Shoddy research done from the Web can really have bad consequences. In formally declaring her presidency yesterday, Republican Michele Bachmann said, "What I want them to know is just like John Wayne is from Waterloo, Iowa, that's the spirit I have too." It turns out that the actor John Wayne isn't from Waterloo, Iowa. Instead, the infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy is from Waterloo.
For someone looking to prove to the nation that she’s worthy of the office of president, this gaffe makes Bachmann look pretty silly.
Of course, the Web is the culprit of countless typos and inaccuracies. It’s so easy to Google something and take the first or second listing as gospel. Just how careful is your organization in fact checking information taken from cyberspace?