Saturday, February 25, 2017

STILL ON FANTASTIC STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers was a famous quote of Jefferson a one-time American President! But what can one say about social media and the many news peddlers who have suddenly found their voice and feel compelled to share whatever comes through the portals of their phones? To these peddlers once the story comes through from another peddler it must be shared whether verified or not!

We have been served with stories of a shoe repairer who put something in the shoe he was hired to mend. When he was thereafter forced to wear the shoe himself, he suddenly disappeared! The story ends with advice that you stay with shoe repairers when your shoes are being mended as most of the repairers are ritualists.

Another story came through as an “Emergency News” announcing the death of a young man after consuming egg and bananas! The story goes on to say that research has discovered that the mixture of egg and banana in the stomach turns into a poison that kills. Amazing!

Now the fact is that a physical body cannot simply disappear without it being moved physically. It is also highly unlikely that a fruit like banana which is rich in potassium, vitamin C and B6, fiber and fats and egg rich in fats, protein and cholesterol would mix up together to form anything toxic.


I think it is better to share stories that are verified, edifying and true. It does absolve you of responsibility for peddling falsehood even if you start your stories with forewarnings like – “copied”, “sent as received” and so on. Let all unverified story stay in the prison cell of your cell phone! Once you share a false story you have joined the unenviable club of those who bear false witness! 

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