Police officers working with the DARE program have issued this warning:

[wake.up.america]

This is an email I received from an American friend of mine.
Thought I would share.



Subject: Fwd: # Safety Alert #

I don't know if this is true, but better to be safe than sorry.

* Safety Alert *


Police officers working with the DARE program have issued this warning:



If you are driving after dark and see an on-coming car with no
headlights on, DO NOT FLASH YOUR LIGHTS AT THEM! This is a common Bloods
gang member "initiation game" that goes like this: The new gang member
under initiation drives along with no headlights, and the first car to
flash their headlights at him is now his "target". He is now required to
turn around and chase that car, then shoot and kill every individual in
the vehicle in order to complete his initiation requirements. Police
Departments across the nation are being warned that September 23rd and
24th is the "blood" initiation weekend. Their intent is to have all the
new bloods nationwide drive around on Friday and Saturday nights with
their headlights off. In order to be accepted into the gang, they have
to shoot and kill all individuals in the first auto that does a courtesy
flash to warn them that their lights are off. You may choose to share
this information with your friends and all the drivers in your family!
You can save someone's life if you heed to this warning.

[Renew Deal]

1. This one is so old.

It was word of mouth before the internet got big. http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/lightsout.asp

[ucmike]

35. a new twist to this myth.....

last weekend, my sister told me that although it started as a myth IT'S BECOME REAL!!!!

in the version she heard, gangs have started doing this in response to the legend.

i told her i was pretty sure that what she heard is just an extension of the original myth, but she had the same "proof"-it came from the police, it really happened this time, etc.

[Renew Deal]

38. I saw an 18 year old girl driving with her lights off last night

She was also talking on her cell. Thankfully she didn't pff me for flashing my lights.

[flowomo]

2. Snopes says this is false:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/lightsout.asp

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. The bloods are amazingly cruel in thier

initiation, I guess these new members alraedy went through the required beat in

[tuvor]

4. Urban legend

I'm pretty sure you can read the debunking at snopes.com.

[LincolnMcGrath]

5. mythical folklore

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/lightsout.asp

[entanglement]

6. Urban legend, it's been debunked

Please check before posting

[wiley]

7. Is this credible?

[wake.up.america]

9. Apparently it was not true. Thanks for pointing it out.

I now know where to check such rumours.

[ConsAreLiars]

8. Your "American firend" seems to be a gullible fool -- not unusual

or rare, by any means (see recent US history), but you might want to do a little fact-checking before passing on this kind of nonsense if you value your own credibility.

[wake.up.america]

11. I have known Ernie for some 8 years. He is not a gullible fool. Thank you.

[ConsAreLiars]

12. Then how do you explain his being taken in by this hoax?

Or your own failure to check it out, for that matter?

[progressivebydesign]

14. Why are you being so mean? Chill out. The poster made a mistake.

Big deal. It's not life-threatening, they just didn't know.

[ConsAreLiars]

18. Rumor-mongering that tries to discourage people

from acting in their common self-interest, using the Con's favorite theme of "look out for number one, don't try to help others," well, I don't like it. It is an appeal to fear and selfishness, and when anyone sees it happening they should call it what it is -- a lie, and a destructive one. It IS life-threatening, and worse than that, it advises that we turn our back when we see others who are putting themselves and others in danger. Not harmless at all. Much worse than that.

The original poster said "better to be safe than sorry" and urged people to follow the anti-social approach recommended by the creators of this hoax. That is bullshit of the worst sort.

[TorchTheWitch]

21. Jesus, take a time out!

The original poster never said "I don't know if this is true or not... better to be safe than sorry", the person that sent the email did. How would you like a pile on of people calling you stupid, reading impaired, retarded, etc. only because you made the honest mistake of confusing what the poster said as opposed to what the person who sent the email to the poster said?

Incidently, you're hardly in a position to be throwing stones and calling anyone foolish seeing as how it has somehow escaped your notice that the average Joe has more than likely never heard of Snopes and wouldn't have any idea how to check to see whether such a rumor is true or not on the internet (or otherwise, for that matter) seeing as the average Joe probably has a hell of a lot more important things to do then sit around on their fat lazy ass checking out the validity of rumors and assorted bits of trivia.

Your responses to/about the original poster and their friend have been rude and obnoxious in the extreme, and both of them deserve an apology... but I'm not going to hold my breath on that seeing as the holier than thou condescending, distainful and altogether self-righteous attitude you've displayed in this thread probably has you too busy patting yourself on the back and kissing your own mirror reflection.

