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From: altenbur@plains.NoDak.edu (Karl Altenburg)
Subject: Mind virus
Sender: usenet@ns1.nodak.edu (Usenet login)
Message-ID: <D7JyBI.ID0@ns1.nodak.edu>
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 18:35:42 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host: plains.nodak.edu
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network
Lines: 78

This is a chain mail letter that I recently received in the 
postal mail.  It is an example of a meme or mind virus.  Two 
other examples of such written memes are:

Jones, A.R., and A.J. West. 1994. An instance of a parasitic 
replicator. In Artificial Life IV edited by R.A. Brooks and P. 
Maes. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Goodenough, O.R., and R. Dawkins. 1994. The 'St. Jude' mind 
virus. Nature 370:23.

This chain letter has several features common to this class 
of memes.  It is both specific and ambiguous.  It mentions 
place and people names, dates, and dollar amounts to 
enhance its believability.  However, there is probably not 
enough information to track down any of the statements as 
fact.  It is both promising and threatening.  It promises that 
good luck (typically in the form of money) will come to 
those that transmit this mind virus, and threatens those who 
do not with lost of life and/or livelihood.  The requested 
reproduction rate fro this virus is 20 offspring per copy in 
less than four days (96 hours).

Another interesting replication artifact of this letter is that
has become somewhat hard to read due to heritable 
mutations.  The repeated photocopying has introduced 
several stray marks and distortions of the characters.  
Because of the distortions, I can not be sure of some of the 
names mentioned in the letter (I too may be introducing 
unintentional mutations).

The letter is printed using a script type font, that is about 8 
points, and triple spaced.  I received it April 19th, 1995 in 
Fargo, ND, and it was sent from Fargo.  The envelope was hand 
addressed with no return address.

This letter is being posted in the interest of those studying 
memes, mind viruses, and chain mail letters.

Here is the letter:

Kiss some you love when you get this letter and make 
magic.  This paper was sent to you for good luck.  The 
original copy is in New England.  It has been around the 
world nine times.  The Luck has been sent to you.  You will 
receive good luck in four (4) days.  This is no joke!  You 
will receive it in the mail.  Send copies to people that you 
think need good luck.  Don't send money, as fate has no 
price.  Do not keep this letter.  It must leave your hands in 
96 hours.  An Air Force officer received $70,000 in four 
days.  Joe Elliot receive $40,000 and lost it because he 
broke the chain.  While in the Philippines, Gene Wolfe lost 
his wife, six days after receiving this letter.  He failed to 
circulate the letter.  However, before her death, she had 
won $50,000 in a lottery.  The money was transferred to 
him four days after he decided to mail out this letter.  Please 
make twenty copies of this letter and see what happens in 
four days.  The chain comes from South Venezuela and was 
written by Saul Anthony Dicroe, a missionary from South 
America.  Since the copy must make a tour of the world, 
you must make twenty copies and send them to you friends 
and associates.  After a few days, you will get a surprise.  
This is true even though you are not superstitious.  So note 
the following:  Constantine Ders received the chain in 1958.  
He asked his secretary to make twenty copies and send 
them out.  A few days later, he won a lottery of two million 
dollars.  Andy Doddie, an office employee, received this 
letter and forgot it had to leave his hands within 96 hours.  
He lost his job.  Later, after finding the letter again, he mail 
out twenty copies.  A few days later, he got an even better 
job!

Please send no money.  Please don't ignore this.  It Does Work!
-- 
Karl R Altenburg				altenbur@plains.NoDak.edu
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND  58105

All things are artificial, for nature is the art of God.  SIR THOMAS BROWNE
