Hoaxes Everywhere »
The Internet is a pretty interesting phenomenon. It often seems that once something is published on the Internet - and published is a very loose term, often applying simply to email that appears to be from a source of authority - it becomes gospel.
Let's look at the most recent entry. The power blackouts of the Northeastern US (and parts of Canada) resulted in a number of blogs pointing out this alleged picture of the US as seen from space on the night of 8/14. There's at least one site taking this picture one step further and claiming that it is evidence of an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse). Of course, this site apparently sells emergency survival supplies, so it's naturally in their best interest.
But come on - it's pretty apparent from simply looking at the picture that it's a fake. Check out the darkness of the oceans - which generally should have no light at all - and notice how much blacker the "affected area" seems.
This isn't new. Hoaxes on the Internet have been around for years. From other famous pictures to chain letters saying that Bill Gates is giving away his fortune. From a tax on email to the Neiman-Marcus cookie recipe.
The design is usually the same. If something says it's too good to pass up without at least trying it out, it generally is. If you're told to forward it to everyone in your address book, it's probably a sign that you should do just about anything but. The next time you receive one of these, and before you send it to everyone you know, type some of the relevant words into Google, add the word hoax at the end, and see what comes up.
Every one of these examples I found quickly through Google. Here's what I used: blackout picture hoax, iceberg picture hoax, shark picture hoax, bill gates email hoax, email tax hoax, neiman marcus cookie hoax. Noticing a theme?
