Sometimes, I really feel as if I should just give up. In fact, if it were not for the encouraging emails I get from many of my readers telling me to “hang in there” and “keep up the good fight,” I probably would have stopped addressing bogus emails that spread lies and misinformation about Social Security a long time ago.

It’s so darn frustrating for a number of reasons. For one thing, as soon as I set the record straight on one little bit of Internet gossip, some more pops up. Also, I know that these titillating tall tales spread far and wide, reaching way more people than my little column does. So even though I’m putting up a good fight, I definitely am losing the war to those who revel in repeating ridiculous rumors.