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Like most of the people with an email address, I recently got the forwarded post inviting me to join in the May 15th Gas-Out. Ok, to be honest, I got the email from multiple sources. But when the email arrived from my sister, it pushed me over the “I can’t take this anymore” threshold.
The email begins…”In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.” I can’t believe how quickly people will accept some lies. Anyone doing a search for this mythical search is likely to find a whole lot of nothing – just like I did. It’s amazing that in this day and age when the collected knowledge of the world is just a few keystrokes away, most people don’t take the time to push those keys. Like my sister, they just hit the forward key, and spread the fertilizer.
There is no difference between this ‘Gas-Out’ email and the pile of lies that claims Microsoft is tracking this email, and will pay all those people who forward it. Both are lies, pure and simple lies. They take advantage of the fact the message comes from a trusted friend, so you think to yourself, “maybe it could be true ‘cause it’s from so-and-so." So, on and on they go, lies made truth by the ether that is the internet.
So, how can you know if something is true? As I have said many times, if you want to know if something is real, listen for reports of it on your favorite broadcast news program, or look for it in a reputable newspaper.
As for making a point with gasoline companies, a one day boycott will only affect a few local distributors for ONE DAY. I don’t know of any retailer that’s going to close up shop just because they have one bad day of sales. Instead, most will just wait for you to fill up on the 16th. If you really want to get the attention of the petroleum industry, may I suggest taking the bus for the next couple months. Only by reducing consumption – over a LONG period of time – is there ANY hope of making a difference at the pump.
