Only the misinformed rely on social media, emails for news

Don Coble

The electronic sign in front of Whitey’s Fish Camp last Sunday didn’t promote its customary food or drink specials. It simply read: “We Are Open.”

A staple of the Clay County food scene since 1963, it’s unusual that the iconic restaurant would have to remind guests that it’s still ready to serve big plates of catfish, shrimp, frosty margaritas and mugs of beer.

That’s what happens when you have to fight lies spread on social media.

That’s the problem with our current society. Too many people rely on social media and email for their information. They don’t consider the source. Anybody can post an opinion, a falsehood or fabricate the truth to promote an agenda. Moreover, sometimes a mouthbreather with access to a keyboard and the internet wants to start trouble because they don’t have anything better to do.

People keep posting Whitey’s Fish Camp is closing and that they’re going to tear it down and build condos or apartments on the property. They don’t present facts or talk to the owners for verification. In short, they lied or proceeded without knowledge of the facts.

Added to the ongoing construction to add larger water lines for Clay County Utilities Authority in front of the restaurant, Whitey’s was compelled to remind the community they are open, both with its sign and a post on Facebook.

Co-owner Billy Ham posted: “Whitey’s wants to set the record straight. A lot of rumors have been spread that Whitey’s Fish Camp has sold and is closing. This is not true. Whitey’s has not been sold and is not closing. No condos or apartments are being built. Whitey’s is open and plans on remaining open during normal business hours for a long time. Thank You. Owner.”

Ham said several Facebook sites posted the restaurant was sold.

“That’s hard because nobody checked their facts,” Ham said.

It happens a lot on the national level. I received an email from Florida Democrats who held a press conference in Miami last week to publicly “Blast Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda.”

Led by Florida Sen. Shervrin Jones, Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried, and Miami-Dade School Board Member Lucia Baez-Geller, they wanted to highlight the extremely radical “wishlist” for a second possible Donald Trump term, including enacting a national abortion ban, embracing Project 2025 and making cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Trump told The Associated Press four months ago, “The states will determine by note, legislation, or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land – in this case, the law of the state.”

On Project 2025, Trump has adamantly distanced himself from the plan created by the Heritage Foundation, saying, “I know nothing about Project 2025. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

According to factcheck.org, regarding cuts in Social Security and Medicare, Trump said he favored making the same cuts in waste, fraud and abuse favored by former President Barack Obama, but not cuts in benefits.

So, those claims are lies, lies, lies.

And a little closer to home, a story written online recently at Clay News and Views claims I “twisted the truth like a pretzel” to make former sheriff (Darryl Daniels) look like his one term had been a success. 

Four years ago, there wasn’t anything to suggest his tenure as sheriff, not the developments with his personal life, wasn’t a success. I haven’t talked to him since he lost the election. The reporter didn’t cite any examples. You don’t want facts to get in the way of a good story.