years ago before the internet people received much of their information through books. it was considered that if someone published a book that they must be an authority on a topic, and that everything they wrote was true. unfortunately people believed the lies that were written in Hitlers book "Mein Kampf" or my struggle, A book promoting the propoganda and lies about the jews.

By the 50's the television was finding its way into north american homes. Again, people trusted the information they were presented with to be trustworthy. ads for cigarettes with a well known spokesperson convinced people that smoking was okay for you.

With the advent of the internet the phrase "it has to be true, I found it on the internet" is a phrase meant to make fun of the gullibility of society to believe that just because it is a new form of media, that it will be more truthful etc. Unfortunately we need to be even more diligent, more critical, more careful.

This is an actual email I received whereby the send claimed to be a friend of mine.
How are you doing today? I am sorry i didn't inform you about my traveling to Europe for a program called "Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education, the program is taking place in three major countries in Europe which is Germany, France, and United Kingdom. It as been a very sad and bad moment for me, the present condition that i found myself is hard for me to explain.

I am stranded in United Kingdom because I forgot my little bag in the Taxi where my money, passport, documents and other valuable things were kept on my way to the Hotel, I am facing a hard time here because i have no money on me. I am owing an hotel bill of $1050 and they want me to pay the bill before checking out, else they will have to seize my bag and hand me over to the Hotel Management I need this help from you urgently to help me get back home, I need you to help me with the hotel bill and i will also need $1250 to feed and help myself back home so please can you help me with a sum of $2300 to sort out my problems here? I need this help so much and on time because i am in a terrible and tight situation here, I don't even have money to feed myself for a day which means i have been starving so please understand how urgent i need your help. So please use the details below to send the money to me through Western Union money transfer because that is the only way i can get it fast and leave since i have valid ID to pick up the money from the western union.
These are the details below....

Last Name: Jean
First Name: Bowman
Address: 13, Church Grove, Aylesbury, HP21 8RH
Text Question: To whom
Answer: Bowman.

Once you have send the money, email to me the western union money transfer control number or you can attach and forward the western union money transfer receipt so that i can pick up the money fast and leave. I am sending you this e-mail from the city Library and I only have 30 min, I will appreciate what so ever you can afford to send me for now and I promise to pay back your money as soon as i return home. Hope to hear from you.

Message from chelsea:















This was on the 9:00 o'clock news the other night and this works

THIS TOOK TWO PAGES OF THE TUESDAY USA TODAY - IT IS FOR REAL

PLEEEEEEASE READ!!!! it was on the news!

This thing is for real. Rest assured AOL and Intel will follow through with their promises for fear of facing a multimillion-dollar class action suit similar to the one filed by PepsiCo against General Electric not too long ago.

Dear Friends; Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill Gates sharing his fortune. If you ignore this, You will repent later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test.

When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it (If you are a Microsoft Windows user)? For a two weeks time period.

For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00. For every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and ! for every third person that receives it, You will be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a cheque.

Regards

Charles S Bailey General Manager Field Operations
1-800-842-2332 Ext. 1085 or 904-1085 or RNX
292-1085

I thought this was a scam myself, But two weeks after receiving this e-mail and forwarding it on. Microsoft contacted me for my address and within days, I receive a check for $24, 800.00. You need to respond before the beta testing is over. If anyone can afford this, Bill gates is the man.

It's all marketing expense to him. Please forward this to as many people as possible. You are bound to get at least $10, 000.00. We're not going to help them out with their e-mail beta t est without getting a little something for our time. My brother's girlfriend got in on this a few months ago. When I went to visit him for the Baylor /UT game. She showed me her cheque. It was for the sum of $4, 324.44 and was stamped 'Paid in full'

Like I said before, I know the law, and this is for real.

Intel and AOL are now discussing a merger which would make them the largest Internet company and in an effort make sure that AOL remains the most widely used program, Intel and AOL are running an e-mail beta test.

When you forward this e-mail to friends, Intel can and will track it ( if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period.

Try it; What have you got to lose!

So how do we know? How do we protect ourselves?
Lets brainstorm criteria which makea a web page useful for research and for safety?
Have students answer in pairs using a sticky note- one answer.

using the 5 w's in partners they will get to critique one of 3 sites. see on lib guide under research and safe passage- look for 2 of the dmho and 1 of the martin luther king.org.
Look at the list of createria and the 5 w sheet. How would you know if they are an expert? google them, use "who is"