Just one small story from the northwest corner of the state: An e-mail is circulated saying that the owner of a Dunkin' Donuts is turning away customers in uniform because "you are killing my countrymen and I will not serve you." Outrage builds until somebody decides to check it out:
"Hard to believe that something like this might be going on in our community,” said John Pitt of the Indiana Army National Guard.
Pitt was among a group of Army National Guard members who arrived in uniform on Tuesday to test the message. "Just to see if there was any validity to it. And we were served. We had great service,” he said.
The Internet is a great tool, but it is only a tool, as good or as bad as the people who use it. If you express your opinions and pass along news you unearth, you are performing a valuable service. If you just pass along nonsense without checking it out, you are no better than people gossiping over the backyard fence, and you can do far greater damage.
Lecture over.
