When people state falsehoods on the internet, are you likely to dispute them or are you likely to let it go?

Oh, I will correct morons all day long.

If I can easily find a link to a reputable source for the correct information, I will do that. But I won’t go into an argument without something to back me up.

It depends on my mood. It also depends what it is. Anyone who says Obama is a Muslim is so caught up in their right wing folly that it is almost pointless to try and teach them anything. Not only is it not true, but it shouldn’t matter what his religion is. Also, it implies distrust and hatred of Muslims as a group, and that’s annoying to me too.

I Don’t say anything usually, because we’re all entitled to opinions. If you share something ugly I delete.

@jca: “She stated that Obama is a Muslim”

What could you possibly do to bring her beliefs in line with reality? Someone who states that Obama is a Muslim is dealing with larger issues that simply misinformation. More information does not appear to be an antidote to such confusion.

It depends on the site. I usually let it slide, the guy perpetrating this shit is usually an asshole and everybody else knows it. But if I’m in a shit mood, and I’m on a site that I feel is way beyond buying into Obama’s supposed alliance with our terrorist enemies, or his secret plan to convert us to Socialism, or Illuminati conspiracies, or magical Masons secretly in control of the world, or the twelve Jewish families who are really in control of the magical Masons… I might just cut that fucker a new asshole right then and there. I’ll sometimes post citations, but I usually feel the guy is such a fuckwad, that I won’t spend the time or effort. I used to earnestly argue with these people, but it is a matter of faith with them and you can’t argue faith. So, I have no problem going all ad hominem on their asses. I consider it part of my anger therapy program.

I just post the pertinent Snopes.com link when I can find one, or I may post a single refutation. But mostly, I stop following anyone that stupid.

I ignore it as BS or ask questions for clarification. I might debase the statement maker wholly if I was perfect.

Usually not. Idiots are not going change their minds just because of a few pesky facts.

I use to confront it when I was new to the internet and innocent. Now I know that it is a waste of time.

I firmly believe in the saying that if you tell a lie over and over the general public eventually believes it as fact. It is amazing to me how many people on the internet believe the crap handed out to them daily by the Media. I am grateful that I think for myself and actually don’t believe anything I see or read until I check out the facts myself. Today most people read the “Headline” and go no further. Things like, “Bush lied, people died”.

Everyone was in favor of the Iraq War and Congress voted for it. yep, even politicians who today say they were against it. Also President Clinton and the United Nations said there were WMD’s. Even (Then Senator) John Kerry. Oh well, believing the Media lies is so much fun for the majority.

I will usually correct them. If it is a nutter with whom I have had prior nutty encounters, I’ll often just ignore them, because I know I’ll be punished for getting involved. But if this is Facebook we’re talking about, I simply wouldn’t have “friends” with those kinds of views. I would unfriend them. What you are talking about is an expression of racism. Why would I connect myself with that person on Facebook?

I’ve never understood why people friend others on Facebook who they’re only vaguely acquainted with.

I never almost never debate people online, let alone try to change their opinions and beliefs—especially about religion or politics. A waste of my time.

I let it go. I’ve never been a fighter.

Why even try, with these morons they are so set in their beliefs that no matter how many links you post to say they are wrong , they still wont come around.
Things like this only strengthen my views as not to have children and expose them to these freakin idiots.

When every one with any common sense has yelled till they’re blue in the face, and people continue to spout such BS, there is no point in arguing. Any more, if I respond at all, it’s with a ”sigh” or “smh”

@Dappled It’s a good way to get to know a jelly or acquaintance better. I love pics of @Dutchess’ grandbabies!

^^^ 50 GA’s for dat!

I corrected my best friend when she shared a link about a missing girl who lived about an hour from me. My best friend lives 2,000 miles from me. I was familiar with the story about the missing girl and I knew the girl had been found dead several months before my best friend had posted the link. I know my friend was just trying to be helpful by spreading the news of a missing young girl, but I had to tell her that the girl was dead, otherwise her friends would have shared the link.

I really wish people would look at the links they share and make sure they are legitimate and/or not old information. I’m not the internet police, so I rarely try to school people. I will kindly tell the people I care about if they are spreading misinformation because I don’t want then to look stupid. Luckily that doesn’t happen often.

My immediate reaction was “Yes, I challenge it!” Then I read your details and I think I would probably un-friend her, and if she asked me why, I would tell her.

@jonsblond Oh, me too. That is a huge pet peeve of mine, posting Amber Alerts with out taking 2 seconds to verify if it’s cancelled. It’s like calling wolf.

@KNOWITALL Might go check my page for PICTURES!!! From TODAY!!!

If I disputed every falsehood I saw on the internet, I’d never have time for anything else. In fact, I’d probably die with only half the job done. So I pick my battles to avoid becoming this guy.

I don’t always pick the biggest battles because we can’t just let all the small stuff go. But I certainly ignore a lot more often than I engage.

Usually not, for two reasons.
1) correcting someone you know on a public page can cause such huge resentment that it’s certainly not worth the bad feelings it causes. Correcting by private message is only slightly less fraught.

2). In the case cited by the OP, I have no reason to think that they’ll believe me over the sources from whom they seek “information”.

Too late, @SavoirFaire. You are that guy.

I don’t get why people post stuff on a public page, then get resentful when someone disagrees with them.

@Dutchess_III Because a lot of people want to enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. They don’t recognize that freedom comes with responsibility.

@ibstubro & @SavoirFaire “That guy” is 97% of Fluther.

Pretty sure it’s closer to 96% , @cheebdragon. Might want to re-do your maths…sheesh.

P.S.: Also, you said “who” on a post a while back, and it really should have been “whom”.

Youre period should of been inside the paranthesis, @longgone.

@Dutchess_III It’s parEnthesis, not parAnthesis. Besides, those are quotation marks. And what if @longgone is using British English (which has different conventions for punctuation)? I’d go on, but I’m pretty sure I just sensed someone misplacing an adverb on their personal blog. Duty calls!

ROFLOLING!

Uh, yeah, @Dutchess_III, what if I’m using British English?! Textspeak is actually not allowed here, by the way.

@SavoirFaire I’m using German conventions…my home-country…? Ringing any bells?! Thanks for defending me, but you may want to do your homework first. I’ll be sending you my CV and an (as of yet) unpublished autobiography – which I trust you will enjoy immensely. Please message me your current address ASAP.

ROFLILING is not txtspeak. It is German for “Choking to death.” You should know that!

It is not.

Achtang too.

Do not push it, Baba Yaga

It’s Bubba Yaga. Sheesh

@longgone But it’s an English-language website, so you have to use acceptable English conventions. That’s why we don’t let people write out quotations «like this.» And it’s not like there’s any such thing as German English. I mean, duh.

P.S. You can send your autobiography to 123 Fake Street / Springfield, NT 49007.

It’s not Bubba Yaga, it’s Bubble Guppy.

@SavoirFaire It’s on the way!!

It’s Bubble Ishious