Why and when should I use Snopes?

posted by ClifNotes, Aug 2006, Permalink

First, what is Snopes.com?

Snopes dot com is the first place I check when I get an email with a wild story or unusual claims. They investigate urban legends, hoaxes, scams, and other stuff you'll see often in an email your friend has sent you.

Example:

A TV Station actually reported that you could hunt naked women with a paintball gun in Las Vegas.

Here's an interview of the people behind Snopes and the story.

Quote from Online Journalism Review

There are a lot of reporters who live by the maxim: If it sounds like it's too good to be true, it probably is. Meaning, it's not true. In the case of the "Hunting for Bambi" whopper, Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS was ready to shoot video first, ask questions later. Despite the fact that the station's LuAnne Sorrell did a four-part report on the scheme -- supposedly giving men the chance to hunt naked women with paintball guns for up to $10,000 --

See the truth behind the story

Now you can see why I recommend and often quote Snopes.

http://www.snopes.com

Comments?