Reply #24: Ah yes, navel gazing the internet while posting on the internet [View All]

There are several aspects of this type of story which interest me:

1. First hand accounts. A story may be posted, as an example: " Scientists from XYZ thinktank have reported that people with " innie" belly buttons are more likely to prefer pretzels over potato chips" Invariably the replies will be:

a. This cannot be true! I have an innie! I love potato chips! All my life! Everyone I know! EOM!
b. XYZ thinktank? aren't they the ones who did another study we all dont agree with that one time? cant. be. trusted.
c. Was this posted on redmeatfrommars.com? media whores who cant be trusted.

On another more personal level, someone in any forum may have first hand knowledge of a national story that refutes or promotes some aspect of the story in an intimate first hand way. This has happened to me several times now, and I guess its just cyber nature: because I am posting anonomously and unable to play the "gotta link for that?" game ( How can you provide a link for first hand/ eyewitness information? ) The post, and invariably the poster, is disregarded, ignored, or attacked. I've had people argue with me about factual information of my profession, with 12 years of school and 20 plus years of experience under my belt, and they've naught. Its like "ok, you go man"

2.The speed with which a hoax or false story becomes beyond and urban myth to commonly accepted knowledge, and when disproven the truth ignored. 2 recent examples:
a. Jenkim (sp?): I wonder how many people fouind out the hard way you cant get high from sniffing your own poop? Yet it was picked up and run with, not just on the net but on local talk radio. Expounded upon exponentially. Hilarity ensues, truth not.
b. The rocket launcher turned in for a pair of shoes story. No it was not a missle launcher, it turns out. Another DUer in the thread with intimate knowledge happened to say " hey thats not a missle launcher, its a (somthing else)" Posters respond with: "NEWS 6 says is too!" When proven otherwise, its like it has fallen off the radar, never to be true again.

A more serious story (not to pick at old wounds) the Duke rape case: What % of DUers had those guys guilty in the first days without facts other than,,,oh hell I dont want to go there.

3.Now to the trolls and extreme points of view: the mundane is made more mundane on cyberspace. The only way to get any attention is to ratchet up you POV to the extreme and get those flames going, facts be damned.

4. And this is the crux of the matter: all we really want is attention, not truth nor reality.