I can’t count the number of times I get emailed “stuff” from friends, colleagues and associates that is wildly improbable, untested information or straight-out garbage which they have accepted as gospel and immediately circulated.
Whenever I get something that seems slightly improbable, likely to be untrue or even too good to be true I always turn to www.snopes.com to check out its validity.
Even then I occasionally get conned into accepting something that, on the surface, appears reasonably valid.
I think this Abraham Lincoln “warning” makes the point very well. However, I know there are people who will circulate it at face value without recognising that good old Abraham didn’t live in the digital world.
Before you waste time passing on information of doubtful value or just inaccurate “stuff” please make it your habit to check it out. And if, after you’ve sent it, you find it to be wrong please ensure that you let your recipients know too.
Recent Comments