Was I Wrong?
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
April 27, 2007 8:48am CST
I waited until today to post this discussion until I had time to cool down as I was angry but most of all I was hurt. Yesterday I received email notification of a warning discussion that one of my friends had received in an email from her "auntie". I immediately "snoped" it to find out if it was real or a hoax. It was a hoax and has been around since 2002 although there is a newer one referring to an IM warning. As I was one of the first to respond I said that it was a hoax and said I thought she should ask myLot to delete it. I'm not sure if some of you remember that I fell for a warning discussion and discard the dangerous items and it cost me over $30.00 before I found out about snopes, checked it out, and it was a hoax. So I posted a discussion saying it was hoax and I received a very nice response from the originator of the hoax discussion and she was sorry I was out of cash. That is why I wanted the originator of the new warning discussion to know so that nobody else would make the same mistake as I did. Now to my point, I thought I was doing a good deed! Apparently some other members did not feel the same way. I received some harsh critizism, even some nasty PMs. What would you have done? Was I wrong?
24 people like this
34 responses
@mahmah (436)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I don't think that you were wrong. As a matter of fact, I myself had done the same thing last week. It wasn't one that was really involving money but still there is no sense in everyone worrying about something that took place 7 years ago and was over and done with (a medicine recall). I received a very nice response from the originator of the discussion and a thank you for taking the time to do the research (I swear by snopes now). I also didn't receive any rude comments about my response, so either no one read it or those kinds of people didn't read the discussion anyways. LOL So sorry that you got criticised and I think you did the right thing by letting them know. But of course this is just my opinion. ;)
9 people like this
@prettylady9143 (238)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
no youre not wrong..you just did the right thing by letting others to know about that. and id like to thank you for that. you did great. keep it up. takecare.
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I think you were absolutely right for warning everyone. I would have done the same thing. There are way too many email hoaxes going around and people should really check with snopes before they keep these things circulating. Everytime I get an email with a sad story asking for money or donations I always check with snopes before doing anything with it. 9 times out of 10 it's a scam. Everytime that I find that this is a scam I will send the link to snopes about that scam to the person who sent me the email letting them know it's a scam. These things need to be stopped and they are not going to stop when there are gullible people out there. If people think you are cold and heartless so be it. You were just trying to warn everyone. I think you did the right thing.
8 people like this
@smellsyummy (635)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I couldn't have said it better myself.
3 people like this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I have had money deducted from me too that what a lot. to be deducted from you. I am sorry that happened to you we work so hard on here, but you must be careful, what you say on here I learned that, long time ago.
6 people like this
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I think you did the right thing in letting everyone know that it was really a hoax. There are so many unscrupulous people running around trying to scam others, that it is hard to keep track of them all. That is why we rely on our friends and their individual knowledge. I am sorry that you got slammed for your "good deed". Unfortuatly there will always be those on here that are looking for an arguement, and when they see one, or the potential for one, they will blow it way out of proportion. You shouldn't have had to endure the nasty pm's or the critizism. You did what you felt was right, whether "they" disagreed or agreed. Hugs to you my friend. Try not to let it get you too down.
4 people like this
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
27 Apr 07
This is always an individuals call I think. You were not wrong if you felt someone would be harmed by this hoax. I always struggle with this when I see a hoax. I never know how others are going to react.
I remember where I saw a discussion and someone disagreed and even gave several sites showing it was a hoax. This discussion was about Hillary Clinton and her secret service men paying for her and Bill's mansion mortage. Anyway the guy who was trying to let the person know it was all a bunch of bull was chastised for many pages by the people who wanted to believe this was true. The person who started the discussion was very offended and defensive about the information being true, even when the guy had proof.
After I read that I knew then it may be better to tread lightly on these kinds of discussions. The sad thing about this discussion was everyone kept marking his rating as negative and his star went from real high to real low only because he was trying to help others know the information was a hoax. So with that said I guess you need to pick and choose your fights. Some people are very testy about their subject matter.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I have had my reputation plummet before but why should I have to walk on eggshells! Some people can dish it out but then cant take . What is funny she had posted a discussion a while back condemning phony emails!!
2 people like this
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I started a discussion a while back on this same topic. People who get these little warnings and "news" bits and then post them on here without checking it out! I think it's irresponsible that people don't check it out. Mistakes happen, though, and TO ME...you were doing a nice thing...you told the person about it and then posted a discussion to let people know it was a hoax. You didn't say anything rude about the person...you were just trying to be nice. i woudl have done the same thing as you. You are NOT wrong. Don't let these ignorant people who try to start trouble get in your head. It will only make you feel bad. You did wonderful.
6 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Thank you Sometimes I have to bite my tongue/fingers not to be rude.
