Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jul 17 - 09:35 PM

All Things Considered on National Public Radio has a piece today on the Snopes crisis.
Snopes is an excellent Website. I hope it survives. I contribute money to Wikipedia. I'm not sure I'm ready to contribute money to Snopes.
Here's an All Things Considered piece about Snopes in happier times (2010): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124958817 -Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: frogprince
Date: 26 Jul 17 - 08:53 PM

I've received several particularly virulent, hate-mongering, chain emails which included the claim that their content was confirmed by Snopes. Without exception, Snopes had in fact demolished them completely.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 26 Jul 17 - 04:52 PM

Use it while it's still available. I hope he reopens under a different name and keeps the rights for himself.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Thompson
Date: 26 Jul 17 - 04:40 PM

I like Snopes; however I did once find it a little inaccurate on some Irish subject - can't remember what it was.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: OldPossum
Date: 26 Jul 17 - 01:26 PM

Bitter divorce fuels Snopes' slow demise - an article from the New York Post.

The bitter 2015 divorce of David and Barbara Mikkelson is the fuel that ignited the battle for the popular fact-checking Web site, Snopes, which is now resorting to a GoFundMe drive to keep it afloat.

(follow the link to read the full article)

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Snopes.com in Danger of Shuttering - from Snopes' own website.

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For a different perspective: Snopes - 2017 lawsuits - from Wikipedia's article on Snopes.

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Personal comment: This sounds messy, I hope it gets sorted out. Snopes is a useful resource.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 07:31 PM

....er, can we get back to talking about Snopes?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Chris K
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 07:19 PM

Sorry Mr Burke. I am really sorry that you don't know what a radio-telescope is.I tried to explain it in very simple terms.I have no idea what you want from me and what does Foucault's Pendulum has to do with it all.It happens to be one of my favourite books , since I am a great sci-fi fan.As for individual failings I had none except cancer , if it counts. I gave examples that are plain to see mistakes. The only point that I tried to make in all postings is not to take Snopes as a "final word" and a few of comments said the same.As for Urban Legends Snopes.com are excellent.Contact Snopes if you wish to confirm that they changed "Eye Of God" from false to true.Don't offend people, because I have not offended you. I was simply answering to Mr.Joe Offer.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 03:47 PM

It is not my style to "smear" someone all over Internet , although I could do it with many subjects on snopes.com

Snide or what? the rest of the post is incomprehensible to those of us not privy to the conspiracy- this thread is about SNOPES- not about individual alleged failings of Snopes. Mr K, please (1) take your problems with not being properly appreciated elsewhere (2) Read Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, whilst frequently looking in a mirror.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Burke
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 11:05 PM

Chris,
Maybe you should correct Wikipedia's article about the Hubble Helix

It says "The Helix has often been referred to as the Eye of God on the Internet, since about 2003." The footnote refers to Snopes.

Snopes also provides a link to the photo's composite nature that is far more technical than anything I can understand.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Chris K
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:10 PM

Thank you Joe! Incidently all that you have written is true except my alleged "four minutes guest post".I respect people and always had.I will start my explanation from snopes.com. It is not my style to "smear" someone all over Internet , although I could do it with many subjects on snopes.com.I will give you examples since you required them. One would be "Eye Of God" which was posted on snopes as false.After my research and a letter to them it was corrected as "true photo , inaccurate description".This is where the problem lies.The name was given to it by one of astronomers (plenty of sources on internet)and as far as a photo , it is not a multi-layer, but a spectroscopy photograph.In photographs like that some colors are chosen to represent certain length of electromagnetic wave.Often choice of colors is standard to 1928 wave spectrum drawing , which original is in my posession and reprints are available all over Internet.
Next example is under icon Internet that has a bunch of laughable statements which you will agree with easily, because some of them are "urban legends".Yahoo never planned to charge for service and your Webmaster can confirm that....Others are outdated and some not quite accurate.You judge.

My name is true and if you wish I can compose a last name like a few of "registered"users do.

Sorry for my grammar.Technical books are not known to shine with a great grammar and I am reading other books in my native language.

