Think Before you Re-post Something on Social Media

It's all right at our fingertips! Billions of images, stories and information that look and sound great. We read something, see something or watch something and we feel the need to share it with others - sometimes without even so much as a second thought. Boom! It's up, we've shared it and we've moved on. It's even easier when so many other people have shared or commented on the same thing.

Well, right there is what is wrong with one aspect of our lives. We don't think. We don't think to check if what we have read is true or has any basis of value or integrity behind it. If it's on the internet, it must be true right? I love this meme below:

The Eagle Story

One example of this was shared by David Wolfe on Facebook. He's a public figure with over 8 million people following his Facebook page. In August 2016, he shared the story called, "The Eagle faces a decision if it wants to live". The story follows an unspecified breed of eagle which must make a tough decision at 40 years old to knock off its own beak, tear out some feathers and regrow its talons and beak over five months and have a 'rebirth'.

Wow! What a great story and how we can all learn from it to apply some tough decisions, go through some pain but eventually we can come through it and have a second lease of life. Let's all share it! Well, 391,000 people did!

Oops! I thought it sounded a bit odd. How does the Eagle live for five months without a beak while waiting for it to grow back. So, I did what I suggest we all do when we hear, read or watch something that may sound too amazing before we idly share it - check out the story. At least triangulate it for some back up. I found hundreds of websites addressing the story which appeared to first surface in 2007 as a myth. Yes, that's right. It's all rubbish. Most eagles don't live beyond 30 years - 10 years before the eagle is supposed to go through this life changing experience. The stuff about knocking its own beak off and pulling feathers out is simply not true. Here's just one example that debunks it: Debunk of the Eagle Story

"Note: This is an allegory"

I checked the same post from Mr Wolfe today and there is a slight amendment below the title. He has now added this: "Note: This is an allegory". Well, that's alright then! Some time after you've posted something that over 300,000 people have shared, you can add a little note which may or may not mean that the story you are promoting is not meant to be taken literally.

Where are we getting our information from?

Check out this 38 second video:

So, while we have the opportunity to inspire, spread messages and reach countless people; please, please, please let's try at least to share stuff that is truthful. Like the little girl in the video getting life giving water - is where we are getting our information - from the toilet?

"Before you say anything about anyone, use the triple filter test: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it truthful?" - Aristotle said that........Or did he?

Find out more in the book ‘Practical Leadership’ available on Amazon: