# What's the 'dope on Snopes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 24, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212 "2009-04-24T13:57:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/61 "2009-04-24T18:21:08Z")
Well, since this seems to have been asked and answered, I’m going to go off on two tangents: 1. Man, do I ever hate it when people write or say “Wikipedia” got to the bottom of something. Wikipedia is a storehouse for the information. They don’t have teams of researchers employed to do investigative journalism. It’s a place where people can contribute information that they have on a given topic. I know that you Dopers know that, but it kills me how many people don’t. And since a part of my job is teaching information literacy, you’d think I’d be used to it by now. 2. Real question: Why did snopes get so inundated with pop-up and -under ads? Any idea why the Mikkelsson’s didn’t adopt a less egregious advertising model? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/62 "2009-04-24T18:29:32Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > 1. Real question: Why did snopes get so inundated with pop-up and -under ads? Any idea why the Mikkelsson’s didn’t adopt a less egregious advertising model? I only get one Netflix ad the first time I click on a story. Not much of a problem, though I hate pop-unders. What’s inconvenient for me is that you can’t copy-and-paste from their site without going in through the back way. I understand why they made it that way, but it makes it difficult for the rest of us who are not stealing content but trying to provide a citation (with a link to the page, of course). ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/63 "2009-04-24T18:43:01Z")
Of course, it’s not happening now. Glad for the site, bad for my reputation. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/64 "2009-04-24T18:45:13Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > 1. Real question: Why did snopes get so inundated with pop-up and -under ads? Any idea why the Mikkelsson’s didn’t adopt a less egregious advertising model? Apparently, they take the “if the check clears, it’s good” method for their ads. Their ads also were linked to Malware some little time ago. They got one other thing sort of wrong- the bit about Texas splitting into five states, they label it “True”. Although the way they word the question does make the answer “True” Texas cannot unilaterally split, they require the consent of Congress,just like any other State. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/65 "2009-04-24T19:10:20Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > That amused me as well. Gee, finally uncovered their deep dark secret, did we? Huh, I knew about it a decade ago, without doing a lick of investigative work. > > Then again, in those days, I was working my way up to the highest post count on their message board, so that might explain a little. And designated cabana boy, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/66 "2009-04-24T19:49:38Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > [li]"when [David Mikkelson] registered in 2000 he did so as a Republican. "[/li][/LIST] > > . And that proves what? I happen to be registered as repubican [i flipped a coin. to register i needed to be dem or rep …] I cant think of too many repubs I have actually voted for. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/67 "2009-04-24T20:50:30Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Then again, in those days, I was working my way up to the highest post count on their message board, so that might explain a little. Wow! That brings up memories of being overrun by the dopers. Hard to image in this day and age. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/68 "2009-04-24T22:08:07Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I only get one Netflix ad the first time I click on a story. Not much of a problem, though I hate pop-unders. Really? I had no idea they have ads at all. > [@](#): > > What’s inconvenient for me is that you can’t copy-and-paste from their site without going in through the back way. I’m not sure what you mean. I just clicked on one of their legends and copied this text from there: > [@](#): > > The Washington Times also reported that Pentagon officials denied the claims that “the SEALS had the raggies all sighted in, but could not fire due to ROE restriction” and that President Obama “specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the Bainbridge CPN and SEAL teams”: Are you saying that they claim some kind of copyright, where you’re not allowed to quote a small blurb like this? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/69 "2009-04-24T22:23:06Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I didn’t expect this to turn into a Great Debate! > > Meadow Lake Airport is run by a volunteer board. I could not find a phone number. I did find this though, from the [airport’s website](http://www.meadowlakeairport.com/INDEX2.html#anchor_1094): What’s really weird is whoever photoshopped the picture took the time to reverse the arrows, so they’re still pointing in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![Notassmartasithought](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@Notassmartasithought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notassmartasithought)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/70 "2009-04-24T22:29:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The sign is facing the tree in the ‘Claim’ photo. It’s facing away from the tree in the other photo. > There is no evidence of there being two sets of signs, in either of the photos. Also, there is no reason for there to be a duplicate set of signs on the off-side (as shown in the ‘Claim’ photo) since there is no road there. Who would see it? > > As for my point, they do a good job of turning up facts and providing references. But sometimes they aren’t completely accurate. They’re a good source for citations for most debates, but I would seek additional evidence if I were were shooting for a Nobel Prize. Look at the signs. In the first photo the arrow points to the left. In the second, the arrow points to the right. Ergo, two signs, back-to-back. A driver makes a left turn coming from one direction, a right turn coming from the other. ---
