Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Really? Is That True?

"Really?" is a question we all need to ask, all the time!

When my kids went to school I'd tell them, "Just because something is in a book doesn't mean it's true." And now it's even worse! Misinformation spawns on the Internet, and don't we all just love the emails flying around that churn out one urban legend after another?


Get a load of these emails:
"Cut onions are a magnet for bacteria!" (mix of stories, one true, one false)
"Cocoa mulch can kill your dog." (partly true)

SNOPES investigates urban legends to help us sift the facts and shed the fiction. SNOPES gives a copy of the email/urban legend, the history of it, and a "green" or "red" quick indicator of it's accuracy.
Type just about any word in their search box to find what you're looking for. A short article will appear telling you the origins of the information--or misinformation--whatever the case may be. I rarely forward emails to my friends, but if I do, I try to remember to verify them on SNOPES. There's already enough fear in the world without me mongering more.

And of course, even SNOPES can't be 100% accurate 100% of the time. So when my cat meows at the front door to be let in, I remember the email I got about the rapist meowing like a cat or crying like a baby at the front door. I look out the window first even tho the story is an urban legend.

But I also remember this: II Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

It may take some self-discipline to not give in to fear and silly emails but it's worth living a life of God's power and love and self-discipline rather than cowering in the corner, isn't it?

Help out other widows by adding a comment or by emailing me your favorite single-living tips for Tuesdays: wcplace@gmail.com

ferree

4 comments:

  1. So thankful that there is such a website as Snopes. Just visited there today to verify the falsehoods sent my way. Also so thankful that the Lord is our husband now and we can entrust all our fears to Him!
    Thanks,
    Renee', tandemjourney.blogspot.com

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  2. Amen, Renee! We'd be hopeless and lost without the Lord. I love your blog and hope you'll get many visits.

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  3. My single living tips: a house alarm, and having some type of training and resource for self-defense, what ever your comfort level It takes a while to become comfortable being "alone" again, but these two things have helped me with the transition, and when I hear those weird noises at night. Jenn, ruths-road.blogspot.com

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  4. Good suggestions, Jenn. A friend of mine also recommends self-defense classes. It's good to consider and realize it's prudent and reasonable to beef up our security. Thanks!

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