As someone who's been teaching people how to use computers for 22 years, the last thing I'm going to do is knock Web 2.0.
But I will offer a word of caution about what's posted on the Web. Winston Churchill once said, "
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."
Sir Winston had no concept about the Internet at the time, but his words hold more true today than ever before.
Look no further than
this article from PCWorld.I know you're saying to yourself, "Self, who on earth would believe this sort of thing?" Sadly, many people do. They then forward on the links of this nutty stuff to friends, post on Facebook and voila, the lie is on its away around the world. Truth doesn't have a chance.
Here's what former White House Press Secretary Dee Myers has to say about it all.
"One, I think there's so much information out there that it's hard to know what to believe and what not to believe. Two, rumors take on a life of their own. Three, the democratization of all this information undermines any kind of authority. Everybody's an authority, so nobody's an authority."
The great news about the Internet is everyone has access to it. The bad thing about the Internet is everyone has access to it.
I'll close with some advice from another noted statesman, President Ronald Reagan, especially when it comes to what you read on the Internet.
"Trust, but verify."
John W. Scherer
John is CEO and Founder of Lakewood CO-based
Video Professor, Inc.