Who Are the Proverbial "They"?

You know who I mean. Whenever you have a problem, "they" will know how to fix it. And how do you know "they" are right?

"They" say women get drunk faster than men. "They" say you have to drink eight glasses of water a day. "They" say it takes chewing gum seven years to pass through your digestive system. "They" say hair grows back thicker after it's been shaved. "They" say you will get cramps if you go swimming right after you eat. How do I know when to believe them? And where can I go to contact them? Do "they" live high up somewhere on a high mountain looking down at all of us to see who needs help? They say that air is thinner at higher altitudes so I don't think that would be conducive for brainstorming gems of wisdom. Do "they" live at the center of the earth to be centrally located to impart their knowledge? They say the center of the earth is 4000° Celsius. Any knowledge coming our way would burn up first before it would reach anyone. So if anyone knows where "they" reside, please let me know. In the meantime, I think "they" pass along their wisdom through the proverbial "grapevine."

Did you know the term, "grapevine" was first used during the Civil War? It was used to distinguish information that was not through official channels. Think of how many pieces of gossip and rumor have been shared since then. Think of how many more pieces of information, true and untrue, have been passed along with the invention of email.

So now you find yourself asking, "Is the email I just got about the new computer virus for real?" "Can the tones on my cell phone really unlock my car?" "Should I sign this petition that I just got in my email?"

This is not to say that all information that is passed along is gossip and not true. In fact, where we would be without friends and relatives passing along their life experiences? But since we live in the Information Age and have access to more information in one day than our ancestors did in a lifetime, one should exercise caution. Some questions you can ask yourself, "Do I know the source of this information?" "Is the source reliable?" Can it be verified?" "Just how reliable is the internet?"

While the worldwide web has access to virtually any subject, stick to more reliable websites. Comparing information from two reputable sources to see if they agree is helpful. For instance, if you are looking for information on a particular health issue, go to a medical college's website, your health insurance website, or a non-profit organization that is dedicated to a particular illness. If you are on a site that is promoting a particular drug or treatment, the information will likely be biased. If you are wondering about the latest threat to your computer, the major virus software companies are always up to date. Have you ever wondered if a sonic boom can shatter glass? The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters has the answer at http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-sonic-boom/. And www.snopes.com is an excellent source to verify email rumors. I have learned a lot about do-it-yourself projects from www.hgtv.com. And ideas for dinner abound on the web.

So when can "they" be trusted? Believe it when "they" say, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't."