Randy D Gibson

A few years back I had the opportunity to teach a class to high school students.  One of the things I always put up on the screen, and said often throughout the year was a famous quote from Abraham Lincoln.  It said, “Don’t always believe everything you read on the Internet.”  It had Abe’s picture with it, so it must be true, right?

There are probably some keyboard warriors out there in cyberworld who would spend all day and night arguing that the quote was real.  I have concluded that some people like to argue with random strangers just for the sake of arguing.  Regardless if it is due to low self-esteem, an overinflated ego, loneliness, or a mental health issue, they will keep going and the target is not supposed to offer a different opinion or the facts of the issue.  Unlike Detective Joe Friday from the old Dragnet series, they do not want the facts. These people have already made up their minds, and they don’t want to be confused with facts that might prove otherwise.

Yes, Al Gore’s invention has paved the way for some real tall tales. This new year started off with one that was out of this world – literally.  A group of about 50 teenagers caused a panic when some set off fireworks at a mall in Miami, Florida.  Several mallgoers assumed the fireworks were gunshots.  Miami police came out in full force to see what was happening, to calm everyone in the area before a riot ensued, and to enforce crowd control.  This first led to conspiracy theorists claiming the incident was set up by the political elites to take attention away from the release of the Epstein client list.  Then, there was a conspiracy about the conspiracy.  Rumors started circulating that there were giant aliens at the mall and the police were there to deal with the aliens. Not aliens from South America or Cuba, but from outer space.  There were claims of an alien figure in some grainy video footage and that was more proof than the footage from the grassy knoll film from the JFK assassination.

Miami police had to spend the next few days fielding calls and reports regarding the supposed uninvited guests, assuring those enjoying the Florida beaches that all was well.  Heck, even if it were extraterrestrial visitors, they probably just wanted to enjoy the sand and surf of Miami South Beach for a few days as they explored the galaxy.

The Internet has brought us other whoppers over the years.  One being that Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is really JFK.  Maybe that’s what really on the grassy knoll film.  However, since social media also claims that Richards was waiting for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, I’m not sure that is him.  Besides, Richards was born in England, so that would make him ineligible to be the former president.

Speaking of well-known Brits there is the theory that King Charles is really a vampire, although England is pretty far west of Romania. Maybe he was really killed in that skiing accident a few years back and Carlisle Cullen from the Twilight series found him and saved him.

Then, there is the theory that there is an earth within the earth.  I did personally go to a Cinemark theater and watch footage of Aquaman going there, so maybe there is some truth to that one.

One thing is for sure, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Internet.  Honest Abe said so himself.

Randy Gibson is the CEO of RDG Communications, LLC.