Apparently, you are concerned that people repeat falsehoods that they are unaware are false to the detriment of the general public, however, perhaps it may have also escaped your notice that should you wish to enlighten people with your supreme knowledge you could very well run into a brick wall seeing as because of your disgusting attitude, I hardly think that anyone would give one single fart in the wind what the fuck you have to say about anything.

For thy consideration, O Wise One... I humbly genuflect at your feet and await your unparalleled response should I be so fortunate to be favored with your attention. :eyes:

[DistressedAmerican]

32. Wow What An Overreaction. Chill The Fuck Out.

Seriously. What crawled up your ass?

[KitchenWitch]

17. Nothing like piling on

Good grief, the poster made an honest mistake, and now has the tools to check stuff out in the future.

I would rather someone post something out like this out of care and concern for others than have them not post because they are afraid of being called out for making a mistake.

:eyes:

[Renew Deal]

37. Nice flamebait

[Morning Dew]

10. Thank God it's October, then.

If I had gone and gotten killed in September, I'd never see that money from Nigeria that I've been waiting for - it should be here any day now.

[OrlandoGator]

15. Also: bR|tNey sPearS hAs heR rO.leX!

Don't forget that.

[driver8]

13. I live in Los Angeles and heard this story 10 years ago.

It made sense to me, then...but I have since read that this story is a hoax (Thankfully!). However, it would not surprise me at all if it had been true. These are strange times...

[renate]

16. thank you for the warning! it was very kind of you

I remember being freaked out about this when this rumor first started and I really appreciate your trying to warn us about it. And honestly, ever since then I've always thought twice before flashing my lights to tell other cars they need their lights on. You never know.... sometimes rumors have a basis in truth (although this rumor started several years ago so we probably don't really have to worry).

Thank you so much for the alert! You did the right thing by trying to protect your friends here. It was sweet of you.

:hug:

[Bridget Burke]

22. Now, don't be sarcastic....

The OP has already been directed to Snopes. But you folks just keep piling on him.

[Richard D]

19. Check snopes first!

[Cats Against Frist]

20. OMG!! Did I just step into 1995? Tupac, don't go to Vegas!!!!!!!

[MountainLaurel]

34. You owe me a new monitor

Cause I just :spray: all over mine.

[Historic NY]

23. Psst.....Dare program is just about gone nationwide.....

stats show it had little or no effect.

[Neil Lisst]

24. Funny you should mention this story. I was getting gasoline when

... when this guy told me to come inside at the gas station, something was wrong with my credit card ...

Urban Legends!! I love 'em.

-----------------------
today I shout out to DU mods and posters
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst/

[LostinVA]

31. Well, I just bought this cute dog down in Mexico, and my vet...

[Bunny]

25. I first got this email years ago. It cracked me up then, as it does

now, because I live and work in rural Western PA - there probably isn't a crip or blood within 500 miles. But yet a coworker breathlessly passed this along to me, just to warn me. It's just funny.

[triguy46]

26. I think we'll have to drive a wooden stake through its heart. n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

27. baloney! As a former Crips "associate" I can tell you

it's complete bunk. You get in by killing a rival gang member or by getting jumped in.

Sheesh. The things people will believe. :eyes:

[elehhhhna]

28. good god that one was floating around in the early 80's. and bogus.

[lectrobyte]

29. This has to be at least 10 years old, good to see DARE is keeping it real

and on top of what's going down in our mean streets.

[LostinVA]

30. So old it's ancient... been hearing this for almost 20 years

[pointblank]

33. I know this has supposedly been de-bunked

but back around 1999 I was driving to NYC and I stopped in a gas station/rest stop in PA near the Poconos and I saw signs that warned of flashing your lights at people and referenced this very 'urban legend'...they were official signs posted everywhere and if I remember right they said State Police on them.


Anyone else seen these signs?

[Fleshdancer]

36. old school! I remember this from 15 years ago!

it really made people freak out in my town back then. :D

[ecstatic]

39. anything is possible

I've heard of this legend for years; however, don't get too comfortable because there is always some psycho jackass out there who is willing to imitate such things.

[jmowreader]

40. I'm surprised some gang hasn't adopted this for real

We've been talking about this shit for the last forty years. The Hells Angels were supposed to have been the first ones to invent it.

Now let me ask you something. According to the legend, if you're trying to get into whatever organization you're trying to get into, you have to drive around, in a car with your mentors, until you find someone stupid enough to flash his lights at you, and then you kill him. The legend started with the Hells Angels, which is a Motorcycle Club. Who is stupid enough to believe that any part of the initiation rite for a Motorcycle Club is going to require a car?