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The Queen's Chair: Don't Believe Everything You Read On The Internet

Marsha Jones · Wednesday, October 13th 2010 at 12:20PM · 321 views
Sinbad is not dead. Genesis is not getting back together. And Elvis did not JUST leave the building. None of these stories were checked, but appeared as news on the Internet. Two of these aren't accurate.

This is the major problem with the Internet. You can't believe everything on the web. The reasons are simple. The biggest is that the Internet was designed to obtain information NOT news. On-line journalists are one thing. We are trained to get the information correct and accurate. Nothing is run until facts are checked. Edits made. Stories researched. Their reputation is based on accuracy and being trustworthy.

Bloggers are a whole different story. Often times, we offer our thoughts and opinions. Most of us really don't care about accuracy; we want to get our thoughts out there and await feedback.However, bloggers have broken BIG stories on line. News happens 24-7 and this generation prefers to read its information on line. If you ask this group if they read the Sunday paper, they'll quickly tell you no.

The other problem with the Internet, too many people don't know how to think for themselves and read between the lines. There is usually a bigger story than what's being told. Remember Tiger Woods? A simple accident revealed the squeaky clean married golfer's s*xual appetite for women.

Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. It simply may not be true.

About the Author

Marsha Jones Rochester, NY

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Comments (2)

Adam Fate Wednesday, October 13th 2010 at 12:48PM

I personally find the Internet a great source for information on the candidates for this election. Staring with their websites, and also news sources. I haven't watched TV in many years, and I am heartily glad to not have to watch those political commercials or sound bites that pass for news. Here I can do in-depth research, and no, blogs are not a source, except as leads to possible real information, facts, not opinion.

Marsha Jones Wednesday, October 13th 2010 at 2:09PM

Exactly, Adam. Some people take the Internet as the Gospel when it comes to news. There's a lot of good information here. Don't get me wrong. I do use it.

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