I hope that my explanations suffice.I wish you all the best of everything.I apologize for "invasion" but had to speak. I will not disclose other examples ,since I value snopes.com for their very hard work on "urban legends".It is still my opinion that they should stick to it and leave other stuff to experts.Wikipedia is much better "filtered" source of a general knowledge and definitely a good source for engineering , electronics and science.They have heads of universities on their panel.It does not mean that someone cannot "seed" a nonsence entry.Wikipedia has a completely different structure than snopes.It gives everyone a possibilities to share knowledge.It will soon change due to a serious problems that jokers cause.

One more thing Joe. This is something that my Mom always tells me:"Do not judge a book by it's cover".

Thank you !

Greetings to all,

Chris K

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 09:29 PM

"Chris,"
Your first message, posted under the name "Chris," tried to smear snopes.com without giving any specific information. Somebody should have called your bluff. Instead, Charley Noble posted a message, questioning you simply because you were a guest. And then Don(Wyziwyg)T questioned your grammar - still not addressing the missing documentation for the allegations in your first post.
You posted a second message with a "hurt" tone under the name "Chris" and said you would not be back, and four minutes later posted an anonymous and nasty message. We don't look kindly on people who post civil messages with a name and then post nasty, anonymous messages - so therefore, all your messages were deleted. I have undeleted them so people can see your duplicity, and I will delete them again in a day or so. Ironically, I was about to post something questioning the rudeness of Charley Noble and Don(Wyziwyg), when you posted your duplicitous anonymous message.

If you wish to post a critical message, you'd best post some specific information supporting your claims. But no, Charley and Don should not have questioned your name or your grammar - the content of your first post was faulty enough. Please be mindful that you are a guest here. My mother always told me that when I was a guest, I was expected to be on my best behavior. You have chosen the name "Chris" - I expect that henceforth, you will not post here anonymously or under any other name.
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

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Please remember that this is a thread about snopes.com - not about Chris or his grammar.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:37 PM

I cannot imagine an adrenaline flowing through veins of someone who deletes a guy that just apologized to everyone. There is a term for rudeness like this, but I don't care for cruel and sarcastic people. Best wishes of a nice evening to all. I mean it. Take care.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Wesley S
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:26 PM

Free speach is alive and well. Walk outside , stand on a soapbox and say whatever you like. There you have it. Free speech.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:58 PM

So much for a free speach!Thanks for removing my comments!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Amos
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 11:43 AM

I doubt there is any basis to the assertion that Barbara Mikkelson created any of the urban legends and false BS which her site discredits. I have consistently found her analysis to be conscientious and rational and her homework to be fastidious. Bear in mind that the site is voluntary, possibly paid for by advertising only.


A

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Becca72
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 11:13 AM

" (just don't use Snopes for explanation - rather go to Wikipedia ,which I am sure you don't use)."

I hope you are not implying that Wikipedia is a reliable source as it most certainly is NOT.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:24 AM

Very nice , guys.You ream someone for his own opinion.....many of you should be really proud.Grammar? Who cares? Don, you should check your own sentence for a proper grammar.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:20 AM

My deepest apologies for my poor grammar and syntax.I am not American ,just a foreigner with his own opinion.I will do my best to avoid upsetting people and will not be back.

Thank you,

Chris

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 02:52 PM

Every time I see this thread title, I can't help thinking that maybe we should all go on a "Snope Hunt." Er, forget it...

I think that too often, people go to Snopes.com to check the veracity of something they've seen on the Internet, particularly the chain e-mails that obnoxious friends send them. I think the best aspect of Snopes is the stories, and there are some doozies to be found there. THAT's where you'll find the real Urban Legends. Look deeper and you'll find that Snopes is a lot of fun.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 02:29 PM

I would have thought a forty year career in science and engineering would have led to some familiarity with English Grammar and syntax.

Not too credible......perhaps I'll check it out with Snopes.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 02:02 PM

I usually also check either the hoax index or urban legend index at About.com, too. A couple other quick de-bunking sources have dried up in the past few years.

