Who writes that stuff?

WHO writes that stuff on the web pages, asks Jo Gowing.

After reading your sad news about the teenager who died of Weil's disease I searched the web to discover the rules about swimming in the canals, and this is what I found:

Canoeing not allowed

'Canals can be very dangerous, so please follow these canal safety tips to avoid drowning or injury:  Don't swim in canals—ever!  Canal sides are extremely slick, making it difficult to get out.  Swimming, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and tubing are not allowed on the canals'.

'Canals contain water that is quickly moving.  Fast-moving water in a narrow channel can knock a person off their feet. Even water that is only a foot deep, if it is moving fast enough, would cause you to lose your balance and be carried away'.

Rubbish

What rubbish!  The first quote is completely wrong in stating canoeing is not allowed on the canals—my son is a member of a Gloucester canoeing club that officially uses the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

And a canal 'fast flowing'?  We have hired narrowboats all over the country for six years now and never met a fast flowing canal that would 'sweep us off our feet'!

Yet I know people who swear by the information gleaned from the web.  I certainly don't, present company excepted, of course!

[The quotations were from an article by Dominic Midgley writing in the Daily Express, and contained much more in the same vein!—Editor.]