes to his purposal. Now, Katie and him are living happily ever after.The have 2 beautiful children. Send this to at least 12 people or you'll face the consequences. 0 people- You will die tonight 1-6 people- you will be injured 7-11 people- you will get the biggest fright of your life 12 and over- you are safe and will have good fortune!

Not only that one but it is on the entire internet!!!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Hi%2C+I+am+Teddy.+Once+you+read+this+you&btnG=Search

--203.81.161.151 17:18, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

Here's some short crap that I also found on YouTube: If you don't repost this 3 times, a penguin will come to your house and pee on your sofa. WTF????? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.188.19.16 (talk) 21:38, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Viral

There should be someplace where they define this as viral, but I'm not sure where. AkvoD3 16:48, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Legality?

I remember hearing that chain letters are illegal in Germany? Anybody know more about this? It needn't be forbidden by law, post regulations would suffice. -- 62.143.101.71 (talk) 17:19, 11 December 2007 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.174.249.100 (talk) 22:20, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

Age

I recall reading that these letters were common after the first world war - letters purporting to have been started by a soldier in the trenches.There was a sort of superstition that it was bad luck to break it. Fainites ^barley 22:50, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

Meme Again

Memes are bullshit - the term "meme" is neologism equipped with lots of new vocabulary but no new ideas. I removed this bullshit. Those who defend "memes" are worthless idiots deserving of scorn. They are opportunist of last years' intellectual prostitution. Out with them. And "viral phenomenon"? Pu-lease! Let's keep the tone encyclopedic folks, at least on the encyclopedia page. It is true that there have chain letter without religious overtones or threats - perhaps these could be described without Robert-Anton-Wilson-tardation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 GOD IS COMIN BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.174.249.100 (talk) 22:22, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

What Really Happened To Carmen Winstead

Carmen Winstead-The Things People Believe Some people believe Carmen was pushed in a drain, some people think she was choped up by her mother, well ill tell you the story to both-

  At a school fire drill 5 girls wanted to embaress Carmen, they thought pushing her down a open sewer would do perfect.When  she didnt submerge, the police were called, they said that Carmen fell, everybody believed them. They went to retrive the body, when they got the body up, the neck was broken from hitting the ladder, and concrete.
 Six months later David Gregory Read this post, but thought it was a myth that she will kill you if you dont repost, so he didnt. That night he was in the shower and he heard laughter from his drain, he was spooked, so he ran to his computer to repost this. He went to bed perfect that night. 5 hours later his mother was awakend to a loud noise, to find David was gone. That morning, a few hours later, the police found his body in a near by sewer. Has neck was broken and the skin on his face was peeled off.

 The other story is - Carmen was fighting with her mom over cuerfue, and she threw a punch, her mother blocked the punch and punched her back, hard enough to knock her out, when she fell, her neck was broken from hitting the dinning room chair. Her mother cut her up into little peices and flushed her down the toilet. And she was discoverd in the sewer the next day.

Six months later David Gregory Read this post, but thought it was a myth that she will kill you if you dont repost, so he didnt. That night he was in the shower and he heard laughter from his drain, he was spooked, so he ran to his computer to repost this. He went to bed perfect that night. 5 hours later his mother was awakend to a loud noise, to find David was gone. That morning, a few hours later, the police found his body in a near by sewer. Has neck was broken and the skin on his face was peeled off.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.130.65.125 (talk) 07:29, 14 December 2008 (UTC) 

THIS IS FAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEE —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.174.249.100 (talk) 22:23, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

it is fake 2600:8807:A797:FD00:CE4A:8603:D709:2E5B (talk) 21:12, 21 August 2022 (UTC)

True. 2601:1C0:CC00:5A20:FC3E:F379:113E:FB78 (talk) 03:20, 6 December 2023 (UTC)

Purpose

Can someone explain what would be the motivation of any person to initiate a chain letter if it doesn't ask for anything? The e-mail services can make money of this? Or anyone can, without asking for it? Because one thing in common is that all of them ask to be sent, sowhat's to gain? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paranoidhuman (talk • contribs) 21:19, 3 May 2009 (UTC) i think the purpose might be to scare other people into reposting, but for what reason i don’t know.

