STOP! Before you forward that email...

It was in the newspaper, so it must be true…

Remember when we used to believe those words? But news media has evolved to become just an empty shell of what it used to be. We don’t necessarily believe everything we read anymore.

Do we? Well, we do if it’s forwarded around on email.

I’m a self-confessed kill-joy when it comes to all those interesting but nonfactual little tidbits, stories and supposed historical accounts that get passed from inbox to inbox, without nary a thought for the truth.

Yep, if it doesn’t sound right, and even if it does, I will not hit the forward button, no matter how interesting, without first looking up the accuracy before I decide whether to forward, delete, or perhaps amend / correct and then forward (if I’m feeling particularly finicky).

And by looking up the accuracy, I don’t mean citing the thousands of copy/paste blogs and websites out there that just repeat what they’ve heard somewhere else (a bit like modern media outlets).

Is it my writing / journo background? Maybe. Is it because I’m anal? Possibly. Is it because I believe in truth, justice and the Aussie way? Don’t think so. Just because it’s wrong. I do not disseminate wrong information. And perhaps that’s why I’m always right! (I am so).

I don’t know, call me crazy… I just have an affinity for accuracy. I’m just saying… before you give your friends and colleagues another reason to hate Muslims, or email the British Prime Minister about banning the teaching of the Nazi Holocaust from schools, or get a hunting license for setting mouse traps, JUST CHECK IT OUT FIRST.

You don’t have to look too hard. If the email has been around the traps for a while, it will likely have already been researched by the likes of SNOPES, or URBAN LEGENDS (About) or similar online destinations.  

Just Google a few key words from the email, or search on SNOPES or a similar site, and there you have it! In the amount of time it takes to hit forward and add all those email addresses, you will know the truth status of the historical origin of the word SHIT or GOLF you’re about to send to everyone. You will find out it is crap (or shit) and have saved yourself the trouble. Not to mention saved your workmates from a distraction from their work, for which they will be no doubt grateful.

And while I’m on the subject of forwarding distracting emails, do you know who the people you are forwarding your emails onto are forwarding them on to? And them? Protect the privacy of your recipients and ensure their legitimate email addresses won’t be used for spamming-evil by using the BCC field (Blind Carbon Copy). Don’t forget to delete any forwarded meta-information, and send just the body of the original email. (Once you know it’s true, of course!)

And so ends lesson 1, email best practice 101 (or, STOP! Don’t forward that shite) with Rach!

Now forward this blog to everyone in your address book and something lucky will happen at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, Microsoft will pay 1c towards abolishing dwarf throwing for every email sent, and then ninjas will dance across your screen.

Thanks, Rach

(Shameless, unsolicited plug for snopes.com, the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumours, and misinformation.)