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