**Author:** ![Notassmartasithought](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@Notassmartasithought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notassmartasithought)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/71 "2009-04-24T22:34:22Z")
Duh, guess I should,ve read further in the post!:smack: He said, epinomynously. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/72 "2009-04-24T22:43:00Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > What’s really weird is whoever photoshopped the picture took the time to reverse the arrows, so they’re still pointing in the right direction. I agree, its a darned good fake. In fact, I think the sign images would have needed to be comped in from a third photo of the signs that we haven’t seen – the ones in the un-faked shot are far too small, unless it that shot was taken at crazy high resolution. And the faker got the lighting and tone just about perfect, which takes some expertise. Hell, the signs in the un-faked photo look more fake than the faked photo to me! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/73 "2009-04-24T22:51:16Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > And the faker got the lighting and tone just about perfect, which takes some expertise. About the lighting: In the faked photo the sign appears to be backlit, only it is in shadow. In the other photo you can see that the light is indeed coming from behind it, filtered through the trees. In the faked photos, one could say that the background is bright, so it’s showing through. But the backlight shadows don’t quite seem (to me) to match with the structure of the tree behind it. Also, if it were two signs placed back-to-back on the post, I doubt there would be any light showing through the white sign. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/74 "2009-04-24T23:32:01Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I never thought it was a surprise that the Mikkelsons run the site! I’ve known that for years. These people make it seem like it is a surprise. Right, don’t they sign their names at the bottom of every article? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/75 "2009-04-24T23:38:48Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](#): > > Right, don’t they sign their names at the bottom of every article? Yes, they do. But obviously the author of the letter felt they were secretly implying something else. [Here’s some super-secret text from the Snopes donation page, tucked away so far in the fine print that you can see it on their FAQ.](http://www.snopes.com/info/donate.asp) > [@](#): > > Yet for all its size and the monumental respect accorded it by journalists and folklorists the world over, the Urban Legends Reference Pages (or [snopes.com](http://snopes.com), as it is better known) is, surprisingly enough, the work of just two people who began this repository of their writings as a labor of love in 1995 and who have been adding to it ever since. There’s no big sponsor behind the site, no special interest groups that have to be catered to; it’s just a guy and a gal who get a kick out of researching odd stories. Thank goodness we have the Wikipedia to get to the bottom of this! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/76 "2009-04-24T23:59:02Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](#): > > Right, don’t they sign their names at the bottom of every article? Barbara does, snopes doesn’t. But both of their names are in the copyright banner at the bottom of every single page on the site. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/77 "2009-04-25T00:36:27Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I notice nobody _here_ wants to touch the Pat Boone dick-in-a-box issue either. Hell no, nobody wants to touch Pat Boone’s dick in a box! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/78 "2009-04-25T01:01:05Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean. I just clicked on one of their legends and copied this text from there: > > Are you saying that they claim some kind of copyright, where you’re not allowed to quote a small blurb like this? If I try to highlight something to cut, it doesn’t highlight. If I try to cut anyway (on the assumption that the highlight just isn’t visible) nothing is cut. I’m using Safari. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/79 "2009-04-25T01:01:28Z")
[The REAL dope on Snopes](http://xkcd.com/250/) ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212/80 "2009-04-25T01:03:11Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > And that proves what? I happen to be registered as repubican [i flipped a coin. to register i needed to be dem or rep …] I cant think of too many repubs I have actually voted for. And that proves what? The email says “the Mikkelson’s are very Democratic (party)”… that’s not factually correct. It goes on to assert they have some liberal bias, and I guess that’s just a matter of opinion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dope-on-snopes/494212.md?page=5)