“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” Aldous Huxley
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
As a wet-behind-the-ears journalist, I learned not to believe everything I was told. The lesson came the first time I wrote about a stranded family in town with a dying child. The article I wrote poured money into their pockets. And then, after they had fled the area, I learned it was all a scam, one they had also pulled in a town the next daily newspaper away.
Will the real Regina Brett please stand up.
I was never taken in again because I learned the art of double checking, and double checking again. It’s a habit that’s proved more valuable than ever since the Internet came along.Now while I love the web, it’s not the purveyor of truth that a good, investigative reporter is. Anyone can say just about anything – and does.
That fact was jammed home to me this morning when I read a great blog by Soul Writings, which quoted 90-year-old Regina Brett, Plains Dealer newspaper columnist, about the lessons she had learned in life.
There were 42 of them, and I found every one of them to be great advice. The blog was accompanied by a photo of the 90-year-old Regina wearing large black spectacles. I loved the image of her wearing gaudy jewelry and bright colors. I think old broads, perhaps because I am one, rock.
But something didn’t ring true in this old journalist’s head. So I started double-checking.
There really is a Regina Brett, I discovered, and she really is a columnist for the Plains Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. But she’s nowhere near 90, although she really did write a column called Life’s Lesson. There were 45 of them, not just 42, however. And she recently updated the column to include 50, as that is the age she is turning.
You really can’t believe everything you read, you know.
The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.
Bean’s Pat: Soul Writings http://tinyurl.com/aoqzwen It’s still a
good column, but here’s the real one. http://tinyurl.com/yzl3szz .
Pat Bean's blog 
Tread lightly where angels fear to fly.
Not sure I understand the comment. But thanks for commenting.
Wow, there is nothing worse for a soon-to-be 50 year old as being represented as a 90 year old. 😉
I’ve also learned to check, and double check, and then check again…and to quote sources. This is a very valuable lesson.
Libel for the age discrepancy, but kudos for the content, I think.