Petition to Stop an Abortion

Claim:   A girl is going to have an abortion unless 500 e-signatures are gathered to persuade her otherwise.

Status:   False.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2000]

Origins:   This unusual petition began circulating on the Internet in September 2000. It's hard to know what to make of such a thing; it looks like a hoax, but there's no way to definitively prove that

because no checkable data is included that one could use substantiate or disprove any part of it. The pregnant girl's name is not given, neither is that of her controlling boyfriend who we're told "won't let her have the baby," and no indication is given as to where these people might live. As for whoever kicked off this mailing, cutiegirl152@hotmail.com, we're never even let in on the originator's name.

If this ever was on the up-and-up (and momma warned me against being that gullible), it certainly isn't now — e-mail to cutiegirl152@hotmail.com bounces like a red rubber ball.

As to why this particular petition has proved as popular as it has (versions tailed by hundreds of e-signatures wash up in my inbox with monotonous regularity), it has to do with the nature of the beast. Abortion is a hot issue of the times, with everyone holding a deeply-felt conviction about whether it's wrong or right. Those who are square against it see this petition as presenting an opportunity to be heard. They view their participation as saving a child's life, and that is a powerful motivation indeed.

Barbara "motive power" Mikkelson

Last updated:   15 December 2007