Who is creating these posts and more importantly why?

September 20, 2025September 20, 20252 Comments

***This picture ran with a story about a teacher who had been demoralized by the education system. The article was heartfelt and touching. The picture is fake. So is the story.***

Do you ever actually check the Facebook pages of people who create posts you vehemently agree with? It’s so easy to scream. “Yeah! That’s exactly what I think!” and hit the share button, without considering where said clever piece of writing originated and why it was produced in the first place.

I did it myself recently with a story about a woman who spoke about losing the thrill of teaching as she sadly closed the door to her classroom for the last time. The story was well-written, but the fact that Mrs. Robinson, the teacher in question, lacked a first name or place of employment, and there was no identified writer was a tipoff that the piece was a fabrication. Still, the sentiment was spot on, especially when you consider that I spent 20 years teaching. I shared the story with the caveat that I while I understood the problems associated with the piece, I decided to pass it on, because I agreed with the comments within.

And it still bothers me.

Why? First, I was a reporter for about 15 years in both television and print. And like every other reporter out there, I wanted my name in big bold letters on the screen or at the top of my stories. A byline is the reason we’re out there. Our work is not supposed to be anonymous. Let’s face it, reporters—even back in the days before a handful were garnering huge paychecks for injecting their opinions into stories—have always wanted to take credit for their work.

Note that another story circulating recently cited a mother with Down’s syndrome who raised a woman who went on to become an astronaut. Wow! It was hard not to succumb to tears with that one. Still, since there are relatively few astronauts on the planet, it was easy to prove that the events depicted never occurred.

So the question is why are unknown entities producing stories that are fictitious in order to get us to wantonly share them without thinking first. In the case of the teacher Mrs. Robinson, the Facebook page that appears to have produced it is called Things That Make you Think, a link that currently has 113,000 followers. There is no information about who might be at the helm of this site. All the posts appear to have AI generated photographs like the one above that are designed to draw sympathy from the reader. It’s probably a good bet that the story is also AI generated. The site is asking readers to subscribe, so in this case perhaps the incentive is purely financial. “Your support means the world. It helps us write more stories that heal the heart and stir the soul. Subscribe to “Things That Make You Think” to support our work—and unlock exclusive stories you won’t find anywhere else.”

Then there are the posts where famous people are doing or saying things that catch your eye. Like the one where Payton Manning escorts a boy with autism to his senior prom? Well, you’ve being conned again. This piece and others like it are fabricated. Why? I have no clue.

Here’s the thing. I love fictional stories. Gosh, I’ve written six traditionally published novels. I wouldn’t mind if the site explained that the stories are purely fiction, but the pieces are presented as true and I don’t like being lied to.

Other similar sites are clearly political. Both the right and left splash colorful, all-caps kinds of stories decrying the other side, utilizing often photoshopped and/or AI generated pictures and videos presented to make us angry. Maybe they’re hoping to shock you into handing over your credit card number. Consider Occupy Democrats, a site that back in 2022 was accused of raising $800,000 dollars for its so-called election fund, but donated none of the money to federal candidates and where a big chunk of that money went to one of the two brothers who run the site. Then there’s the Republican Tea Party Facebook page. The problem there is the link, teaparty.org, doesn’t exist, so is the site even affiliated with the political part of the same name? Do it’s 350,000 followers even care? Their posts mirror those of Occupy Democrats, and while some of the facts included might be true, many times they’re exagerated and hyper-partisan, nothing more than click-bait to get readers enraged.

I just can’t stop wodering why real stories with real people and real facts composed by real writers aren’t enough. Perhaps we’re being intentionally desensitized to the truth, so that someday truth won’t matter.

That scares me.

Maybe it’s time we united and took a stand. If you think truth matters, join me and take a bit more time to read between the lines. Then think twice before hitting that share button.

Wolf Catcher

Anne Montgomery

Historical Fiction

In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.

Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes and Noble

Google Books

Rakuten Kobo

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

If something doesn’t change, I may have to say goodbye

April 5, 20256 Comments

I know we’ve been here before, but I really need to make a point.

I have noticed lately that I spend a great deal of time sorting through my social media and shaking my head. There are a couple of problems and I’m hoping you can help me out.

First, people hit that send button before giving any thought to the veracity of what they’re sharing. Now, before you go jumping to conclusions, I care not on which side of the political aisle you reside. Here in America we have a right to our opinions and beliefs. Free speech and all. Still, I wish there was a tiny little clause in our Constitution that said lying is just not acceptable.

Lying and/or disinformation comes in many forms. The first is outright falsehoods. It is rather frightening that in this day and age when the answers to just about every question one might ask are at our fingertips, we still can’t manage to tell the truth. The problem is way too many of us simply repeat what were told because we agree with what’s being said. Come on. Aren’t we better than that? What’s wrong with checking facts and sources? It’s really easy. Where did the information originate. Is it a reputable source or some troll living in mommy’s basement. Can reliable sources corroborate the information? Does the writer have an agenda? Does the writer actually exist? Sometimes, false information comes in the form of a blurb from someone on social media and a quick check often shows that person has no posts or friends. That’s a hint, yes? A tipoff that should makes us consider, “Gosh! Why would some non-person want me to share this? Hummmm?”

