The NYT examines Snopes and other Web fact-v-fraud checkers, including a look at the couple who founded Snopes, David and Barbara Mikkelson.

The Mikkelson’s attitude toward the utility of their work is, in a word, discouraging. From the article’s conclusion:

… even though Snopes pays the bills for the couple now, through advertising revenue, they doubt they are having much of an impact.

“It’s not like, ‘Well, we have to get out there and defend the truth,’ ” Mrs. Mikkelson added. “When you’re looking at truth versus gossip, truth doesn’t stand a chance.”

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