Hoax
The Internet abounds immeasurable and unimaginable information. After reading an article, we are made to believe that it is true because every single element making up a good story is present, only to find out that it is a hoax. Oftentimes, it is a humorous and malicious, meant to mislead the readers and try to have them believe on something that is completely false.
In most cases the intentions of creating hoaxes are not established, whether they are meant to malign the integrity of a person or just for fun. But the latter is not really for fun. And how could it be fun when a story is about one's accident or death? I have heard or read some news about accidents or deaths of celebrities. Recently a hoax came about the death of Julio Diaz who has recently in the news because of his state of health. I know Diaz when we collaborated in his film project, Macario Sakay back in the mid-90s. But when I asked Mon Confiado about it, it turned out to be a complete false. For Mon, how could it be when they just had their story conference for a new project. Not only for Diaz, in the past, when a celebrity was sick, days after, a story about the celebrity's death become plausible.
International celebrities such as Jon Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Usher, Lady Gaga, and many others are not spared of death hoaxes. So, imagine some famous who have stayed on this earth for quite some time now? These hoaxers just want to cut short the lives people who have retired from the limelight but are still alive and kicking.
A certain website is even dedicated to tacking stories of whether they are hoaxes or facts. Just like stories based on facts, hoax stories appear to be believable as there are no differences in terms of presentation and formatting. And so this brings us to the question as what is really the intention of the writer. Is it really just a product of a creative mind whose intention is to twist facts and actual events?
Photos have also been used to deceive the public. A photo can appear to be true now for a recent activity when in fact it's taken years ago. What is also amazing is even a widely accepted significant undertaking like the landing on the moon has become downgraded to just a hoax for some conspiracy theorists. Those conspiracy theorists believe that the moon landing was just an effort to reinforce the idea of US a as a world power.
The simple lesson is not to believe right away on things that are widely spreading on the Internet. Definitely not all information appearing before our eyes are true and correct. We just have to be extra careful. Let's patiently validate and substantiate details that are relevant to establishing credibility. Otherwise with just an article, one's reputation will be compromised.
What is more damaging is when one would hang on to what he has read or known to be true and fight for it. And when nothing can change or no amount of convincing efforts from others, one is already fixated to everything he believes in which is a complete lie.
The phenomenon is also creating individuals who are very critical and would not directly believe everything on the web. They are cynical in everything that is presented to them on the net leaving every legitimate undertaking doubtful. And so it would take time to convince others that such is created out of pure intention and purpose.
So everything can be encapsulated by not believing on everything you read on the Internet. In a world where everything seems to be true, one has to exercise due diligence, utmost vigilance and skepticism, not because we don't trust each other but we just don't form conclusions and judgements that are, at first, based on fallacies and malicious intents.
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