OFF: Fwd: "LIGHTS OUT" by the ANGRY SAMOANS

[Paul Mather]

Larry,

=> but if i've crossed into territory where language like "CRAIG SHERGOLD" will
=> be invoked against me in public, i'd better slink away under my own power
=> whilst i still can...
=>
=> there must be a grin around here somewhere...(grin)...<<---ah! i knew it!
=>
=> so, um, who's "CRAIG SHERGOLD", anyway?

Actually, the story is pretty funny in an ironic sort of way.  Craig
Shergold is a British lad, who was dying of terminal cancer.
(Naturally, that's not the funny part.)  So, his "dying wish" is to get
into the Guinness Book of Records for the most "Get Well" cards
received.  This was quite a while ago, before large-scale use of the
Internet, so the campaign to send cards, well-wishes, etc., to Craig got
going via chain letters, faxes, etc.

Graig received *LOTS* of cards.  Craig also got better.  You see, word
of his "case" spread far and wide, and reached the ears of a wealthy
American philanthropist, who flew Craig to the USA, to a top-notch
specialist who operated on his cancer.  Like I said, Craig got better.

Alas, old habits die hard.  Craig's appeal continued to circulate, and,
in fact even grew much larger when it escaped onto the Internet.  This
was despite Craig publicly announcing several times he was very much
alive and intended to stay that way, and please, PRETTY PLEASE, would
people STOP SENDING HIM CARDS.  You see, by this time, the British Post
Office had to devote an entire local sorting office just to handle mail
to "dying" Craig, and it was arriving faster than Craig and his family
could open and sort through.  I understand the Guinness Book of Records
has officially closed that category now, because of the trouble it
caused.

The appeal letter continues to resurface periodically, like outbreaks of
the Ebola virus, as well-intentioned newcomers stumble across it on
their travels, unaware of the full story and its outcome.

For more details, see:

        http://www.urbanlegends.com/classic/craig.shergold/

In a similar vein (e-mail spam that will not die), see:

        http://www.urbanlegends.com/food/two-fifty/neiman-marcus.html
        http://www.urbanlegends.com/food/two-fifty/neiman-marcus_debunked.html

for the infamous "Neiman-Marcus Cookie Recipe" spam/urban legend.

=> seeking the correct form
=> of propagation
=> i remain

As I've just returned from being out working on the garden, you'll
forgive my focus on propagation, I hope. :-)

Cheers,

Paul.

e-mail: paul at gromit.dlib.vt.edu

"I didn't mean to take up all your sweet time"
        --- James Marshall Hendrix