Chain letter

A typical chain letter consists of a message that attempts to induce the recipient to make a number of copies of the letter and then pass them on to one or more new recipients. 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. Common methods used by chain letters include emotionally manipulative stories, get-rich-quick pyramid schemes, and the exploitation of superstition to threaten the recipient with bad luck or even physical violence if he or she "breaks the chain" and refuses to adhere by the conditions set out by the letter.

Related Topics:
Message - Letter - Meme - Self-replicating - Information - Pyramid scheme - Superstition

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Chain letters are capable of evolution, generally improving their ability to convince their hosts to replicate them over time. This sometimes occurs through deliberate modification of the chain letter by a recipient, or sometimes through purely accidental imperfect copying.

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With the development of e-mail and the Internet, chain letters have become much more common and quick to spread than when they were transmitted purely by physical mail, although RFC 1855 explicitly discouraged them as a breach of netiquette. (see Chain email). However, there have been Himmelsbriefe ("Heaven letters") since at least the Middle Ages. And one could look to the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a meme that promised resurrection to those intombed with a copy.

Related Topics:
E-mail - Internet - Netiquette - Chain email - Himmelsbrief - Egyptian Book of the Dead - Meme - Resurrection

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Any recipients of such letters are generally advised to ignore and discard them.

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Example:

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A girl named Jessica went to school one day and saw her boyfriend. She told him about a sleep over she was going to have with her best friend the next day.

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"It's going to be great." she finished.

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"I don't care" said her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was a very depressed child, but no one knew why.

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After school was over Jessica went home and went on aim. She talked to her best friend for 3 hours about the sleep over they were going to have.

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Jessica4evah: Isn't it going to be cool?

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BestFriends4evah:Yep

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A screen poped up showing that someone she didn't know imed her. The screen name was RightBehindYou66. She excepted.

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RightBehindYou66: Hello Jessica

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Jessica4evah: hi who is this???

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RightBehindYou66: You're worst nightmare.

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Jessica4evah: hahaha really who is this?

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RightBehindYou66: I'm not kidding.

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Jessica4evah: Yea suuuuuuuuurrrreeeee.....lol

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RightBehindYou66: You've been troubling me with all you're trendy bullshit, and happy-go-lucky spirit, and it's really getting on my nerves. I think this calls for certain consequences.

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Jessica4evah: ok who is this? the joke is old

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RightBehindYou66: No you are old. At least you're life is. I can put a stop to that.

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Jessica4evah: ok youre really starting to freak me out

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RightBehindYou66: Freak you out?! Oh that isn't the half of what you're going to feel tonight.

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Jessica4evah: JUST TELL ME WHO YOU ARE!!

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RightBehindYou66: You're screen name says you'll be around forever, but it's wrong. Not when I'm done with you.

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Jessica4evah: Ok RightBehindYou66, i'm going to block you unless you don't tell me who you are

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RightBehindYou66: You look tired Jessica, why don't you go to sleep?

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Suddenly Jessica felt terrified. She knew instantly it was her boyfriend. There was a huge knot in her stomach. As she wrote the last words she will ever write her stomach felt as if it were full of steel.

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Jessica4evah: where are you?

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RightBehindYou66: I'm exactly where my screen name says I am.

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RightBehindYou66: I'm right behind you.

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Jessica swung the mouse toward the block button and clicked OK when it asked if she was sure. She was releived only untill a message swung up. It was from her best friend.

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BestFriends4evah: That won't stop me Jessica.

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And Jessicas closet door swung open showing Jessicas best friend stab her right in the chest.

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Jessicas best friend doesn't go on BestFriends4evah anymore, she goes on RightBehindYou66. If you don't beleive me, im it. You'll be sure it's her.

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REPOST THIS IN 24 HOURS OR ELSE SHE'LL COME OUT OF YOUR CLOSET AND KILL YOU, TOO.

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REMEMBER: SHE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

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