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Vetting those Urban Legends

By
Real Estate Agent

One of the little aggravations of email and Facebook, is the mostly false rumors which are circulated time, and time again.   Some have been recirculating for years, while others are more recent.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if folks vetted these type of emails before they hit the “forward” button and perpetuated the myth? 

Here are just a few I’ve seen just this past week.  I’ve put them through www.snopes.com or other sites which authenticate the urban legends populating the internet.

(1) Did Chipotle employees refuse to serve 8 NYPD officers, and put their hands in the air and say, “Don’t Shoot?”  This information has been deemed “Mostly False” by Snopes.  Here’s the link to that information:  http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/chipotlenypd.asp

(2) A video currently being circulated purports to capture killed teenager, Michael Brown beating and older man over the theft of a backpack.  Snopes has found this video is not of Michael Brown, and has deemed the posting as “FALSE.”  The link to it can be accessed via: http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/shawnspall.asp

(3) An email which has been circulated via email and Facebook, has claimed that the Australian Prime Minister told Muslim immigrants they must learn the English language, and adapt to Australian culture, or leave.  This email and postings to Facebook have proved “False.”  Here’s what an “Urban Legends” site has to say: http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/government/a/Australian-Prime-Minister-Muslim-Immigrants.htm

However, among the urban legends circulating out there on the internet matrix, there are some postings that can be verified as truthful.  For example we have the following.

(1) A quote by Ronald Regan: “We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” This quote is actually TRUE, and can be verified at:  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/ronaldreag147706.html

For those of you interested in vetting emails or Facebook postings before deciding to “share” or “forward” to others, there is help out there.  You can check via the following websites:

(1) www.snopes.com – Great site for vetting validity of information circulating via the internet.

(2) http://www.brainyquote.com – Should you be provided quoted words, you can input a few words of the quote, and the purported author’s name, and usually find it on brainyquote.  You can also do the same in a plain ole “Google” search.

(3) http://urbanlegendsonline.com –The “official” urban legend website has been around from almost the beginning of this type of information being disseminated.  It can be an interesting place for those interested in urban legends for their entertainment purposes.

I hope this helps!  One thing for certain, there are far more agendas out there, but far less truth!

Posted by

Myrl Jeffcoat ActiveRain Signature
  

Comments (47)

Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It drives me nuts when people just take something they saw and believe it right away and post it out there as the truth.  There is so much online that is bogus -- it all needs to be verified first.

Jan 03, 2015 09:43 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Myrl, thank you for reference to SNOPES because Facebook and the Internet are the wide open range where anything goes, even lots of false information-kind of like yellow journalism in the earlier days of newspapers.  I am happy to know about this verification tool.

Jan 03, 2015 10:05 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI - If you read through the "Chipotle" urban legend email it states that 8 NYPD officers were refused service.  Snopes deemed that email "Mostly False."  But, did go on to say, one employee put their hands up, and said, "Don't Shoot."  I think Snopes was fair in their assessment of that email.  Does Snopes get it right 100% of the time?  I doubt they do, but have been surprised when I couple their accountings with other resources for debunking emails, that they are found to be pretty good!

Jan 03, 2015 11:13 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Kathy Streib - Thank you for featuring this blog in your Weekly Post.  It's greatly appreciated!

Jan 03, 2015 11:15 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Myrl. I use Snopes a lot. Often too good to be true is. Thank you.

Jan 04, 2015 12:43 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

A great read and timely points Myrl Jeffcoat ! I now find myself continuously adjusting my "filters" to keep those nonsensical myths out of my reality. They often can't be ignored because they do showup in your email and social platforms like Facebook, Yet, I have the option and do quickly choose to simply move on and ignore... We are what we click and share. Happy New Year!

Jan 04, 2015 06:41 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Myrl - thanks for these three web sites.  The information does help.  You can't react to everything you hear as if it is the truth.

Jan 04, 2015 06:56 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I had never heard that Ronald Reagan quote, but I LOVE it.  We all know the rules in our society.  Living by them is not difficult.

Jan 04, 2015 08:36 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Myrl, there is so much crazy stuff being circulated, you can definitely not believe it all.  Most of the time I just delete, every once in a while, I check it out, never do I forward or open links contained in those emails,

Jan 04, 2015 10:42 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Silvia Dukes PA, REALTOR - So many of the rumors circulated seem to have a political agenda attached to them. Some are circulated originally from political pacs. In those cases, the agenda and raising money, sometimes seems more important than providing truth and credibility.

Jan 04, 2015 11:38 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

 Hi Myrl, I have always gotten a kick out of Snopes.com. A truly entertaining site that keeps you wondering.

Jan 04, 2015 12:06 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I also enjoy Snopes.com. Thanks for the information, Myrl and have a great day!

Jan 05, 2015 07:46 PM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

Crazy how the media likes to spin and frame stories just to get across a message that is most of the time, untrue. 

Jan 08, 2015 04:54 AM
Scott Gleason, CRS
Coldwell Banker Realty - Westfield, NJ
Westfield NJ New Homes Specialist

Snopes is a great tool for checking out the facts, Myrl.  Thank you for adding some others to the list.

Jan 08, 2015 05:35 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Who needs to find intersting novels when some of these are better than anything I could find?

Funny too.

Jan 08, 2015 01:08 PM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Myrl Jeffcoat

The Internet can throw a nasty curve sometimes and distort the true facts at times

Jan 12, 2015 08:12 AM
Robert Smith
Preview Properties, PC - http://www.RealEstateMich.com - Brighton, MI
SRES, Search for Homes Brighton-Howell-SE Michigan

I have two folks in my SOI that constantly forward the most ridiculous emails. You know, the ones that are so outrageous that they provoke an immediate knee-jerk reaction. Every single one I have checked has been proven false and as much as I try to get them to vet before forwarding, no success. I currently just delete them after reading the first few lines to be sure it's not a real communication.

Jan 18, 2015 09:43 PM
David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Hey Myrl, I caught this from Roy Kelleys reblog and I am always shocked at what some people believe to be true

Jan 19, 2015 12:12 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Myrl Jeffcoat - Fortunately I don't get too caught up in all this, but I do know these rumor mills exist. Thank you for showing people ways to validate, or disprove some of these urban legends.

Jan 20, 2015 07:27 AM
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Myrl,  It is amazing how many of these rumors are out there.  I have friends who believe completely in some absurd things  -- even after I send them links from Snopes or other proof.

Sep 23, 2015 11:05 AM