Fact versus fiction
Three weeks ago, I walked into my parent's house to hear an astonishing report from my mom.
"Did you hear about that reporter in Pakistan? They killed him and dragged his body through the streets!"
I knew she was referring to Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who'd been kidnapped some time back by Pakistani extremists.
But I hadn't heard anything about him being murdered. The last I'd heard, he was still missing.
"Are you sure about that?" I asked her. She said she'd heard it somewhere, but she couldn't pinpoint the source.
I didn't think she was right, so I checked it out the next day on the Internet. She was wrong: The reporter was still missing, and his death hadn't been reported by anyone.
It wasn't until last Friday that the world heard the horrific news: Pearl had been murdered.
Until I checked the facts on the Pearl story — went right to a place that could give me accurate information — my mom's version of the story was nothing more than a case of "I heard it somewhere."
Call it rumor, call it gossip — whatever you call it, don't call it truth.
We're all familiar with the "I heard it somewhere" syndrome. Since we live in a small town, we face it all the time.
But we shouldn't tolerate inaccuracy. We should always seek the truth.
Another example: A friend came up to me to say, "Did you hear that the Chinese restaurant is closing?"
I had not heard that anywhere. And I had a hard time believing that was possible. Every time I eat there, plenty of customers are inside. I drive by there on a Friday night — nay, a game night — and cars are parked up and down Main Street, near the restaurant's entrance.
Simply put, it was just a rumor. So I decided to get the facts. I went over to the buffet, had a great lunch, and point-blank asked the owner: Are you closing?
She was shocked to hear the question. No, we're doing very well, keeping very busy — that was her response.
Another rumor proved wrong.
I hate rumors — both as a journalist and as a person. They swirl around everywhere, and they're not based in facts.
Do you have a question about someone? A business? An event? You've heard something, somewhere?
Don't settle for anything less than the true, honest fact. Don't be content with rumors.
And don't be the kind of person who spreads them.
— JENNIFER WILSON
