How do you know what's true online?

[minniecarousel]

Not sure if this is a debate topic or not. I'm a notorious thread-killer so this might die anyway, but here goes...how do we know when we read things in a forum like this that it's the truth? How do we know what people write here is not a figment of their imagination? Maybe there are some really good creative writers posting here. On one hand, this is a pretty safe place to get opinions, rather anonomously, for RL problems. But honestly, some of the things I read here can't be for real - can they?

Opinions?

 

[workinggal]

I think a lot of stuff from some posters is a figment of their imagination.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

How do you know what's true online?

You don't, take everything with a grain of salt.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

I agree, that everything must be taken with a grain of salt. However, remember truth is often stranger than fiction.

 

[skuttle]

You don't, take everything with a grain of salt.

ITA...I was just going to post the exact same thing.

 

[Pam]

I always pick a number between one and five....

Being online is like reading the National Enquirer or Star - there's probably a lot of embellishing going on...

 

[debster812]

I think some stuff is true, heartbreakingly so.

I think some stuff is 'embellished'

I think some stuff is pure fiction

I think some stuff is pure fiction, and the OPs know exactly what they are doing, and enjoy the uproar, and yanking of chains.

I try very hard to see the good in people, but there are some stories that just start my alarm bells ringing, and those red flags waving in my head.

Just my very humble opinion, of course.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.

 

[katerkat]

I'm with the grain of salt - and I try not to get too involved. We had a fiasco on another site, where one very regular poster turned out to be lying. It upset a lot of people, but to me, well, it's the Internet, people!

 

[mamajoan]

Hey there Min.... I am a trusting soul... so I like to believe everyone is as honest as I am... for this forthright attitude I have taken some hard knocks. I have also made some incredible online and IRL friends thru this particular board.

That being said... I don't do chat rooms... fo'get about it! There are some creepy souls lurking about in the dark corners. It is confusing to me why anybody would enjoy being so dishonest and crude.

 

[jfulcer]

The truth is really moof.

 

[Glowsmagic]

Originally posted by workinggal
I think a lot of stuff from some posters is a figment of their imagination.

First hand experience?

 

[Amberle3]

It depends on what you're reading. If it's personal plights and so forth, then you lump it into the "could be" file.

If it's stuff that's verifiable and is being presented as fact, then take a look online and see if you can find anything to back it up.

Same goes for stuff you read on websites.

For instance: I read on a website that Jane Fonda had actually had surgery to remove 2 ribs in order to achieve her tiny waist.

A quick trip to www.snopes.com revealed that as a myth (also commonly said about Cher apparently).

 

[Keli]

You know, I know it's the internet and that a lot of what I read, even on these boards, is probably fiction but I choose to believe the stuff that sounds feasible until I know that a particular poster tells tall tales. Then I just take the that poster says with a grain of salt. I tend to believe people until given a reason not to.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by jfulcer
The truth is really moof.

 

[Saffron]

It's hard sometimes to tell truth from fiction, but I'm like mamajoan and Keli. I tend to take people at face value; I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I'm like that in "real life" too. That's one of the things that made and still makes my SO attracted to me. He's the opposite. He's very cynical when it comes to online "stuff".

I also "people watch" on the CB while I'm here posting. As in people watching in "real life", I'm always fascinated by what people do, not by how they look or how they dress etc. It's interesting to watch people and how they interact with others on the CB.

 

[catsrule]

Shep is a real person.