I asked one of those people who persistently send 'round bandwidth-sapping emails "email this to everyone in your address book or all of your hair will fall out" why she didn't check any of these things out first before forwarding them to the entire immediate world. She said, "Why should I? You'll do it for me and let me know."

Sigh.

Linn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 07:16 PM

Thank you Arkie! well stroked and right on the money! I'll just say......"DITTO"


Spaw

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Arkie
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 02:31 PM

I too am thankful for sites like Snopes. The site, and those like it, is like an oasis amidst the mire available on the internet. It is a wonderful thing to have efforts being made to provide a level of truth amid the wave of misinformation with which internet users are bombarded. It has never occurred to me to consult Snopes about scientific issues. I am in no position to declare that Snopes or any other site is perfect but I do believe their intentions are open and honorable. I can understand that when someone has an agenda to sell there is a need to discredit the pockets of truth. I am a bit of a skeptic myself, and can respect those who demonstrate some skepticism about commonly accepted matters, but I do expect a bit of objectivity in that regard.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 12:35 PM

Well, I've found that a huge number of forwarded e-mails I receive are fraught with falsehoods. People who should know better, send me this stuff, and I wonder why they didn't stop to verify the information before passing it on.

We had a bit of that on Mudcat - people posting stuff they got on forwarded e-mails, and then sometimes the same message would be posted here five or six times. That hasn't happened much lately. When a forwarded e-mail gets posted here, somebody's likely to research and refute it within minutes.

A good rule to follow is: if it comes in a forwarded e-mail, check it out before sending it on. Also, consider the possibility that your recipients may have received the same message several times before. Also, if it's a chain letter, remember that the people who receive it are quite likely to find it annoying. Obliging your friends to pass on chain letters, is a good way to lose friends.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 11:52 AM

Charley Noble (?) I was just expressing my opinion and I have a full right to do so.No offence to anyone.You should moderate your tone and be a bit nicer.You know that sarcasm is a tool of the fools ...smart ones use a wit (just don't use Snopes for explanation - rather go to Wikipedia ,which I am sure you don't use).I have written a bit there. I have posted some comments in here as well for quite a while now and we had our differences in a past....I don't sweat a small stuff - to old for that.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Gweltas
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 02:37 AM

I am a Snopes fan!! Whenever I receive a forwarded e-mail warning of some all consuming computer virus if I open certain e-mails, or how to get loads of free money for forwarding particular e-mails, etc, etc.... I check out the situation on Snopes and if it is a hoax I return the email to it's kindly sender, quoting the Snopes information and encouraging the sender to also use Snopes before sending on similar stuff.
Lately I've received several doom laden "warnings" which BEGIN by saying that the sender has checked the veracity of the content on Snopes and that it is true! So, when I double check with Snopes I have found that the sender could not have checked it with Snopes !! It seems that the internet scaremongerers are now using a reference to Snopes to try and convince people to believe their particular scarey hoax !! Urban legends can be very entertaining, but it is nice to have a reliable source to refer to in order so sort out truth from fiction!
XX

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 08:50 PM

I think I'll continue to go with Snopes.

I find Guests less credible, even when they name themselves "Chris."

Chris-

If you would become a member and post here for a couple of years, maybe you would have some credibility.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 07:47 PM

Snopes are two people - man and wife, who opened a site on urban legends and with a fury worked hard on discrediting them , for which they deserve a praise. What happened later is unprecedented. Raised up to an incredible heights (at least in their own minds) they started to become an authority IN EVERYTHING.I am a scientist and a professional engineer.I have lived physics and electronics for 40 years of my life. I used to work with a guy who was a mechanical engineer and tried to discredit me in many subjects - using Snopes.One day I have written a letter to Mr.Mikkelson (one of snopes) and received , to say the least , unpleasant answer. Their knowledge of physics and electronics is so miniscule that I was shocked. They fight God , science ,knowledge ,progress and all that is connected with achieving any education on any subject. They also publish fragments of other sites - not credible and stupid.On a top of it they copyright all the copied material. In my opinion they should stick to urban legends , mostly because they they composed most of them and started circulating them on Internet , only to discredit them lates as someone elses.Knowledge means being humble, because ony those who posess a great knowledge realize how little they know.This is not a case with Snopes.They know everything! Be smart and use sites of Universities and all other educational institutions and steer away from those egomaniacs.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: meself
Date: 07 May 09 - 04:45 PM

"I say steer clear of dinner parties"

That's easy for you to say - if I followed that advice, I'd soon starve to death.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: artbrooks
Date: 07 May 09 - 04:05 PM

From the Snopes FAQ :

Q: Is everything on this site about 'urban legends'?

