Re: Virus Alert!

> Is there any truth in this???
> 
> I seem to remember someone saying that virus propagation via email as 
> described below is impossible???

Mike, the warning /itself/ is a virus, albeit a memetic not
information-theoretic one.  The propogation of some kind of software
virus is impossible through the mere act of reading a piece of email.
Consider the number of reader types, on the number of platforms
throughout the Net and you'll see why its prima facia ludicrous.

On the other hand, the /idea/ of an email-passed software virus is a
memetic virus started, some believe, with the original GOOD TIMES!
scare.	It too was a ludicrously described virus with the same
promiscuous properties, and the damage it did is still being felt
today; not in the number of hard drives it destroyed, for it could
destroy none, but in the amount of time spent debunking its still
sporadic outbreaks and disk space dedicated to holding files debunking
it.  Now, we see a third way it can be damaging, in spawning mutant
variants which people like myself spend time and space debunking.

Don't worry about PENPAL GREETINGS!.  Its not a threat to you or your
machine, but do keep in mind the capabilities and limits of the tools
you use because they are the surest guide to the `possible.'

And, as always, be on the lookout for memetic virii, wherever they may
occur, be it email-passed lunacy or make money fast postings.