VOLUME 33, NUMBER 11 THURSDAY, November 15, 2001
ReporterElectronic Highways

Sept. 11 rumors and hoaxes

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Numerous rumors and hoaxes have followed the tragic events of Sept. 11. Some of the more prevalent rumors and hoaxes detail mistreatment of anti-war protesters or boycotts of major businesses because of alliances with terrorists and their supporters.
 
   

Likewise, false and unsubstantiated rumors flourish by e-mail, including likely terrorist targets and activities, and calls for donations to nonexistent charities in honor of the victims of 9-11. These rumors are often sent through e-mail or published on Web pages, and almost always ask the reader to pass the message along, thereby spreading the misinformation. In a time when real information about bioterrorism and the attacks in Afghanistan are of vital interest, these hoaxes not only muddy the waters, they also can cause very real and unneeded stress.

Although the Internet is a conduit for 9-11 rumors and hoaxes, it also serves as a valuable resource for separating truth from fiction. For example, David Emery's Urban Legends and Folklore http://urbanlegends.about.com is a comprehensive list of all types of hoaxes, myths and rumors. Its "Current Netlore" region has a page devoted solely to terrorism hoaxes, where readers learn that there is no evidence of Osama bin Ladin earning money from the sale of gum arabic and that there was no candlelight vigil planned to be photographed by satellite from space.

Snopes.com www.snopes.com presents a series of pages devoted to urban legends, including several entitled "Rumors of War" related to 9-11 and the events that followed. For example, the Snopes compilers point out errors in the claim that a Green Party activist was not allowed to fly due to her political affiliation. They also detail errors in the photograph that supposedly was taken of a tourist standing on top of the World Trade Center as the first airliner came down.

HoaxBusters http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/, developed by the Computer Incident Advisory Capability arm of the Department of Energy, describes many Internet hoaxes in detail. While HoaxBusters traditionally examines more generic virus hoaxes and get-rich-quick schemes, it also blows holes in the "Donations for Printer Cartridges" scam, as well as other 9-11 related rumors.

Remember reading that alarming e-mail or listening to that rumor put forward in the media or at the dinner table? Take the time to check out facts using these sites, as well as other reference materials that the University Libraries' information professionals will be happy to guide you to. Truthful and valid information is always the best way to combat rumors and lies.

—Stewart Brower, University Libraries

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