# Snopes to the rescue! (sort of) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372 "2001-10-24T20:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/1 "2001-10-24T20:01:03Z")
At first I thought this wasn’t exactly a rant, but then I reconsidered that this is a rant, albeit a mild one. Just received the following forwarded email, originally from NBC no less: > [@](#): > > Yesterday, 2 Arabic people went into the Costco in Wayne, NJ and bought five thousand $ worth of candy. So Costco called the cops and told them. The FBI caught one of the Arabics and the other one got away with the candy. The Arabic that got caught was illegally in the country and the FBI thinks the candy is a way to spread the Anthrax virus. Send this to 15 people to help protect the country and our kids who will be trick or treating on October 31. Please forward this to people so they can be aware. Thank you. Talk about your responsible journalism! :rolleyes: Naturally, I did a “reply all” with the pertianant [Snopes link](http://www.snopes.com/rumors/candy.htm). What do I get for my trouble? Two complaint letters! Here’s one: > [@](#): > > i wish you will stop complaining about everybody message that sent out you don’t known wether it is true or not. if you don’t like the message that comes out just erase it from your computer and stop telling everybody what to beleive just because you domn’t like what is said that find it you disagree Here’s how I wanted to respond, but because we’re talking cow-orker here, I couldn’t. “Huh? What? Did you even **read** what Snopes said? I’m not saying if it’s true or not, **they** are!” I was in the middle of composing a toned-down version of this when I received the second complaint. This prompted another “reply all” of the original message: > [@](#): > > ``` > The problem here is that nearly every single one of these messages that make the rounds is not true. Until recently I'll just think, "Oh, please!" and delete them. Things have changed in the past few weeks. Terrorists are now attempting to incite all Americans into a panic and these infammatory messages concerning more possible attacks serve no purpose other than helping them achive their goal. Yes, we do need to be cautious during this time of crisis but we should also try to maintain an air of "bussiness as usual." Anything less would be like the terrorists have already won. Above all, don't be wary to the point of suspecting anyone appearing to be of Arabic in appearance or who are Muslim. There have been incidents in the US of men being killed just because they were wearing a turban. > > ``` At least the person who forwarded this piece of crap to me in the first place **thanked** me for the link. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/2 "2001-10-24T20:13:46Z")
An ex-girlfreind sends things like this all the time. I reply as you did and she is usually grateful. That’s all I had to say about your OP. Now on to your sig. I always thought a Reality Check was how you paid your shrink. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/3 "2001-10-24T20:22:21Z")
> [@](#): > > i wish you will stop complaining about everybody message that sent out you don’t known wether it is true or not. if you don’t like the message that comes out just erase it from your computer and stop telling everybody what to beleive just because you domn’t like what is said that find it you disagree I’m so glad this person is employed. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/4 "2001-10-24T20:32:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > i wish you will stop complaining about everybody message that sent out you don’t known wether it is true or not. if you don’t like the message that comes out just erase it from your computer and stop telling everybody what to beleive just because you domn’t like what is said that find it you disagree > > I’m so glad this person is employed. \*\* Not only is she employed, her job is the next level higher than mine! 😃 At least she’s not in any chain of command (yet). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/5 "2001-10-24T20:33:38Z")
> [@](#): > > i wish you will stop complaining about everybody message that sent out you don’t known wether it is true or not. if you don’t like the message that comes out just erase it from your computer and stop telling everybody what to beleive just because you domn’t like what is said that find it you disagree Hehe, [Engrish](http://www.engrish.com/). ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/6 "2001-10-24T20:36:15Z")
I’m kinda curious how the 2 arabic men got there hands on the Anthrax **virus**. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/7 "2001-10-24T20:41:44Z")
I’ve replied in the same manner as your second letter- this is not the time to be spreading around rumors, innuendo, and panic. It irritates the shit out of me. Prior to Sept 11, this shit was annoying. Now it’s dangerous. Zette ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/8 "2001-10-24T21:06:01Z")
I had a relative that sent me various e-mail, including UL’s. I got tired of it and used Snopes to debunk one of the forwarded e-mails. After a tiff back and forth, I told her finally: OK, keep on sending me such e-mail and I’ll keep on debunking them. I haven’t received such e-mail since from her… ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/9 "2001-10-24T21:48:12Z")
