Sharing is Right, Except When it’s Lies.... {Ferreting Out the “Rats”}

Being Lead Astray

If you see it on Facebook it must be true, right? I mean no one would spread false or misleading or misattributed information on the Internet, and certainly not on Facebook. Those people are my friends, right?

Don't bet on it. Uh, I mean the truth part, not the friend part.

I've noticed a disturbing trend on Facebook of information being recklessly passed from friend to friend at lightning speed without regard to truth or accuracy. If it hits a nerve, is witty or cute or grabs your attention, it gets shared on Facebook. If it has a political implication or is satirical or jaw-dropping, you can bet this information being shared.

Perhaps I'm more skeptical or question more than the average Joe, but I tend to read the quotes and information, and then check it for sources online.

Generally, if it smells like rat and looks like a rat, by Jove, it's a rat. And I have yet to find one that isn't incorrect or misattributed that gave off such an odor.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

Say What?

Picture a distinguished painting of George Washington, our 1^st President and across the image this quote:

"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which include their own government. ~George Washington"

A few weeks ago, this quote with varying images of George Washington was repeatedly posted/shared on Facebook. It didn't bode well with me. So, I copied it and went in search of the truth.

Here's what I found:

According to Wikipedia, Washington actually said this at the First Annual Address to both Houses of Congress in January of 1790.

"A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies. ~ George Washington"

The highly circulated {mis}quote is categorized as a "spurious attribution" on Wikipedia. That is to say that it's not only misattributed to Washington, but no one else said it either. In fact, it's the product of someone {clearly a gun-rights enthusiast, in this case} taking part of a real quote and fabricating the rest to support his or her particular interest.

Snake Oil

This week I saw one on WD-40 that caught my eye. It was interesting; explaining how WD-40 got its name and how it was created and all the ways you could use it. The very end revealed the main ingredient in this lubricant was surprisingly fish oil.

Well, I thought this smelled a little "fishy" {Forgive me; it was too easy} so I looked it up.

According to Snopes.com this bit has been circulating since 2006. Snopes reports that they asked the makers of WD-40 about the extensive list of uses. The manufacturer removed a number of the purported 45 uses outlined in the bogus email/post.

And as for the fish oil, it's a rumor. While there is no ingredient list on the can, there is an MSDA sheet which indicates that WD-40 is petroleum based.

The Scoop

So, next time you spy something on Facebook being shared by your friends, check it out first. You might be spreading gossip. Or worse you could be libeling someone or infringing on someone's copyright.

The moral of the story:

Before you share, think to yourself,

1. Does this smell like rat?
2. Does it look like a rat?

If the answers to these questions are "Yes" or "My opinion is too jaded to know" then do a quick search and see if it is truly a rat. The "interwebs" won't lead you astray {well, if you use good judgment}, even when your friends do. Over and out...

*It would stand to reason that the photo above would be George Washington since I discussed him above, right? But, did anyone notice that I was leading you astray? It's not George, it's John Adams. I happended to have a book on him, but couldn't find a photo of Washington in my home. I figured that it could prove my point about leading astray.

Anna

Comments

[Dew Wyatt]

Thank you for being the voice that I never say w/ out offending. You rock, sister.