Over the past few days, I’ve received over one dozen e-mails from friends and family, asking me to add my name to a list of people fighting against the miscarriage of justice in the Jamie Bulger case of 1993.

The e-mail is entitled “Remember February 1993”

What blows me away is that within the e-mail it clearly states:

“The Love-Bug virus took less than 72 hours to reach the world, I hope this one does as well”

Do any of the people who sign their name to this know what the Love-Bug virus ^[1] was, or what it did?

Please, do not send me e-mails to sign or forward on, or send me chain letters where something horrible will happen to me or my family if I choose not to reply.

And if you do, please do not be offended when I delete them without replying.

Yes, the Jamie Bulger case is horrid, yes I feel for his parents (I am a parent – how could I not?).

And this is the point:

The BEST way to spread a virus (interestingly, the method is similar to link baiting ^[2]) is to make it so emotive, that people are compelled to respond.

Here’s a shocker – viruses, worms, bugs, and all sorts of ugly critters are sent to you more often than not by friends.  Not intentionally, just without consideration or knowledge.

If it is a chain letter, request to sign a petition, an offer of money for a service—like Billy Gates offering $10 for each referral you give him—it is more than likely something that will cause you grief for a long time.

Don’t do it.