A: In a strict folkloric sense, no. Urban legends are a specific type of folklore, and many of the items discussed on this site do not fall under the folkloric definition of "urban legend." We employ the more expansive popular (if academically inaccurate) use of "urban legend" as a term that embraces not only urban legends but also common fallacies, misinformation, old wives' tales, strange news stories, rumors, celebrity gossip, and similar items.

...and...

Q: How do I know the information you've presented is accurate?

A: We don't expect anyone to accept us as the ultimate authority on any topic. Unlike the plethora of anonymous individuals who create and send the unsigned, unsourced e-mail messages that are forwarded all over the Internet, we show our work. The research materials we've used in the preparation of any particular page are listed in the bibliography displayed at the bottom of that page so that readers who wish to verify the validity of our information may check those sources for themselves.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 May 09 - 01:49 PM

Joy refreshed the thread with these questions:

I guess what some of us are asking is who are the people who publish Snopes? Is it an organization? Is it a person? And why should we believe that every word is "gospel"? Signed...A skeptic

Snopes.com is operated by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson, and it's my understanding that they do most of the research work for the Website. There is an article about Snopes in the April 2009 issue of Reader's Digest (click). The name comes from the fictional Snopes family in the Snopes Trilogy of William Faulkner.
I find Snopes to be very useful, especially when I get e-mail chain letters and want to explain to friends why they shouldn't have sent the letter without verifying it first (especially with virus hoaxes and anti-Obama hate messages). However, there's something about Snopes that leaves me unsatisfied. I think Glueman is very accurate in this description:

literalist, true/false binary approach rather than an interpretive, on-going attitude: information as science

While many of the Urban Legends that Snopes deals with are true folklore, I don't really think that Snopes has a respect for folklore. All Snopes wants to know is whether the information is true or false. Snopes rarely considers whether the legend is a good story, or how that story came to be. Urban legends are rich materials for study and appreciation, and it seems a shame to simply dismiss them as factually false.
That being said, I pray every day for the death of the urban legend that insists that Barack Obama was born a Muslim in Kenya or Indonesia, and that his Hawaii birth certificate is a fabrication by a Muslim conspiracy that intends to conquer and destroy the United States.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 May 09 - 01:30 PM

Yes, it's an extremely useful website.

Sad to say but some of my favorite "news" stories have turned out to be fictitious.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,glueman
Date: 07 May 09 - 01:24 PM

Good folklorists will be familiar with the term 'ostention' by which myths become realised as fact, or life imitating art - or a least artfulness.
Snopes assumes a literalist, true/false binary approach rather than an interpretive, on-going attitude: information as science. A useful site if you're troubled by the latest word on da street. I say steer clear of dinner parties and water cooler advice and you'll be fine.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 May 09 - 01:00 PM

I agree that Snopes is a helpful resource. Occasionally I have looked further into a subject, and found that their "bare bones" write-ups are accurate, and often suggest where further information might be obtained.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Beer
Date: 07 May 09 - 12:56 PM

When I get an e-mail that has numerous other addresses on them and the message is about some racial story I go to Snopes and see what they have to say. Then I forward the message back.
I also think it is a great resource.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: meself
Date: 07 May 09 - 12:41 PM

I don't think anyone says you have to accept Snopes as "gospel". But if I get a frantic e-mail with a copied, signed, official-looking letter warning me that if blink my headlights at a car coming along at night with its headlights off, I just might get murdered as part of a bizarre initiation to some bizarre gang, and then I read in Snopes that that letter has been circulating in various forms and places for thirty years without one actual case of such a murder ever being reported - well, I don't know about you, but I will be more inclined to believe Snopes than the letter ...

