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Snopes Science
- Jul 31, 2009 at 8:01 AM
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- Comments (11) Total Views (581) Everyone can see this journal post.
Some people on Cafemom live by Snopes, the website that proclaims to have the definitive answer on most claims running through the internet and email forwards. I generally steer clear from that website and any post or email that looks like it belongs there. I did recently notice they have a science section, so let's take a peek, shall we?
My favorite one of all time has to be the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide. The email will go on and on about the dangers of this odorless, tasteless substance that causes hundreds of deaths every year. Some will even recommend the government ban this substance. The funny part about it? Dihydrogen Monoxide is WATER. While I usually don't enjoy making fun of people who don't understand science or the terminology scientist use, this one points out how gullible people are, and how a careful wording of claims of harmful substances can bring people to agreement when they don't even understand what they are agreeing to!
Then there's the lightbulb that has been burning since 1901!
How about the Coriolis Effect in your potty?
Egg balancing on the equinox?
These are some of the many, many weird beliefs they address on this site. While I don't recommend taking their information at face value, it certainly provides a decent starting point, or, at minimum, an interesting read. I would be happy to address similar questions, if you have anything not yet convered by Snopes, or you think we should contest something on Snopes.
Tonya
AKA sunmoonstars
Comments:
I just read an article about the husband and wife team that runs Snopes. They do try their best to thoroughly research their answers, according to what I read, and do their best to footnote their sources. What I don't trust are the emails that say that Snopes has confirmed whatever idea the email is trying to sell. But I do have a fair amount of confidence in the answers I find on the actual Snopes site.
Has Snopes ever been wrong?
ddbz - I have never tried to prove any of their stuff wrong, so I really don't know.
Just curious... but why do you steer clear? Snopes makes sure to site the information they find at the bottom with references. This isn't just stuff they make up, they research and find real answers. They're not always going to be right (no one is perfect) but their information tends to be solid and come from good sources.
For instance... did you bother reading what they said about the water e-mail that was floating around? It was basically what you said...
God bless Snopes!!
Jafra - yes, I took the info I wrote from their site.
I generally steer clear of their stuff because it is usually the things we see in emails - about water bottles being deadly and medications containing ingredients (check your shelves!) that were removed years ago. Or donating to people in need by forwarding emails. I just have low interest in those things, but I never knew they had a science section. So I learned something!
I steer clear of posts in CM citing snaopes because they often are controversial or drama posts (or people rudely criticizing the poster), so I steer clear of that stuff in general (try to).
No offense meant to snope lovers! I see they provide a valuable service!
Snopes, while not perfect, is very useful in stopping those ridiculous e-mails. When someone forwards one to me, I forward it back the the snopes link. I don't know if it actually stops the e-mail, but MY friends have certainly stopped sending them to ME. LOL
What snopes is saying is that its true the kid won a science fair with a report on the "dangers" of water. Not that the report itself was true. If you read what snopes investigated, was "A junior high school student won a science fair by circulating a report about the dangers of 'dihydrogen monoxide.'" and they found it was "True" He did win a science fair with this report. It was NOT about actual report itself.
"Snopes, while not perfect, is very useful in stopping those ridiculous e-mails. When someone forwards one to me, I forward it back the the snopes link. I don't know if it actually stops the e-mail, but MY friends have certainly stopped sending them to ME. LOL "
Yep, Me too!
I have gotten an email before with the snopes link to prove its true- then when i actually look at the link it's false,or doesn't really apply anymore.
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I like Snopes, I see their job as verifying or debunking various crap on the internet. They take the time to look into claims. They're not the be-all-end-all, but it is a good starting point. They even go through the process of what they found and whatnot. Snopes is my go-to for various email forwards that I get. They seem to be skeptical and take a critical eye to claims. They get my stamp of approval. =)
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