I want to hear about a web site and not just about any old web site. I want to hear about a web site that's changed your life. A web site that you can't live without. A web site whose inventor you'd like to see win a McArthur Genius Grant.Maybe you want to sing the praises of a dating web site for helping you meet your spouse. Maybe the only thing getting you through the dark days of winter is an Internet comic. No story is too big, no story is too small - I want to hear it all on Monday.
When I first read this, I couldn't think of a single, specific website that fit the criteria. That same day, I either checked, referenced or referred people to: www.snopes.com 7 times.
Without the assistance of this fact checker, this urban myth buster, this compendium of odd and interesting facts, I would be lost. Actually, I would probably be in Nigeria living the life of leisure with that nice gentleman who needed my help cashing a check. Or maybe celebrating that free money and/or merchandise that I won by forwarding that email to 12 of my closest friends within 12 minutes. Or taking pride in the fact that the online petition I signed resulted in the ouster of some misanthropic politician. Or adding to the unnecessary and unwanted deluge of mail to an ill child who is no longer ill and no longer a child.
Yep, my life would be SO different. I would be avoiding certain companies because of their oil policies. I would be attributing most of what is on the internet to George Carlin - who knew George was so prolific? I would be helping my friends by forwarding them every informative and interesting warning that came my way. I would be proving my love to Jesus by forwarding sappy and sentimental illustrated poems on everyone in my address book lest some horrible fate befall us all.
If you have never "snopesed" something, please do. If you're ever bored and just want a laugh or two, stop by and check out the newest internet rumors.
Thanks for stopping by. Please go visit the other players and we can all check out everyone else's favorites.
39 comments:
scambusters
and About
are also good hoax reviews.
Do you ever wonder how anyone falls for these hoaxes. People get them in the mail, too. I wonder - when I get older - and am not so inclined to be alert, if I will fall for hoaxes.
Thank you, thank you!! I completely forgot Snopes! I have such a hard time telling people about the site, because I hate to be rude to people who continually send those junk emails, but come on people...don't fall prey!!
Great choice!
Great post!! You made me chuckle..
Yep I use Snopes too, its nice to know there are others who take the time to check out all the panic messages that are sent out.
Yep, great site! It is hard to believe people fall for most of them but I love how you tied it all up. :)
Too funny! If more people used Snopes...well the more I wouldn't call them names when they send me foolish emails.
Oh that is a good site! I forgot all about it. Even on facebook, I get all these fake email like messages. Drives me batty!
Interesting site this "snopes" ! I also thought I didn't have any website which changed my life and then I realized it wasn't true, through a site about Egyptian cat godess I suddenly found myself with a blog, lol !
What a brilliant site...I haven't come across it before so that looks like it will also become required reading!
I never....but I will, I will!! Anything new that I haven't tried is always up for grabs. Besides, I like the idea of 'snopesing'!!! Sounds fun.
Thanks for that! Snooped it out immediately!
snopes! of course!
I have heard of it, but never checked it out. Maybe I should. Great Post.
if i get something that is obviously snope worthy i immediately send it back to everyone i know that got it and tell them about snopes..
OOoooooo, another site to get addicted to!
I LOVE snopes.
That is a great site! I forgot to check it last week on something, as it said the person sending it already had.........HA!
Thanks for the info!
Wow! Great choice! I have to refer people to snopes all the time - I can't believe I didn't think of it, or google, or blogger, for that matter.
I adore Snopes. I have to admit that on occasion, when someone sends me just one too many untrue, stupid, irritating, hoax e-mails, I find the link that proves they are wrong and send it back to them.
I love finding out new ways to entertain myself and learn!
Thanks for sharing!
Hallie
http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/
Well, now...I think with this post alone, it's clear why you chose it ;).
Soo, although you chose "one" website, it introduced a whole host of others!
I have a friend that uses Snopes alot. I have never personally tried it, but I need too.
My mother is notorious for forwarding emails about some little girl that got kidnapped and they need to raise money to find her, or some website you need to click on to remove your name from a list. I finally emailed her a link to Snopes and told her to check there before ever forwarding an email again! I haven't had one from her since. Snopes should be everyone's favorite website!!
snopes is my friend, too!
Oh dear my education is sadly lacking, snopes is another site I haven't seen until now. But I've just bookmarked it so I shall be returning for another browse.
I've used Snopes before. If it wasn't for the help of a friend, I would have been sucked into a Nigerian scam. Thanks for reminding me, I am going to do some further investigating on it.
Love Snopes. LOVE IT!
I recently received some email about Walmart and their thongs. I checked out Snopes - and turns out, the story was real, but from 1998. that is one e-mail that should be permanently deleted! And there are so many more!!!
That's a good one, alright. It's always the first place I check when something doesn't sound quite right.
Yep, Snopes is a definite reference for all those crazy emails we get.
I'm glad you picked Snopes! I have probably spent hours of my life on there just browsing about some of the crazy stuff people spread around the internet.
Good one to remind us of Sandy. I almost got pulled into a hoax recently only to be saved by a snopes check.
By the way, I like the header for your blog.
snopes is so fun!
Great post, I'm a fellow 'snopeser'! I have friends who check everything there, although I'm not quite so dedicated. You have been rewarded with a spot on my blogroll!
I co-worker told me about that site. I'll have to go see what all the hoop-de-do is all about. Thanks!
Snopes is one of my favourites too. I just hate all those forward type emails. The only thing I forward back to the sender is the link to show that what they sent was another urban legend.
Good choice, Sandy.
I taught a one-hour lesson on web browsing to some of the older ladies in our congregation. They all LOVED learning about Snopes.com; they seemed to get a charge at the thought of a resource to help them tell other people that they were sadly mistaken! ;^)
Lest I seem heartless: A big concern for each of them was to be a bit more competent at using the web so their (adult) kids wouldn't get impatient or upset with them. Just that desire to please really touched me.
I love Snopes. I have a friend who forwards me everything under the sun, and at least 3 times a week I refer her to Snopes, but she doesn't seem to get the hint! sigh...
Fab choice. I will check this out. Sorry I'm late. :D
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