Thankfully when I bought my mother a computer and got her hooked into the internet when I moved across the country she already understood that anything that said, “forward to all your friends” was a complete waste of time (she had a friend who started forwarding her everything under the sun at work and it drove my mother crazy). I did tell her it was ok to send me a joke if it made her laugh out loud since we sometimes have a similar sense of humor. 😃 Otherwise I make it clear to people not to add me to their distribution lists, humorous or otherwise. Sadly, the times that I’ve done this, I have actually gotten responses that read, “Well, how does this Snopes guy know it’s not true?” :rolleyes: I’ve even managed to annoy my good friends, but now they all know about snopes! 🙂 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/10 "2001-10-24T22:28:00Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* \*\* > [@](#): > > Hehe, [Engrish](http://www.engrish.com/). \*\* LMGDAO, Thank you Mangetout. ---
**Author:** ![rushtopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47774/32.png) [@rushtopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rushtopher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/11 "2001-10-24T22:34:24Z")
I’ve had this kind of thing happen too. You tell people the Gordon Sinclair thing is an old radio broadcast, and they get pissed at you. “Leave me alone, I want to believe lies!” I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/12 "2001-10-24T22:35:55Z")
I started doing that to the worst of my cow-orkers, and he now sends them to me for approval before he’ll send them to anyone else. 🙂 Of course…I wish he’d learn to look them up for himself, but at least he’s gotten better. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/13 "2001-10-24T22:37:45Z")
Well, you know what they say… ignorance is bliss. Your cow-orker is happy living in a state of extended bliss. ---
**Author:** ![Winnowill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@Winnowill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnowill)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/14 "2001-10-24T22:43:20Z")
A couple of years ago, a local radio station was talking about the alleged Paul Harvey “the rest of the story” regarding Mel Gibson and how the movie _The Man Without a Face_ was based on his own life. Which is and was absurd. Someone called to debunk the story, and somebody else called, saying the debunker had no proof that it WASN’T true. So, who has the proof that it WAS? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/15 "2001-10-24T22:47:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > **Sadly, the times that I’ve done this, I have actually gotten responses that read, “Well, how does this Snopes guy know it’s not true?” :rolleyes:** Esprix, have you been talking to my mother??? That is a verbatim (and oft-repeated) quote from her. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/16 "2001-10-25T00:37:22Z")
Ugh…this kind of shit has been happening to me more and more. Fortunately, I don’t have anyone in my life who sends me this stuff, but my roomate will sometimes inform me about stuff that her mom sent her. The other day, she told me about the girl whose Afghan boyfriend told her not to go to malls on Halloween, and we actually got into a fight about it. I went to Snopes, and read to her about how terrorists wouldn’t tell people their future plans, etc. Her response: “Who are they to presume to know what terrorists are thinking?” Um, I don’t know…the CIA and FBI, maybe? (Which was where these quotes were from.) Then, she asked me what harm these emails do. Argh! God damn it…I just CAN’T understand why people don’t see the harm in forwarding this reactionary crap. So we finally agreed to disagree (because I was getting too mad over something that really wasn’t worth it, in the long run.) She got in the last word by saying “Well, I’m still not going to any malls on Halloween.” Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/17 "2001-10-25T00:58:27Z")
I wouldn’t go to the mall on Halloween, but only because I imagine they’ll be crowded with trick or treaters. (A lot of stores around here do this now). ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/18 "2001-10-25T01:06:52Z")
Man at least I wasn’t the only one who caught the Anthrax Virus bit in the opening post. People too stupid for words. Bile rising * * * Maybe dead you’d be smarter. – J.K. (When drunk and attempting to figure out what vinyl tasted like) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/19 "2001-10-25T01:57:33Z")
How the hell does one purchase $15,000 of candy in the first place? How many shopping carts and semis does it take to haul home? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372/20 "2001-10-25T02:03:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CRorex \* > **Man at least I wasn’t the only one who caught the Anthrax Virus bit in the opening post.** AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! **CRorex** has caught the ANTHRAX _ **VIRUS!!!** _ In THIS THREAD!!! OMG We’re ALL INFECTED!!! Run! RUN!!! ::Scarlett runs to the kitchen to boil herself:: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snopes-to-the-rescue-sort-of/89372.md?page=2)