This post has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can create a post or quiz. Try making your own!

    What It Was Like Getting A Chain Email, As Told By Meg Ryan

    The year is 1998. The place: the World Wide Web.

    You log onto the internet...

    And check your email.

    (Which looks something like this.)

    Hey, a new message!

    For good luck, you must send it on to 10 friends.

    If you don't, bad luck will find you.

    According to the email, one woman passed it on and won the lottery that week!

    But a man in the Philippines broke the chain and, the next day, his wife died.

    Who believes these things?

    On the other hand, what if it's true...

    And something really bad happened?

    Think of that poor man from Guam.

    You might as well play it safe. Right?

    So you consider who your recipients will be.

    These are difficult decisions.

    Finally, you've typed in all their addresses, which you had memorized.

    Wait, that's only nine.

    Who else is there?! (Who wouldn't totally judge you?!)

    Okay, just add your third cousin or something and call it good.

    Finished! You hit 'send.'

    Bullet dodged.

    You wonder how long it will take for something lucky to happen.

    Good things are totally coming your way!

    Now, what's this about Bill Gates sharing his fortune?