Posted By Sean Fraser
Following on from a recent thread, there is obvious frustration in our profession when we receive info in good faith and go on to quote it only to find it was inaccurate or even completely untrue. Depending on whether we were using it to illustrate a point informally, or had at worst entered it into a report or presentation, it can be very embarrassing and could potentially damage our credibility as competent advisors.

I am always suspect of anything I get via email circulation or see on a discussion forum, especially if it jars with my own knowledge and experience. My first port of call is to use an urban legend website, Snopes, which can often provide the answer I am looking for. For an example, look at the following link regarding the myth that coughing during a cardiac arrest will improve chances of survival:

http://www.snopes.com/me...al/homecure/coughcpr.asp

Of course this site should not be used as a sole source of info, but it does help as a quick cross-check. I should point out though that the incident that prompted me to write this would not be on Snopes as it is very fresh in the news and still under investigation.

Salutary tale - I used to use a powerpoint presentation regarding a breakdown truck falling into a harbour trying to retrieve a car from the water, as an illustration of the importance of risk assessment. I used to include the follow-on which showed the second larger crane falling in as well, without making any comment. I now know that the second part is actually photoshopped, and quite false. However, I continued to use the presentation but for 2 purposes - to illustrate how a good risk assessment would have prevented the original (and real) incident, and how safety issues can be distorted and misrepresented for both comedic and malicious purposes.

Don't believe everything you read and hear!

Posted By Sean Fraser
Tabs, agree with you. Note I said that it could not be relied upon, but it can dispell some of the more dubious general myths that seem to circulate out there.

I am always wary of repeating the word of mouth and anecdotal stories and especially avoid the "this is true" statement unless absolutely certain it is accurate.

Adding the caveat "This may just be a story but . . ." is one way of pointing out that there is an element of doubt. However, even if proven untrue such stories can be useful as means of prompting discussion, which was the other point I was making. In some ways they are good at raising the subject of perception versus reality.