Even storm troopers have to be careful about what they read on the Internet

I’m gonna spill some news and it might make your head spin.

Sometimes, on the Internets, people lie about stuff.

NO!  REALLY! IT HAPPENS!

Like, they make it up. As in fiction. As in, it’s not real, it’s not the truth, it’s a load of BS.

There have been cases of made-up babies, made-up cancer/special needs/accidents. There have been made-up adoptions. There are some seriously disturbed and sick individuals out there and those types of things are often a cry for help.

Some folks go as far as having fundraisers. And because the Internet can be a very, very nice place and some people’s hearts are bigger than Jupiter, people often raise money for those less fortunate or for families in horrific circumstances.

Sometimes stuff gets national attention and it turns out to be half-truth or even not-even-close-to-ten-percent-truth.

Right about now you are either all OMFSM I HAD NO IDEA. Or perhaps you’re all HOW DO WE KNOW YOU ARE REAL, DG? I mean, I make it sound so interesting!  And never boring!  And funny and entertaining!

The answer to that? I have IRL friends. I’m happy to produce them if you have any doubts. And I’ve never had a doubter (though I’ve had haters. HI, HATERS!) but I get it if you don’t buy what I’m selling. Or smell what I’m cooking.

I haven’t cooked in a week. Just thought I’d put that out there.

Anywho, I can assure you that I am very, very REAL. My kids, their issues,my dogs and the muddy backyard? REAL. The Guy I Live With? He’s real, too, but SHHHHH we don’t talk about him here.

But back to the liars. There are liars. People who don’t mean to lie but they cannot help themselves. People who mean to lie so they can take advantage of folks and they have cold hearts. You know, I’m all for a good work of fiction. Honest. But using the fiction as entertainment is one thing. Using the fiction as a means to manipulate, lie to people and get something out of them? NOT SO MUCH.

I’m not telling you this to turn you off or anger you. I’m not telling you this so you’ll scream (incredulous), “People on the Internet suck!” I’m telling you this because, like anything else, you cannot believe EVERYTHING you read on the Internet. You have to be wary and you must take everything with a grain of salt.

Just sayin’.

And if you DO believe everything you read on the Internet, I’ve got a fabulous Nigerian business deal for you and some prime real estate in Florida to sell you.

PS – there are really, truly nice people on the Internets. I’ve met them. Through the Internets,even. So there are legitimate causes and whatnot out there. Just be sure to research the heck out of stuff. And if it sounds suspicious or sounds too good to be true, it probably is.