Do you think the internet's bad at bringing "kooks" out of the woodwork?
Do you think that the spread of misinformation is something new?
Do you think there has to be an intent to spread misinformation for misinformation to spread?
I remember, pre-internet, people walking around an office, handing out printed copies of an "article", of unknown origin or credibility, accusing a well-known American company... one my sister worked with, as being involved in witchcraft... and "don't buy their products, and complain to the government!"
And that's not the only example from my past.
Of course, one person handing our printed sheets of paper are not the same level as the people who believed Gilligan's Island was real... NOT a TV comedy.
Yep, people sent messages to the U. S. Coast Guard, imploring them to send a ship to rescue the "Severn Stranded Castaways," on the fictitious Gilligan's Island... a TV show complete with laugh track, recognizable and known actors and actresses, and even bloopers.
For those from other lands, Gilligan's Island was a TV comedy about 7 people who went out on a ship for a "three hour tour," only to reach a point where...
"The ship's aground on the shore of this
Uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan,
The Skipper too,
The Millionaire and his Wife,
The Movie Star,
The Professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligan's Isle."
From the opening theme of Gilligan's Island.
Of course, long before TV, there were books, readers, and confused people.
Even in modern times, letters would arrive addressed to Mr. Sherlock Holmes, 221B Baker Street, London, UK.
Mr. Holmes was the literary creation of Arthur Conan Doyle, first appearing in "A Study In Scarlet", in 1887.
The address used, 221B Baker Street was that of a bank, now a museum, I believe. Still, Mr. Holmes, and his sidekick Dr. Watson, continue to receive correspondence into the 20th century, from people in distress imploring Mr. Holmes to help solve their various problems.
So, is the problem the internet?
Nah, not really.
Donovan Baldwin