The "forward" SMS menace.

 This post was published in Maseno University's weekly publication; issue 12 of EQUATOR WEEKLY

The communication industry has grown at unmatched pace in Kenya over the past ten years; the growth has been unchecked and with it has come a myriad of problems. Cyber crimes, other vices such as conmen fleecing many of their hard earned cash are common place today. The current first years in Maseno have been victims of such fake SMS scam- remember how they were asked to send some money to a certain number to secure themselves hostels?

There is a section of this growth that I find quite appalling and from the reception of this trend, with no criticisms about it, am forced to blame the naivety and the unquestioning nature of anything scientific or technological that is rife amongst our societies.

Short message services (SMS) is quite a cheap and an effective way of relying information among people. But today the service has changed from mere communication and socializing to an avenue of empowering and mobilization tool but still these positive growths come with its ills.

I received a six page SMS that began thus “DON’T READ IF YOU CAN’T FORWARD”, I went ahead reading to see whether the content warrants a forwarding and to my expectations it didn’t, it instead talked of a conditional God who blessed those who forwarded the message without questions with material things like a big house, a car or a job. “a blessing is coming your way, if you believe in God send this message on, please don’t ignore it, and you are being tested. If you believe in God DROP EVERYTHING AND PASS IT ON. DON’T BREAK THIS SEND IT TO 14 FRIENDS IN 10MINUTES WHEN YOU READ IT”

And more recently another one partly read “Read every sentence carefully” it even asked I should “Concentrate on this sentence”. Something good will happen to you today, something that you have been waiting to hear. Do not break or ask questions, this is a test. Does God come first in your life? If so, stop what you are doing and send it to 12 people now and watch what happens.

Another more absurd one marked a “FUCK day” (Friends U Can Keep), and it literally commands one to forward the same message to all the “FUCKers” in your phonebook. And someone just forwards it without any iota of concern to almost all his friends. How naïve can one really, get?

Its time someone did something and put a stop to such stupid “must forward” SMSes. The origin of all such SMSes is due to competition that has been quite stiff among the telephone operators like Safaricom and Airtel then they must employ all means possible to get their customers to use their services.

So comrades the next time before you forward such SMS mind its content and the people you want to forward to.

These are the full text of some of these short text messages that is often forwarded. I don't have the most irritating ones yet but i will have them posted as soon as one of those who come up with them forwards it to me. Or in case they have become a bore to you too, have them posted on the comment section of this post.

Read every sentence carefully. To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. When God takes something from your grasp, he is not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. Something good will happen to you today, something that you been waiting to hear. Please do not break. Just 27 words “God our father, walk through my house and take away al my worries and illness and please watch over and heal my family. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Pass this to 12 people including me, a blessing to you in form of a new job, a house, health, marriage or financially. Do not break or ask questions, this is a test. Does God come first in your life? If so, stop what you are doing and send it to twelve people now and watch what happens. (6 pages).

 

Don’t read if u can’t forward …..God has seen you struggling with something .God says its over .a blessing is coming your way .if you believe in God send this message on, please don’t ignore it, you are being tested .God is going to fix two things (BIG) today in your favor . If you believe in God, DROP EVERYTHING AND PASS IT ON .TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. DON’T BREAK THIS SEND THIS TO 14 FRIENDS IN 10MINUTES WHEN YOU READ. (3 pages long)