Facebook: I have several friends who sometimes post those "prayer requests", but also sometimes other types of circular hoaxes or false information.
Because so many of these are potential security risks (not to mention annoying and false), I politely inform them that its a hoax or just false, then give them links to Snopes or similar resources and encourage people to have little healthy skepticism about these things because so many scams and cons depend on a culture of unquestioning (or blissful) trust, just like the "prayer requests" that people unquestioningly forward or repost.
So today, one friend reposts a "prayer request" that is confirmed to be false, and I do my thing. One of her friends replies (and I quote)...
"Maybe it is a hoax, but it only takes a moment to say a prayer! I wouldn't want to take the chance!!!"
WTF? Notice this isn't a matter of ignorance. She is literally stating "I'm aware these are hoaxes or false but I'm going to do it anyway!"
Because so many of these are potential security risks (not to mention annoying and false), I politely inform them that its a hoax or just false, then give them links to Snopes or similar resources and encourage people to have little healthy skepticism about these things because so many scams and cons depend on a culture of unquestioning (or blissful) trust, just like the "prayer requests" that people unquestioningly forward or repost.
So today, one friend reposts a "prayer request" that is confirmed to be false, and I do my thing. One of her friends replies (and I quote)...
"Maybe it is a hoax, but it only takes a moment to say a prayer! I wouldn't want to take the chance!!!"
WTF? Notice this isn't a matter of ignorance. She is literally stating "I'm aware these are hoaxes or false but I'm going to do it anyway!"
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