Text Messaging: The Latest Means of Spreading False Information and Rumors
Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
This morning I received a "fwd" via my cell phone. Shortly after I read it, I went to th
e internet to check for the validity of the information. A few minutes later, I was speaking with a co-worker who received a "fwd" which said, "did you know so and so, is no longer working for so and so."
It's bad enough they come by email, now cell phone?
I do have to say, the forward I received this morning was from a well-meaning friend who wanted to pass on the message she received to pray for several missionaries who are currently being held hostage. I asked her where she heard the info and she said a good friend of her's sent it to her. I hated to be the one to break it to my friend that the information she sent to me was 2-years old. Granted, there are many missionaries being held against their will and/or face death daily. However, this is not the case for the specific request that came my way.
I love that there are so many wonderful people who understand the power of prayer and I will join in every time. Nevertheless, before hitting that forward button on our cell phones, we need to take a moment to research the information so that we do not continue to forward false information.
As far as gossip, I have no words. It used to be that these kinds of stories were shared around the table over food and drinks--again no words, at least not at the moment. This is another issue in itself.
While we are on the subject, it wouldn't hurt to pray for all the missionaries, media personnel, and military men and women who risk their lives daily for a cause they believe in.
(C) Teresa Ortiz 2009
This Article has been viewed 973 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)I couldn't agree more! I sometimes get a forward for a child that "just went missing" and two years later, get the same forward. We have to be a little more careful.....Thank you Teresa for another great article! Tracey : )Hi Tracy. thanks for sharing. I know its happening more and more now that texting is the "in" thing.I appreciate your reading and taking a moment to comment. I am loving your articles, you are on fire :-) I can't keep up. I love your style!Teresa
Thanks for sharing. It's amazing how much false information can spread so fast. Boggle's my mind. Prayer is a most powerful tool. 'Sincerely,Linda DI know we all mean well, but we need to make sure the info we are passing on is correct. I used to be guilty of passing along info until about 10 years ago, my pastor talked about this very thing. I think it had to do with some chain letter about business cards or something, but it made me realize we need to be smart about this stuff because it can cause unneccessary fear and panic depending on the info.Thanks for reading and taking a moment to respond. You are doing a great job on your articles, keep writing!Blessings, Teresa
Hi Teresa! You won't believe during the persecution in Orissa, India last year I received many such SMSs which used to contain messeges like, this pastor will be attacked today, that village will be burnt, that pastor is dead. But nothing happened in reality. But that had created lots of havoc in the minds of christians as well as others too.Thanks you shared it. God bless you.Hi Candles, I wondered if it was a world-wide issue. Thanks for sharing your experience. All the more reason to make sure we have our facts straight.The one good and important thing this text did was to remind me to be praying for all the things that are going on outside of my little world. May God protect all who risk their lives for a good cause.Blessings,TeresaWhatever it may be we get some reasons to pray about and praise God. So who cares...lolVery true, dear friend, very true!
Hi Theresa, I personally never forward emails/texts. I don't have time and it is generally viewed as you noted as an unwelcome intrusion. Prayer requests can perhaps be posted on more public forums, such as church notice board, places like Searchwarp and so on. There is even a prayer blog where thousands post prayers daily. These are welcome uses of technology for spreading the word, rather than personal ones where your inbox can fill with copied information very quickly. If you know the person will welcome the info though this is different matter.HI CB,Thank you for your input. I agree. The ones that annoy me are the ones that tell me I have so many minutes to forward or else.. It is getting crazy.Although I do appreciate a text from a friend asking for prayer. It's just the mass forwards because usually no ones knows who the originator is.Besides, those text's can get expensive :-)Have a fabulous weekend!
Now thats a good word for the day! I think this goes for fwd emails too...do your research!Hi Caleb, thanks for reading and taking a moment to comment. I appreciate your input. Well said.Blessings to you!
All I can say is "ditto". I used to read some of these forwarded emails and send them on quickly as they seemed so real and vital, then my son-in-law said be sure to go to one of the research sites such as Snopes to be sure they are viable. Now, I never forward anything unless I check it out first. I also, do not like the emails that say you have to do "so and so" or you will have bad luck, etc. When we all used to use an envelope and stamp we never included that phrase at the end of the letter. Yikes!!! I guess it all comes with the "information age". Anyway, I usually delete them unless I know they are real. Some of them can really tug at your heart strings. Just my two cents worth. Love and blessings!Hi Kathy!Thanks for your input. You are right, some are legit and they do pull and the heart and are worth passing on.Love ya!Teresa
So true, Teresa, so true. People are so hungry for something sensational that checking info out before forwarding is practically unheard of.Good job!Yeah, I used to be guilty of it until someone gently called me on it a long time ago.Missed placed good intentions can be harmful.
Teresa, I really like this article, as it expresses my feelings exactly. The world is in enough turmoil than to be spreading false information about anything nowadays. I do believe it when you say that prayers are in order for those in are armed forces, and missionaries in foreigh lands. The need all of Gods help, (and ours) that they can get.....Great article, great read....I am going back in peoples archives to see what I have missed...so don't be surprised if you see some of your old stuff being read.....your pal, and fan, and friend in pen......Gary. I haven't been able to maintain my rating because I am working tons of overtime at my job....and its near impossible to keep up until the rush is over.....but I write when I can......thanks again for your support.....Hi Gary, thanks for taking the time to look back. I do that sometimes as well. I also like picking a catagory from the side bar on the front page and reading from writers I am unfamiliar with.I am glad you are joining in prayer.Thank God you have work to stay busy with :-) I have a few of your articles to catch up on. I noticed you didn't respond to a few of my comments I left on some of your articles--what's with that? haahahahah, just kiddin' I know you have been busy lately.Many, many blessings to you! TeresaDid I miss some of your comments......I'm so sorry....I will definately respond, you know me, I always try to respond...this last couple of weeks have been crazy for me...as always, God bless you for your support, Your fan, and friend ...... Gary.....I will find the articles I missed.....I am so embarrassed .....Seriously, Gary, I was just giving you a hard time. I am not hurt, and not keeping track of the 3 you missed. hee, hee.
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