School Me Saturday 10/5/24- Stop believing everything someone sees on the internet!

This post is not going to be about school. Or classes. Or going to classes. Or getting ready to go on fall break. Or tests or assignments.

No, this post is going to be about me shouting STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING SOMEONE OR YOU SEES ON THE INTERNET!!!

For fucks’ sake, stop it.

There is a continuing natural disaster that is happening right here in our state. Hurricane Helene put a serious beat down on Western North Carolina. The death toll keeps rising, people have lost their houses, their friends, their pets, and their livelihoods. Not to mention to lack of electricity, water, and cell service. With no end in sight.

So why do I see so many people spreading the false report that North Carolina has a shortage of body bags? Or that FEMA, who has affected 6 states to cover, hasn’t been on the ground yet?

Did we learn nothing from the natural disaster we just spent the last 5 years living through and are still going through?

Or did we learn the wrong lesson from covid?

The lesson is that some people will believe what they see on the internet. They take it as gospel truth, not the lies that others are spreading. You know, just like with the vaccines.

Enough with the doom scrolling. Especially if you believe everything the internet tells you.

Know that there are assholes out there who will be trying to prey on the vulnerable. They go door to door and lie that they are from the county or even FEMA when they are decidedly not.

Don’t worry, there is a special place in hell that they undoubtedly believe in for them.

The best pieces of advice that I can give you as a nascent researcher-

1. Don’t believe everything you read or watch on the internet.
2. Don’t listen to someone who tells you something outrageous with no facts to back it up.
3. If you do find it believable, find an alternate source of the same facts. To have confirmation from an alternate, reputable source is best.
4. Stop the doom scrolling.
5. If you still think that something nefarious is going on, get involved. Donate time or supplies to those who are suffering in Western North Carolina. Make sandwiches for One World Kitchen, or give blood. Do something besides perpetuating the lies that someone else is peddling to make a buck.
6. Be wary of those who are trying to make a buck off of someone else’s suffering.
7. Don’t believe everything you read or watch on the internet. And don’t listen to someone who tells you something outrageous with no facts to back it up. It bears repeating.

Have an open mind but do not be swept up in the lies that are around on the internet.

Have an open heart to help those whose entire lives are irrevocably changed and challenged by Hurricane Helene. Donate your time or some goods to aid in the recovery.

Because what if you lived in Western North Carolina, wouldn’t you want someone to help and not hinder you with lies?

I would.