Chain Posts On Youtube

These chained-together messages that users re-post and re-post on comment boxes are called chain posts. These chain posts on Youtube are circulating indefinitely because of its pyramid scheme. Every Youtube user should check their video(s) daily for this kind of posting waste and disable commenting so that it stops. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.233.4.135 (talk) 04:10, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

Chain spiders

Is this original research? A Google search [1] showed only a couple of references to the term "Chain Spider" in relation to chain letters, and most (if not all) of those are copies of this article. – → Adrian Lozano (talk) 18:04, 3 March 2010 (UTC)

More book and studies about Chain letters

Michel-Louis Rouquette has written books about rumors (hoaxes in french) and has been doing a great study about Chain Letters and Rumors at Internet. His book "Chaînes magiques - les maillons de l'appartenance" seems to be rare, I just found it at the catalog of the Université Paris (sorbonne). It would be cool if somebody could tell us where to find it do buy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.88.213.152 (talk) 03:42, 19 May 2010 (UTC)

More stuff

http://www-ccs.cs.umass.edu/cris/internet-myths.html

This is a page on the UMASS site about the Jessica Mydek hoax. WhisperToMe (talk) 04:46, 2 October 2011 (UTC)

THIS TALK PAGE IS PERFECT EXAMPLE OF TALK PAGE POSTING VIOLATIONS

What is the only real rule to posting on Talk Pages? This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject. Unfortunately, or Fortunately, depending upon your viewpoint, this talk page is not one yet visited by the Self Appointed Talk Page Police. Most of this Talk Page is exactly how a general discussion of the article's subject would be defined.--75.17.193.238 (talk) 23:37, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

chain letter

what happens if you don't send it then what happens to you nothing bad can really happen, sometimes the things if you believe a chain mail and something happens it could be all in your head but who knows. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.188.187.166 (talk) 15:46, 9 February 2014 (UTC)

Sana May taong Totoo

Sa bawat oo may mali. pero sana maalala mo naman ako, at mapatawad dahil lahat naman pwede mag bago eh! sana pwede pa kasi nag hihintay ako sorry ha! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 112.208.193.102 (talk) 05:43, 20 August 2015 (UTC)

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Chain letter. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120508132454/https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/sweepstakesfraud/ChainLetters.aspx to https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/sweepstakesfraud/ChainLetters.aspx

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 5 June 2024).

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 12:39, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

Terrible introduction

The introduction condenses much information into extremely few words, such as this sentence:

"The "chain" is actually an exponentially growing pyramid (a tree graph) that cannot be sustained indefinitely."

which is the most essential aspect of chain letters. (How many people understand either "exponentially growing pyramid" or "tree graph"???) The sentence quoted above is highly unlikely to be understood by most people coming to this Wikipedia article to find out what a chain letter is.

I thought maybe this brief description would be elaborated on later in the article. It is not.

With an article like this, there might as well be no article.2600:1700:E1C0:F340:E5F0:9F2A:785A:2778 (talk) 17:35, 4 May 2018 (UTC)

yaaas

Unsupported claim of being sarcastic, added by 73.60.41.24.

I and another user have reverted the additions made by 73.60.41.24 on Chain letter. The edits are subjective and personal opinions, without any supporting references. The information has been added 4 times by the user. I have left a 3RR warning, and there seems to be a pattern of constant warnings on the page. (Yes, I know with IP addresses it could be a few different people). Not wanting to fall foul of 3RR myself, could someone else have a look over the edit history and give some guidance. --Dmol (talk) 09:37, 19 September 2018 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

• Discord Chain Message.png

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 21:56, 6 December 2020 (UTC)

Detected malware threats.

Saturday, January 23rd, 2021.

Hi, just dropping by to bring the following to your attention in order to (double-)check these findings for yourself, and possibly edit, delete, or attach caution to the specific links/texts.

It's to be expected (consequently accepted) that even today many users still don't have any suitable anti-virus/-malware program/software installed, which is the reason why I'm approaching you, since I wouldn't like having the PC/laptop/phone of this 'type of user' to risk any infections.

I'm using "Malwarebytes Premium" and my settings are at a "moderate" detection level (opposed to a 'neurotic' or 'hysterical' modus), so any detections should be taken as pretty much valid (ie, not as "absolute", but as "valid" nonetheless).

MBAM blocked the following links mentioned in the "External links" section:

•An example of a "Send-a-dime" letter

•Chain Letter Evolution, Daniel W. VanArsdale. A historical analysis, including an archive of actual letters.

Reason for blocking was the detection of potential "Trojan" malware, and both links share the exact same source: Domain: www.silcom.com – IP address: 207.154.88.26

I do believe that there's something to these, bc if it were a mere matter of the website not using the secure version of the hypertext protocol, it would've just labelled the blocked attempt as "possibly unsafe website"; MBAM is quite careful, and hands out "Trojan" warnings sparsely in my experience (reason I took it seriously).

So, to finish... please take a look and preferably test these yourself with adequate precautions, taking any necessary steps you see fit.

Have a nice weekend, and a good week.

Jennie.--64.44.80.172 (talk) 15:15, 23 January 2021 (UTC)

TikTok "Manifestation" Videos

On TikTok, there is a very popular genre of video along the lines of "don't skip or something bad will happen! Now, comment and use this sound for good luck." I would classify this as the most recent evolution of the chain letter, and suggest that it be added to this article. IHasAnAvocado (talk) 15:02, 22 April 2024 (UTC)