I read this story in a book this weekend:
Many years ago, back when airlines had to offer promotions to get your money, United Airlines offered a deal called, “Fly Your Wife for Free.” Businessmen were encouraged to buy a ticket for a trip and they would receive a ticket to take their wives along at no extra charge. What a deal!
As part of the promotion, the airline sent a follow up letter thanking the businessmen for taking advantage of the offer [don't get ahead of me, now].
United Airlines was quite surprised by the response of the angry wives, who replied that they had not been their husband’s companions…and wanting to know who had!
Talk about “Fly the Friendly Skies of United!”
That book was one I considered “reputable,” but something about the story didn’t ring true. I began to search on my favorite reference: the handy dandy Internet. Y’all know that sometimes a story is too good to be true. Unfortunately, this is one of “those stories.” According to Snopes, it is an “urban legend,” if you can believe Snopes!
Can you believe Snopes? As I understand it, you can’t believe Wikipedia. Probably you can’t believe a good portion of what you read on the World Wide Web.
When I discovered that I had been exposed to Hepatitis C, I started researching it on the Internet. By the time I got to the doctor, my eyes were as big around as sausages. She assured me, “Don’t believe everything you read in blogs.”
Hey! I write a blog, and I try to be truthful (although sometimes I pretend that Truth is elastic and stretch it a little).
This got me thinking about “Truth” and “Storytelling,” and the power of the Internet. We are writing “stories,” you know.
Some of y’all may be aware that I really tell stories. I make my living as a professional storyteller, performing in front of audiences, and I’ve been plying my craft for twenty years. There is one thing I’ve learned that I know is true:
More so, if the story is a good one! Stories have amazing power over people. I can tell children a fantastical folk tale that includes magic and talking animals. Invariably, a child (who should be old enough to know that animals don’t speak English) will ask, “Is that a true story?”
My answer is usually, “It’s truly a story.” If they still choose to believe, I have to qualify that statement with, “but, it’s not a true story.”
I’ve sometimes told fictional stories that I conjured in my head. Though the stories are not “true,” there is “truth” contained within the framework of the story. I’ve had adults ask if the story is true. My answer is, “It’s as true as your imagination will allow it to be.”
Unfortunately, many people have imaginations that will let just darn near anything be true! That’s why I think we might be “playing with fire” when we write on the Internet.
If people believe I’m telling a true story when they can see me (and study the nuances of my expressions and body language), how gullible will they be when they read a fictional piece that I write? What are our responsibilities as writers on the Internet? On a personal blog, do we need to qualify every bit of writing? What do you think?
Maybe I should just put a disclaimer on the sidebar:
Everything I write is “true.” Some of it just hasn’t happened yet.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Bwahahahahaha. Loved the airline story. I can see that happening. I’ll bet the men were really happy about flying their mistress for free. Bwahahahahaha. I believe everything you say. Have a great day Shelly.
Comedy Pluss last blog post..Goin’ Huntin’
It’s nothing compared to the stories that YOU find, but I thought it was fun. I know you don’t believe a single WORD I say, but that’s alright.
I totally believe everything I read on the internet. I thought it was all true????
LOL(-:
Oh well I guess it is all in fun and that is how I view blogs etc. All for fun(-: I tend not to write anything that isn’t true. I don’t write much, I try and keep it short and sweet. Faster reading for bloggers. Don’t they say A picture is worth a thousand words? Thats how I feel.
As far as Wikipedia..I love that site. I have found out many intersting things there. LOL
Everyone should take the internet with a grain of salt so to speak. I think a lot of folks on here like to pull our leg.(-:
cindees last blog post..A School of Copper Toilet Float Fish
Of course it’s all true, Cindee…who am I to tell you differently. Yeah, I read Wikipedia, but I don’t let my kid use it as a reference for a term paper
Now don’t we all “embroider” just a bit for interest and impact? It is those little “decorative” touches that bring a story to life. At the same time you don’t want to feed the gullible too high calorie a diet and the internet should carry a “hazardous to your health, weight, and mental stability” sign on darn near every page.
Jamies last blog post..Hiatus
Maybe we’re just relating our version of reality? Yes, I’m sticking to that story…
kaceys last blog post..How many ways to Jet Ski
You can stick to any story you want, because it’s YOUR blog!
No wonder it’s so easy for politicians to lie. People just believe whatever they want to believe.
So very true! So, it doesn’t really matter what we tell them, does it?