Also, let’s talk about photographs. I’m extremely concerned about all the “cute” pictures that show wild animals nose-to-nose with human beings. The recent shot of a firefighter crouched down in front of a full-grown mountain lion was especially disturbing. A frightened wild animal would never behave in this manner. These creatures will run from people, not to them to be cuddled like a kitten or a stuffed animal.

Now, you’re probably thinking, “Gee, Anne. What’s the harm in passing around these darling AI- generated photos?” My answer? It’s the message they send. You know, like it’s okay to walk up to a wild bear, reach out, and give it a pat on the head. Or to handle those cute baby animals while mommy looks on. Or to grab that shark as it glides by. Please! In most of these cases, you’re looking at getting your face rearranged. Wild animals are not like those in a petting zoo. The term “wild” should be a clue.

Another issue is what these photos say to young people who are not yet discerning enough to question what they see. All the pictures of “mermaids” washed up on beaches are particularly disturbing. I was appalled when so many of my high school students looked at me like I was crazy when I pointed out that mermaids are just mythical creatures. Really.

What is truly sad is the doctoring of pictures to give animals fake traits. No, owls do not fly around with their babies on their backs. Baby peacocks do not flaunt the lovely feathers adult birds do, because if they did they’d just be advertising their existence and end up as somebody’s lunch. And that seahorse picture you just shared shows the animal with a bird’s head. And yet, thousands of people pass these images around. Which makes me ask, “Why?” Isn’t Mother Nature magnificent enough without our help?

So I’ve come to a tough conclusion. I have tried to gently inform people that they have perhaps, accidentally, shared faulty information. I’ve provided the truth for them to see. But some of my social-media friends don’t seem to be learning. As a former teacher, this makes me sad. And, gosh, there is so much misinformation that I just can’t keep up. So, from here on out, I will just have to say goodbye to some people. And please don’t pretend it’s because I disagree with your politics or beliefs. As long as you have truth to back you up, I’m happy to see your side of the story. If not, we’re breaking up. Please don’t take it personally.

I wish you well, but you’re giving me a headache.

Your Forgotten Sons

Inspired by a true story

Anne Montgomery

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to a Graves Registration Company, where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Release Date: June 6, 2024

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon

Lies: We can and should do better

October 26, 2024November 5, 20242 Comments

Truth should matter, don’t you think? I mean, it’s fundamental that in order to make sound decisions that benefit ourselves and others, we should gather the facts, ruminate a bit, and come to a logical conclusion.

And today—Wow!—we have the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. Never in the history of man has so much information been available to so many. And yet, we seem to know less about the truth today than we ever have.

Why? The guardrails were smashed when anyone with a computer or phone could say anything at any time about anyone or anything, anonymously and without limits. Yes, I know that here in the U.S. we have free speech—and we could debate what that exactly means for a millennium or two—but let’s look at this like when we were kids.

Remember when your mom said, “Did you take that Snickers bar from the store?” And you pressed your lips together, and scrunched up your eyes, and considered which was worse, stealing or lying? Then you confessed and she made you apologize to the store owner and you had to put the candy back? There was probably some kind of punishment for your youthful transgression, but when it was over, well, at least you told the truth, right?

It’s pretty clear that the vast majority of us learned that lying was bad about the time we figured out how to color inside the lines. And yet today grown-ups of all stripes lie with abandon, then say something silly like, “Yes, I lied. But the underlying topic of my lie was important, so I thought I’d bring it up by um…lying.”

Does your head hurt? Mine does.

Now some of you may say that lying in certain situations is just fine. Like when mom is twirling around in a godawful dress clearly thrilled to death. When she says, “Don’t you love it?” You say…haltingly perhaps…“You look great, Mom.” And that’s just fine. No harm, no foul, in my opinion. Others might believe you need to bring the hammer of truth down on Mom and her purple-plaid dress, but not me, so we shall agree to disagree. However, when a lie can hurt others—human, animal, or the natural world itself—these fabrications should never get traction anywhere in our world.

So, what can we do to filter out the lies? Don’t share anything that you haven’t personally verified. Check the source of the information, check the bias of the source, cut and paste the information and do your own check, then pass it on to reputable fact-checking organizations. And please don’t tell me the fact-checkers are lying. I saw that recently and almost fell into despair.

And let’s not forget that words aren’t the only things that lie. Please put on your skeptical glasses and investigator’s hat when looking at those pictures of mermaids, the Loch Ness Monster, and other plants and animals that are clearly not real. Why add fakes to an already breathtaking world?

And here’s the really important thing. Get your facts from a bunch of different sources. Please, never, ever justify passing on a fact because you heard it on the one media outlet you’re glued to. It’s fine if you have a favorite news source, but be brave and check out a few others, especially those you don’t normally listen to.

In the end, the world will be a much better place if we put in the work and verify the information we’re passing around, because lies can hurt.

I know we can do better.

Now let’s all hold hands and sing Kumbaya.