I think Snopes is a valuable resource, and I can't imagine why anyone would object to it - unless they themselves have been corrected with a reference to Snopes, and cannot bear the shame.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: jeffp
Date: 07 May 09 - 12:13 PM

Every article is signed.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Joy
Date: 07 May 09 - 11:38 AM

I guess what some of us are asking is who are the people who publish Snopes? Is it an organization? Is it a person? And why should we believe that every word is "gospel"? Signed...A skeptic

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Nerd
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 01:26 AM

To be fair, in most folklore courses in college (I teach them) we wouldn't recommend "debunking" as an approach to Urban Legends. Even Jan Brunvand, who in his popular writing is nothing if not a debunker, says in his more academic writings that the folklorist's job is not to debunk but to analyse and interpret. So a halfway decent folklore course should not turn you into a debunker.

The thing that's good about Snopes is that they lay out their reasoning for you. You don't HAVE to take their word as gospel. You can actually READ their reasoning and decide if you agree with them or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 05:13 PM

I had a folklore course in the History Department at the University of Minnesota in about 1949. The history department makes sense to me.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 12:44 PM

Folklore studies in the US has often been taught through English departments at university, because until very recently, only a handful of universities and colleges had a Folklore department.

brucie, glad to be of service.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 08:19 AM

Faulkner used the Snopes family to represent the dark side of the "new" (post civil war) south as opposed to the south of antebellum mythology (e.g. "Gone With the Wind").

Everything you could possibly want to know:
http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/glossarys.html#Snopes

The person who named the sight must've been an English Major.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 07:53 PM

It's tempting to move this thread to the "folklore" category. I think snopes.com is one of the most interesting folklore resources on the Internet. I always wondered about the name of the Website, but never got around to looking it up. Somebody above linked to the snopes.com FAQ and that gave the answer:

Snopes is the name of a family of characters who appear throughout the works of American writer William Faulkner

But what does Faulkner have to do with urban legend?

I suppose the best-known writer on the subject of urban legend is folklore professor Jan Brunvand. Brunvand has the academic credentials, and his books are fascinating (and they also sell very well); but I often think snopes.com does just as good a job.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 07:04 PM

"Snopes" is renowned because they are articulate, intelligent and do their homework. In other words they have earned their reputation.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 06:20 PM

GUEST:

Thank you. I did not take the Gullibility thread personally in any way. There is SO much stuff on the 'net that keeping up with one's interests is a full-time job, and I have a full-time job. Thank you for that clarification, however. Much to do with 9/11 has never been properly explained--or maybe that should read 'satisfactorily' explained. I appreciate the usually even-handed explanations from intelligent people, and there lots of them here, yourself included.

Thank you again.

Bruce M

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 05:39 PM

UG said:

If you've taken a half way decent course in folklore in college, you are as well equipped as snopes to suss out the questionable.

Two comments:

Many have not taken a half way decent course in folklore in college. it's nice to have someone do the legwork.

For those who have taken such a course, most will not do the work to suss out the questionable. Snopes does the homework most of us either are not equipped ("haven't taken the course") to do, or have not thought to do, or don't have the time to do, or are too lazy (too often that's me, unfortunately) to do.

My hat is off to Snopes. On those occasions when I've checked that site on a subject on which I happen to have knowledge, I've found them dead on-target.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 05:19 PM

"Who can object to being corrected when they are harboring falsehoods?"

People object to being corrected about just about anything, and usually quite vehemently, in my experience. This is even more true when they feel their being corrected makes them look like a fool, as is the case with being "corrected" about folklore "falsehoods" as you call them.

I said over in the gullibility thread and in the some thoughts about the election thread (which is a perfect example of the FWDed email syndrome running rampant here in Mudcat), that the election season has seen the BS section inundated by that sort of FWDed crap, and that it is being tolerated here despite it violating the stated Mudcat FAQ Editorial Policy on cut and pastes.

