★ PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB • 1997 • THE INFINITE SCROLL: A NATURE DOCUMENTARY ★

THE INFINITE SCROLL

A DAVID ATTENBOROUGH-STYLE SPECIAL ON THE DIGITAL SAVANNAH

THE HABITAT

In the shimmering plains of the Information Superhighway, a new predator has emerged. The Infinite Scroll thrives in the warm glow of cathode ray tubes, feeding on the attention spans of weary netizens who log on after dinner.

Its natural range stretches from the humble GeoCities neighborhoods to the vast corporate portals. It waits patiently behind every timeline, every news feed, every humble guestbook.

BEHAVIOR OF THE BEAST

"Observe how the scroll bar inches downward, luring the user ever deeper into the digital undergrowth. One more post... just one more post..."

The creature exhibits remarkable patience. It never reveals its full length. Instead, it generates fresh content with each rotation of the mouse wheel, keeping the viewer in a state of mild hypnosis until hours have vanished into the ether.

THE DANGERS

PUBLIC SAFETY WARNING
Prolonged exposure leads to:
• Lost evenings
• Forgotten dinners
• Sore wrists and bloodshot eyes
• Sudden realization it is 3:17 a.m.

Field researchers report subjects who entered the scroll at 8:42 p.m. were still engaged at dawn, their coffee cold beside the glowing monitor.

HOW TO ESCAPE

  1. Locate the small red button marked with an X in the upper right corner of the window.
  2. Press firmly with your mouse pointer.
  3. Repeat the phrase "I have seen enough for one evening."
  4. Walk away from the machine and look out a real window.

Early intervention is critical. The longer one remains, the stronger the pull becomes.

REPORT A SIGHTING

Have you encountered the Infinite Scroll in the wild? Submit your field notes below. All reports are logged by the 1997 Web Safety Commission.

LIVE FEED OBSERVATION

Post #1 • The sun rises over the pixelated plains...
Post #2 • A new link appears. Click it?
Post #3 • Another update from the herd...