3 people like this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
27 Apr 07
i believe that it is wise to let others know immediately if there is a hoax going on. i agree with you, chaygylmommy, that it will do a lot of good unto those who will heed your advise on the matter. what counts is you did your part.
3 people like this
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Whiteheather, you were 100% right. I also wish everyone would check out emails on snopes.com before they forward them to everyone. I check out the ones that I get from friends/family and always let them know if it's a hoax. If I were you, I would ignore the ignorant people who are sending you criticism and nasty PMs. We know how great you are and that you were only trying to help the situation, not make it worse by letting people believe it was true. My hat's off to you...keep up the good work.
3 people like this
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
29 Apr 07
You went the extra mile on a discussion here to check out the authenticy of an email and put your findings on here and people critisized you in public and private?Plus,you were using experiences you have had to support your comments??It sounds like you had all your bases covered.I guess I am still making the mistake of thinking it was OK to discuss things here without the fear of being attacked or critisized.I thought this was a place for opinions but I guess for some we can only have an opinion IF it matches theirs??I will learn.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
28 Apr 07
No Heather you did not do anything wrong at all it is just again ignorant People about that do not appreciate the fact that you are only trying to help so if I where you I would ignore them Sweetie
I know it is not easy and I am disgusted that People always have to attack well I hope they find out the hard way then Sweetie
You keep going Love as you are a great Friend and a respected Member here
Love and Hugs to you
@Naomi17 (624)
•
28 Apr 07
You have nothing to beat yourself up for, you did your good deed if people choose to ignore your warning that is there problem!
What i can't believe is you being treated badly for helping others you could have ignored it but you choose to help, you really can't please some people if you saved one person from being scammed you have done a good deed!
1 person likes this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
27 Apr 07
it is good for you to have come out with a warning. it is also good of you to have written to the originator that way. it is sad though that the originator gave you just that kind of reply. it means that he is not stopping at his hoax. he is still out to get a lot more of other victims, by the looks of it. i hope that someone will be able to find a way to put these hoaxes to a halt. it is sad that you lost so much money because of that. don't worry, whiteheather, do not be adversely affected by the criticisms that you got, there will always be people who do not know how to thank others for a good deed. you did something right, so why should you be feeling bad? just go on ahead and shake off those bad remarks from your heart and your head.
@prettylady9143 (238)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
no youre not wrong..as a matter of fact, you just did the right thing for letting people know about that. and id like to thank you for that. keep up the goodwork. takecare.
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
28 Apr 07
whiteheather, you have a truely good conscionse and this is why you are feeling bad. You did good and I can tell by the others here that many agree. I learned something new today and through this discussion as I did not know about snopes.com and now I do. I will go there to see what it is and remember to use it next time I get an e-mail that is a possible hoax. So you have done two good deeds, job well done!
@zengguoxing (773)
• China
29 Apr 07
No,you;re right,i think,my friend.What you have done is right.
1 person likes this
@jamie11982 (1658)
• United States
28 Apr 07
No you are not wrong. I would have done the same thing with warning people not to do what the topic or warning said. I never had it happen to me but if it did i would have told everyone as well so that they didn't get scamed. It's a shame that some of the people that read your response had to be so mean and type a lot of harsh words to you. To send you pm's about it though is just wrong. I would not have even read them if i knew that it was going to be rude and mean. Don't worrie about what they have to say to you. Just remember you are better them that because you knew it was a scam and didn't fall for it. If they can't take your advise and warning to heart then it's their falt if they lose all of their money. Don't worrie about them..
1 person likes this
@monkeywriter (2004)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I would have told them it was a hoax as well! Sheash. What nasty people for being mean when seriously you did NOTHING wrong. I think its lame that you saved people some money and told them it was a fake and they get pissed off. Even more so, I tell people if they send me forwards that are a hoax. I would be grateful if someone did for me the same!
1 person likes this
@haedescanes (592)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
I think you are just here to inform and not cause any damage. May be you don't want others to be spammed or fooled by any third party. Just be careful next time ok? remember we are only members here and we are not in control of everything. Goodluck!
1 person likes this
@anaknitatay (1335)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
you were doing your part in making the internet community safe and enjoyable for everyone. what's more you even took the pains and check if it was really a hoax or not.
take time to listen to people's complaints to you they may be valid ones only then can you decide if what you were doing is right.
if what you did WAS right. You should be praised and not punished. sometimes it is people who do not understand, do not want to understand or even have ulterior motives who criticize instead of praise good deeds.
@di1indilin (802)
• India
28 Apr 07
I am kind of new over here, so maybe that's why i haven't received the message yet, but i am sure that what you did is the right thing. What i don't understand is why anyone should be rude to you, like how does it affect them.
