Hoaxes, Damned Hoaxes and the Internet NO GAS Campaign
Don’tcha just hate it when some well-meaning clod sends you the following… annually
:
> Subject: : Dont pump gas on May 15th…]
> > > >
> > > >Passing it on, tell your friends..
> > > >
> > > >NO GAS…On May 15th 2007
> > > >
> > > >Don’t pump gas on MAY 15th
> > > >
> > > >In April 1997, there was a “gas out” conducted nationwide in protest
> > > >of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.
> > > >
> > > >On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas station in
> > > >protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most
> > > >places. There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the
> > > internet
> > > >network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.
> > > >
> > > >If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
> > > >$2,292,000,000.00 (that’s almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companies
> > > >pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on
> > > >May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry
> > > >for at least one day.
> > > >
> > > >If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldn’t) resend this to all
> > > >your contact list. With it saying, ”Don’t pump gas on May 15th”
Aside from giving spammers and people who don’t know me my email address in a CC: field that exceeds the length of War And Peace, it’s another argument that passing a comprehension exam for familiarity with the hoax-debunking website Snopes.com should be a pre-requisite for access to an email account.
Yeah, I left in the series of > > > > marks to show that it has been reforwarded and reforwarded by the Gullible Internet Army.
Here’s what I wrote in reply to my well-meaning but clueless email pal:
This a great idea that does not work. If you look at gas consumption for the week of 5/13/ to 5/19 there will no change. Not buying on one day means that you will have to buy it the day before or the day after. So all that happens is that they make more sales on the days that surround the protest day.
My suggestion, make a commitment to ride a bike, or walk, or run, instead of driving. If people did this and reduced their driving by 10% we would no longer need any oil from Saudi Arabia. Now that will lower prices.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Oh, and read what Snopes has to say about it:
- Pain in the Gas
- Gas Out
- More gasoline hoax news from Snopes
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