But because so many of the Mudcat regulars are sucked into and participate in the phenomenon so uncritically, my mentioning that fact is being met with the predictable hostility reserved for those of us who catch people out at doing things that shows their are holding to a double standard, or engaging in yet another internet snopes sort of phenomenon.

But that's life on the internet for you. Just wanted to see how many others there were in this forum who hadn't gone over to the dark side. Very few, apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:57 PM

BTW, I wasn't referring to your plane at the Pentagon thread in the gullibility thread I started, but all the FWDed emails being posted about the elections, which is also an internet phenomenon sometimes addressed by snopes types of "debunking" sites.

I have always thought something was rotten in Denmark about the Pentagon plane crash. The fact that it is so little mentioned and thought of when 9/11 is invoked only reinforces my uneasiness about the whole attack on the Pentagon with Rumsfeld rushing alongside the stretchers to get people to ambulances.

I do believe a plane hit the Pentagon, and I believe that terrorists were flying it. But I don't know what the hell to believe about the Pentagon attack beyond that. I do find the photograph thing interesting as well, and no internet debunking site has ever debunked what is going on with that footage to my satisfaction.

So hang in there, brucie. There are those who are perpetually gullible, and then there are those who think they can never be fooled by sleights of hand. The latter often invoke snopes.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: robomatic
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:56 PM

It's been my experience that Snopes is a highly useful resource due to this phenomenon of so much informtion being out there that a lot of it can't be true.

Even at work some credulous folk have circulated rumors as fact and it has been interesting to see who simply relays info and who gives it some thought before implicitly endorsing it by forwarding it to all and sundry.

One of the executive secretaries and I shared the habit of waiting a bit to check out these rumors. We had nothing else in common other than the desire to not be relay to junkmail.

I've noticed a lot of people here with that careful attitude. They take care with how they express themselves, they are responsible enough to identify themselves so they can be personally addressed, and they can smell out artificial tales.

Who can object to being corrected when they are harboring falsehoods?

oh, yeah, I guess there are some GUESTS........

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:50 PM

brucie, people in chat forums like this will often cite snopes as if it were a "final word" which allows them to accomplish (in their own minds) what they are seeking, which is "final say" on a matter.

Invoking snopes, et al is a very common ploy to try and trump someone else's post in online debating, particularly by those with a profound need to either win and/or appear more knowledgeable than they really are. If you've taken a half way decent course in folklore in college, you are as well equipped as snopes to suss out the questionable.

snopes is to internet folklore what "Skeptic" magazine is to the folklore of science, IMO.

Humans are complicated, aren't they?

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:32 PM

Thank you all very much. Don't know why I couldn't find that stuff, but I couldn't.

The question was prompted because someone--a very bright someone--on another thread has often refuted things by quoting Snopes or quoting from Snopes, etc., and done so in a manner that made me think Snopes was a 'special authority' of some sort. I just got to wondering who and what they are, and you have been more than kind answering my questions.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:21 PM

Sorry artbrooks, I was checking links and typing while you were posting the Snopes FAQ.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:19 PM

There's a FAQ at Snopes that answers your first and second questions. As to them being perceived as the "last word," there are plenty of other sites. The sites are as good as their research.

Here's Truth or Fiction
Hoaxbusters, or go straight to their index
Urban Legends and Folklore at miningco.com

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:13 PM

I don't know whether or not they're the last word in debunking, but they're entertaining...

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:10 PM

The answers to these questions are here.

Subject: RE: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:05 PM

brucie, I can't answer the who questions, but I can say that they are most certainly not the last word in debunking. AFAIK, they started up a website to debunk the more common and prevailing urban legends that circulated on the internet once the unwashed mashes arrived at AOL.

Subject: BS: Who or what is or are Snopes?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 03:56 PM

I was looking for info on Snopes--that is, I was looking for info ABOUT Snopes. Does anyone know who or what they are and who funds them and why they are perceived to be the debunking "last word"?

This is a serious question and not meant to get folks POed, although I think it likely some folks will be.

Thank you.

Bruce M