I received a caution warning from a friend about something that you should watch for in parking lots. I believed it; it sounded like it made sense to me. A way a carjacker could get you to stop and get out of your car. So I bulk e-mailed it to a group of my senior (and not so senior) friends. I thought that they all go to Walmart and other places, so they might as well heed this warning.
One of the "friends" I sent it to sent me back a message. She told me that she checked this info on Snopes and they said it wasn't true. Then she again reiterated that this was not true. Now I ask you, how in the heck does Snopes (who ever "they" are) know every darn thing? Are they some amazing group of nerds that scope out every little detail of everybody's lives, check every occurrence that happens every hour of every day? I think not. Give me a break.
And furthermore, what kind of friend would send back a terse note saying that I was basically a liar? I felt like a little boy having his hands smacked for stealing cookies! It really pissed me off. I guess I just have to consider who it was. She is basically a nice person, yet one that certainly doesn't have enough to do with her life, and one who is pretty opinionated. So, I will excuse her. This time. (Maybe she'll be the one to get carjacked, Snopes or no Snopes!)
Funny thing is, one of the news channels, MSNBC or CNN recently reported on this very thing happening in a California Walmart parking lot. Of course, everything happens in California. Maybe that's where Snopes is located!!!!!
I need a Prozac!
Peace...(later maybe)
JE
6 comments:
Hmmm, I'm sorry my friend but I can't agree with you on this one. Snopes.com has been around for a lot of years. It started with a couple that spent time researching urban legends, email hoaxes, and all those rumors that fly around the Internet. Here's the link: http://www.snopes.com/info/aboutus.asp
Their efforts grew over time into a great "go to" resource for checking spurious stories. Sometimes they are partially true, or even completely true, but most of the time they are not true at all! When anyone sends along the info without checking its validity it just ends up contributing to the fear and over-reaction that are generated. All this does is make folks feel that the world is even worse than we thought!
Some of these stories can be very hurtful. I check out any of them I receive and most times I don't send them on because they are simply not true! I always inform whoever sent it if it isn't true, I also send them a link to Snopes.com because I don't think most people will send on something with the intent of perpetuating a myth. A lot of these things have been circulating around the Internet scaring folks and wasting time for several years. What Snopes offers, is verification! Check them out....they're some of the good guys!
Hope you still love me anyway!!! LOL!
Even if it wasn't true, it never hurts to remind everyone to be careful and much more aware of their surroundings.
Mel: Thanks for clarifying the whole Snopes thing for me. I still wonder at their validity, but who's to say.....and yeah, I still love ya! LOL! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Isn't that what a blog is for?
Curley, You're right. It never hurts to caution people anyway, Snopes or not. After reading the caution warning, I will be more aware of my surroundings in a parking lot, especially at night. Which is when I usually hit the Walmart. Less busy then.
JE,
I sent that to 4 ladies who once worked for me, and they were all glad to be made aware. The Arlington, TX police are expecting to see some of this during the Super Bowl weeks ahead. So SOMEBODY must believe it.
Clyde
Whew! Glad I'm still loved! :)
By all means be careful and watchful when out and about, but don't rely on these things without verifying! Case in point, there was one going around a while back that gave a number to call that was supposedly a direct line to a police dispatcher and advised calling that number when being stopped by a policeman. Except it wasn't true, so instead of calling 911 if there was a problem, people were responding to a story that was untrue. Any one calling that number for assistance wouldn't get it! It would just delay getting help.
You see what I mean?
Seriously, check Snopes.com out. Not only will it sort out the wheat from the chaff, some of the background info can be really interesting!
(I'll shut up now!)
I never pass stuff along anymore. very rarely is it for real. I think it would be better to personally notify a friend if I knew for sure it was not a hoax. I have also wondered how snopes knows stuff. I will have to check out Mellodees link. Dee
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