Hobbit
05-17-2007, 02:56 PM
Once upon a time, stupid people could easily be cut off at the source. If somebody said something really stupid, it would only be heard by a small handfull of people, most of whom would ignore it. Before long, the message would be cut off and it would die.
Now, however, we have the internet. Anybody with a phone line and a computer can easily post his opinions online and have them be seen by at least dozens of people from around the world. Typically, only stupid people will find it to begin with, and only stupider people will believe it, but with an internet audience in the billions, that's still a very large number of people seeing and believing the dumbest things
What makes matters worse is that when enough people believe something, normally reasonable people start to believe it. Studies have been done where a piece of paper with a six-inch line on it are passed around a room. Only the last person to look at it isn't in on the study. Everybody before him has guessed the line to be between 2 and 3 1/2 inches. In most subjects, they guessed around 3 inches, even though the line was obviously longer. So, without further ado, I present a few things going about the internet, and their validity.
Myth: The column in your inbox was written by George Carlin/John Cleese/somebody else famous.
Truth: Probably not. Most of these guys have better things to do than write columns that can only get famous on the internet.
There are many good columnists out there, and many more mediocre columnists who crank out a real gem on occassion. However, few of them are famous. Whenever a column is passed around the internet, the credit is usually removed to save people the effort of responding to the flood of Re: Who? e-mails in their inbox. After a few more forwards, somebody decides that it must be credited, and takes a wild guess at the person he's heard of that would be most likely to write such a thing. Most credits on e-mails are simply not true, though some are.
Myth: .9999~ (where the ~ means the 9s are repeated ad infinitum) equals exactly 1.
Truth: Yes, there is absolutely no difference, not even a theoretical difference between .99999~ and 1.
It's easy to figure this one out. Ask any high school or higher math teacher, or search on the internet for web sites of mathemeticians with stacks of advanced degrees. They'll all agree. There are dozens of ways to prove this true, some easier to understand than others. The idea that it's not true is usually prepetuated by high school students or dropouts who don't get it and don't realize that not getting something doesn't make it false. The best argument they can ever come up with is 'it doesn't make sense.'
Myth: Internet fact sheets are fun collections of useless trivia
Truth: Internet "fact" sheets are collections of useless trivia that would be mildly entertaining if they weren't mostly false.
I've recieved dozens of these e-mails, and I don't believe a word of them unless I can find proof. Usually, fewer than half of the 'facts' on these sheets are actually true, and most of those facts are worded in such a way as to give false impressions and false implications. For example, it is true that tankers transporting Coke are marked with hazard cards, much the same as explosives like gasoline. This doesn't make Coke dangerous, as beer and champagne are marked with the same cards, which are required for anything transported under high pressure.
Myth: Proctor and Gamble give money to the Church of Satan.
Truth: A competing company started this rumor.
The logo for Proctor and Gamble has nothing to do with Satanic ritual or religion. It is a relic of popular imagery at the time adopted to increase sales, not tribute anything. None of the execs have ever appeared on Oprah, or The Today Show, or anything else like that. The truth about this rumor is that it was started by a competing company. The lawsuit going on (or maybe it's over) is (was) pretty quiet, and I only found out about through a friend who works with their legal department. In any case, the Church of Satan doesn't evangelize or even really raise funds. It was just a way for some angry guy to thumb his nose at the Catholic church.
Myth: Halloween candy could contain poison or razor blades.
Truth: Your kids have a higher chance of being struck by lightning.
While a few small incidents like this have occurred, it was never the result of a serial killer, and the children were targeted by somebody they knew, usually an estranged parent. Unless you know somebody who has a grudge against your children, and you advise them to only take wrapped candy, you shouldn't have to x-ray the candy or have it chemically tested.
That's it for now, there may be more to come.
Now, however, we have the internet. Anybody with a phone line and a computer can easily post his opinions online and have them be seen by at least dozens of people from around the world. Typically, only stupid people will find it to begin with, and only stupider people will believe it, but with an internet audience in the billions, that's still a very large number of people seeing and believing the dumbest things
What makes matters worse is that when enough people believe something, normally reasonable people start to believe it. Studies have been done where a piece of paper with a six-inch line on it are passed around a room. Only the last person to look at it isn't in on the study. Everybody before him has guessed the line to be between 2 and 3 1/2 inches. In most subjects, they guessed around 3 inches, even though the line was obviously longer. So, without further ado, I present a few things going about the internet, and their validity.
Myth: The column in your inbox was written by George Carlin/John Cleese/somebody else famous.
Truth: Probably not. Most of these guys have better things to do than write columns that can only get famous on the internet.
There are many good columnists out there, and many more mediocre columnists who crank out a real gem on occassion. However, few of them are famous. Whenever a column is passed around the internet, the credit is usually removed to save people the effort of responding to the flood of Re: Who? e-mails in their inbox. After a few more forwards, somebody decides that it must be credited, and takes a wild guess at the person he's heard of that would be most likely to write such a thing. Most credits on e-mails are simply not true, though some are.
Myth: .9999~ (where the ~ means the 9s are repeated ad infinitum) equals exactly 1.
Truth: Yes, there is absolutely no difference, not even a theoretical difference between .99999~ and 1.
It's easy to figure this one out. Ask any high school or higher math teacher, or search on the internet for web sites of mathemeticians with stacks of advanced degrees. They'll all agree. There are dozens of ways to prove this true, some easier to understand than others. The idea that it's not true is usually prepetuated by high school students or dropouts who don't get it and don't realize that not getting something doesn't make it false. The best argument they can ever come up with is 'it doesn't make sense.'
Myth: Internet fact sheets are fun collections of useless trivia
Truth: Internet "fact" sheets are collections of useless trivia that would be mildly entertaining if they weren't mostly false.
I've recieved dozens of these e-mails, and I don't believe a word of them unless I can find proof. Usually, fewer than half of the 'facts' on these sheets are actually true, and most of those facts are worded in such a way as to give false impressions and false implications. For example, it is true that tankers transporting Coke are marked with hazard cards, much the same as explosives like gasoline. This doesn't make Coke dangerous, as beer and champagne are marked with the same cards, which are required for anything transported under high pressure.
Myth: Proctor and Gamble give money to the Church of Satan.
Truth: A competing company started this rumor.
The logo for Proctor and Gamble has nothing to do with Satanic ritual or religion. It is a relic of popular imagery at the time adopted to increase sales, not tribute anything. None of the execs have ever appeared on Oprah, or The Today Show, or anything else like that. The truth about this rumor is that it was started by a competing company. The lawsuit going on (or maybe it's over) is (was) pretty quiet, and I only found out about through a friend who works with their legal department. In any case, the Church of Satan doesn't evangelize or even really raise funds. It was just a way for some angry guy to thumb his nose at the Catholic church.
Myth: Halloween candy could contain poison or razor blades.
Truth: Your kids have a higher chance of being struck by lightning.
While a few small incidents like this have occurred, it was never the result of a serial killer, and the children were targeted by somebody they knew, usually an estranged parent. Unless you know somebody who has a grudge against your children, and you advise them to only take wrapped candy, you shouldn't have to x-ray the candy or have it chemically tested.
That's it for now, there may be more to come.