A Pox on thy Meme!

A viral meme that allegedly quotes a 17th-century diarist seems prescient in these times. But is it true? See what Snopes.com is debunking today. [Web Version]( July 8, 2020 Daily Debunker A Pox on Thy Meme! There are many parallels one could make between our current pandemic and the plagues that haunted the Middle Ages and Renaissance. However, one within a viral meme that allegedly quotes a 17th-century diarist seems more prescient than most. The quote tells a story about a tavern full of “gadabouts” who seem to be ignoring social distancing for a chance at sweetmeats and mingling. But the author is not compelled to join them and writes: “A dram in exchange for the pox is an ill bargain indeed.” Just who wrote that passage and when was it actually written? And what even are “gadabouts”? Reporter Dan Evon has the story. [Read more]( Fact Checks Was Ghislaine Maxwell Photographed with JonBenét Ramsey? Not all women with short, dark hair are Ghislaine Maxwell. [Unproven]( Did California ‘Forbid’ Christians from Singing in Church? Safety guidelines for religious and cultural gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic got the political spin treatment. [Mixture]( Did Melania Trump’s Dress Feature Drawings by Victims of Sexual Abuse? First lady Melania Trump wore an Alexander McQueen dress to a Fourth of July event. [Miscaptioned]( Is Dr. Fauci Married to Ghislaine Maxwell’s Sister? Sharing a first name is not the same as sharing an identity. [False]( Is Beyoncé an Italian Woman Named Ann Marie Lastrassi? This conspiracy theory makes absolutely no sense. [False]( Did Trump Say Operation Desert Storm Took Place in Vietnam? The president's 2020 Independence Day address wasn't the smoothest of speeches, but neither was it as historically challenged as claimed by some critics. [False]( Fund Facts, Not Facebook Snopes is imploring businesses to support the Stop Hate for Profit campaign and put truth and decency above profits. Learn more about our history with Facebook and what we think should happen next in our open letter to our community. [Read Our Letter]( In the News Tell-All Book by Trump Niece To Be Released Next Week Publisher Simon & Schuster cited “high interest and extraordinary interest” in the book by Mary Trump titled “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.” [Read more]( Trump-Connected Lobbyists Reap Windfall in Federal Virus Aid Many of the 40 lobbyists identified by watchdog group Public Citizen either worked in the Trump executive branch, served on his campaign, were part of the committee that raised money for inaugural festivities or were part of his presidential transition. [Read more]( Facebook Civil Rights Audit: ‘Serious Setbacks’ Mar Progress The audit recommends that Facebook build a "civil rights infrastructure" into every aspect of the company. [Read more]( COVID-19 Myths Politicians Have Repeated That Just Aren’t True The purveyors of these myths, including politicians who have been soft pedaling the impact of the coronavirus, aren’t doing the country any favors. [Read more]( Staff Pick Are These Petri Dishes Coughed On With and Without a Mask? This visual aid did not involve a person with COVID-19. [Read more]( Snopes Media Group Inc. 864 Grand Ave #256 San Diego, CA 92109 © 1994-2020 by Snopes Media Group Inc. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes Media Group. [Manage Preferences]( [Unsubscribe](