Like the Timex Social Club, I spend a lot of time lamenting the rumors that surround me every day. How do they get started? And where do they get crazy? In Truthmongerer, I’ll try to suss out the kernels of truth in the rumors that are taking up airspace in gossip columns, blogs, and our tips inbox.

THE RUMOR: Oh no, popular MC Lil Wayne got shot in New Orleans! Even though his tour was traveling from Philly to Long Island to Virginia Beach over the weekend.

TRUTH THRESHOLD: 0%. Again.


LIKELY TRUTHS: Some Internet saddo out there had a really boring Sunday and decided to repost the rumor about Lil Wayne being gunned down that made the rounds in November, because hey, there are probably people out there who will believe it. And now it’s No. 16 on Google Trends! Way to go, everybody!


LIKELY FALSEHOODS: Well, the whole “Lil Wayne got shot” rumor thing is pretty much not true, just like it wasn’t nine months ago. (It’s like the original rumor had a baby—get ready for another post like this in May 2010, readers!) Also false: Many people on the Internet aren’t rubbernecking idiots; instead, they are more than willing to check a fact, or even a tour schedule, when confronted with an outrageous story via their computers.