Some Whackadoodle thoughts about Somona Kossak, Internet hyperbole, and Facebook memes.
The other day, I saw what looked like an intriguing story about an intriguing woman on Facebook. It read...
Simona Kossak (1943-2007) Polish biologist, ecologist, author, PhD in forestry, and uncompromising conservation activist. They called her a witch because she chatted with animals and owned a crow, who stole gold and attacked bicycle riders. She spent more than 30 years in a wooden hut in the Białowieża Forest, without electricity or access to running water. A lynx slept in her bed, and a tamed boar lived under the same roof with her. She was a scientist, ecologist, and the author of award-winning films, as well as radio broadcasts. She was also an activist who fought for the protection of Europe’s oldest forest. Simona believed that one ought to live simply, and close to nature. Among animals, she found that which she never found with humans. Click here to read more:
The link sent me to a website Introducing “Henry,” the oldest Nile crocodile on record, who has lived for a remarkable 121 years! | Araniea.
Despite my love of crocodiles and anyone who lives 121 years, it was an annoying page with nothing but ads, nothing to do with Simona Kossak, nor anything about who the they where who called her a witch. No sources. No evidence. Just some anonymous person trying to get me to click on a link, where I'd have to endure their ads.
Luckily, their meme did draw my attention to an amazing woman. I didn’t find out about her from the link because I didn't read through their ads. Instead, I ignored the ads, closed the window, and looked her up on my own.
Here is what Wikipedia says: Simona Kossak - Wikipedia
Here is what Culture.pl says about her: The Extraordinary Life of Simona Kossak | Article | Culture.pl
Here is what the Humanexception.com says about her: Simona Kossak :: The Human Exception
Here is what 3SeasEurope.com say about her: Simona Kossak, The Real-Life Polish Dr. Dolittle - 3 Seas Europe. This one I actually of like. (In other words, ignore the others and read this one.)
Here is a sample:
“When people ask me who I am, my response is: I am a daughter, a granddaughter, and a great-granddaughter” she would say, explaining how it happened that a member of the famous Kossak family ended up working as a biologist. It was a necessary explanation, as her family – the aristocratic clan of Krakow’s artists – was famous for generations as a family of painting artists depicting literature. Her paternal lineage includes three famous painters: Juliusz, Wojciech, and Jerzy.
Add to this her two famous aunts: Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska, a poet, and Magdalena Samozwaniec – a satirical writer. The story of the clan could be further extended to help us illustrate one important fact: Simona Kossak was the only scientist in this long and privileged line of aristocrats and artists, and as such – as weird as it sounds – an outcast…
Source: Simona Kossak, The Real-Life Polish Dr. Dolittle - 3 Seas Europe
It took me a just few minutes searching online to discover something about the real woman. Now, she's kind of a hero to me. If I had left it up to Facebook Memes, she'd still be nothing more than a women who kept a crow as a pet, tamed a pet boar, and was called a witch by some unexplained they.
Whenever I go on Facebook, I see trite quotes from “famous” minds. They nearly always include links to websites getting money off of their annoying ads.
Bottom Line: When dealing with information on the internet, stay skeptical and take some time to explore; so you can share what you’ve learned with your real world friends. Use your words, not memes.
Of course if you created the meme yourself because you know it’s funny, accurate, or just plain beautiful, I’m okay with that.