Why don't people check Snopes before they forward emails?

[torinsmom]

I can't say what the email was because it is political, but jeez, how hard is to check your facts before you forward an email? I just spent 30 minutes trying to tell my 75 year old aunt in a nice way that she doesn't know what she's talking about. Bet she doesn't forward any more emails to me, LOL.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My uncle said snopes is wrong. Thankfully he no longer sends me emails. I think he got the picture.

 

[LilyWDW]

Because people want to believe that what was sent to them HAS to be true (so and so wouldn't lie to me!) and that they now have a duty to protect others.

Or they are lazy.

Take your pick.

 

[torinsmom]

LOL, Snopes is part of the great conspiracy I guess. I sent a link from CBS too, but I guess the main stream media are part of it too. I'm waiting to see if she replies to my email or not. I don't mind someone having a different opinion, but if I could keep my opinion to myself for 8 years, I think they owe me the same respect.

 

[Shutterbug]

Because people want to believe that what was sent to them HAS to be true (so and so wouldn't lie to me!) and that they now have a duty to protect others.

This....

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Bet she doesn't forward any more emails to me, LOL.

If not, consider yourself very lucky! I pointed out snopes articles a few times to people, and I was about to say that they kept sending me things, but now that I think about it, it has been a while!

 

[Rora]

I wish my grandma would read snopes before she forwards the 10+ emails she sends a day. Ugh.

DH and I have created fake email accounts and told my grandma that these were our "new" addresses. I just couldn't stand the ridiculous crap she sent me day after day. Of course, I couldn't ask to be left off her forwarding list as she would be furious.

Glad I'm not alone on the snopes thing!

 

[torinsmom]

Well, I'm sure my aunt WILL be furious! How dare I not agree with her emails? She just hit me on the wrong day; most times I would just delete them.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

My mom is one of those forward everything people. My brother and I have both taken to sending the snopes link for whatever rumor she is circulating back to her each time she sends something our way. She has finally stopped!

 

[C.Ann]

Lots of times I just pop over there to read stuff - not because I'm looking for anything in particular..

 

[Klass]

Because people want to believe that what was sent to them HAS to be true (so and so wouldn't lie to me!) and that they now have a duty to protect others.

I agree, try telling 25 computer illiterate people at my office that think everything in an email or your mailbox (the thingy by the street with the red flag) is all fact.

I am the most hated person in the office when new "FWD"s come out.

 

[SandrA9810]

my aunt sent one to my sister, about how wal-mart employees were keying in cash back amounts at the register. My sister, having worked for wal-mart for 10 years, knew other wise. Replied back with, cash back keys are only on the pin pad, and can only be made by the customer.
And my aunt is one to believe anything and everything. I've got close to 200 emails in her "special" folder that are unread. I hate email forwards.

 

[RedPanda]

The other day I got one from my MIL that said "Verified by Snopes" at the end (part of the original email, not her addition), and yet when I checked Snopes -- yup, false.

I was pleased to see, though, that at least one other member of the family checked, too, and sent us all a note saying not to believe it. (I usually just tell the original sender or bite my tongue. )

 

[tigercat]

What is the snoops site? I did snoops .com but it came up for security things. I have a friend who sends me all kinds of things and I would like to give her the address.
tigercat

 

[torinsmom]

It's snopes.com

Well, another relative did not hold her tongue. She wrote a lot more than me and did REPLY ALL, LOL. She was already on the naughty list, so who knows why she even got the email. Luckily, this aunt is not one we have to worry about taking us out of her will. Her over 50 year old son still lives with her and is spending her paycheck(yes, she still has to work) before she even gets it.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

What is the snoops site? I did snoops .com but it came up for security things. I have a friend who sends me all kinds of things and I would like to give her the address.
tigercat

Not snoops - snopes.com

Yeah, I'm one to hit "reply all" and forward the url to the snopes page to let EVERYONE know that the email is pure BS. I've been deleted from a few mailing lists but I know the person still sends that drivel out. Anyone remember the "forward this email to 10 people and Old Navy/Microsoft/Bath & Body Works/etc will send you a gift certificate for $10"? No matter how many times this woman sent those stupid emails and yet never got her gift certificates , she still kept trying. Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and over and over again while expecting different results!

 

[wdwiala]

I try to tell people if the emails are wrong.

I have had friends reply to me (like others have mentioned) that Snopes is part of a big ole leftist conspiracy and their owners are liberals and biased, etc. I think that response was to the one that went round about Obama and The National Day of Prayer.

Fine. Believe it. Whatever.

 

[tigercat]

How do I find out if something is right on that site? It is all about spy ware products.
tigercat

 

[wdwiala]

I usually do a search for key words from whatever I am researching.

 

[tigercat]

Okay duh I found the right site. Thanks it was helpful.
tigercat