Glurge refers to sentimental stories, testimonials, and object lessons often sent as emails or chain letters. While some are true and educational, many collapse under their own weight and lack historical accuracy. Glurge is often harmless but can be problematic when forwarded without review. Websites can provide examples and true facts behind these stories.
The term glurge was invented by a regular contributor to Snopes.com, a website dedicated to cataloging and often debunking urban legends. Unfortunately, while the word glurge may be fictitious, the phenomenon it describes is not. Glurge is best described as the cloying sentimental stories, testimonials, and object lessons often sent as emails or chain letters. Glurge can also be experienced at the end of religious services or motivational speeches, usually in the form of a “real” example of persevering against seemingly impossible odds.
There is usually no malicious intent on the part of the glurge sender, but the messages may not be as inspirational as the sender hoped. Many examples of glurge tend to collapse under their own weight, as the writer adds one impossible circumstance upon another to drive home the moral of the story. One such example of excess tension involves a novice mountain climber who loses a contact lens. After asking God for a miraculous recovery of the lens, the climber later discovers an ant carrying the contact lens on its back. The sheer improbability of the story often negates the inspirational impact of the glurge.
Some examples of glurge are attributed to famous people, although their historical accuracy is often questioned. Actor John Wayne, for example, is said to have converted to Christianity after receiving a letter from an evangelist’s injured daughter. Various political leaders are said to have excused themselves from official duties to testify for Jesus Christ. While these stories may indeed be inspirational and image-building, they are rarely backed up by official documents.
That’s not to say that all the glurge is fictional or doesn’t serve a valid purpose. Some of the historical stories and facts are indeed true and educational, albeit presented in a saccharine or sentimental style of writing. Glurge senders might reply to a chain letter-style request to forward the message to others. Many examples of glurge have been circulating around the world for years, including the alleged predictions of Nostradamus, as well as the plight of young cancer patients looking for new pen pals or greeting cards.
Most glurge stories are relatively harmless, if a little over the top. These messages rarely contain malicious attachments or ask recipients for money. The real problem lies in allowing e-mail acquaintances to forward unsolicited messages via a mass mailing. Some senders may not review Stories for appropriate content before forwarding, which could create a problem for certain recipients. Unlike email spam, which is usually unsolicited, glurge is often routed through a chain of personal address lists, making it virtually impossible to trace the original sender.
A number of websites can provide examples of the glurge, along with the true facts behind the stories. Many examples of glurge are well-written pieces of inspirational fiction, worthy of repetition as object lessons or motivational anecdotes. It’s the blurring of truth and embellishment that can make glurge sound artificial and mushy.
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