True enough about Hear (read) - (then) Say.

Main stream media learned that lesson on election night when they "heard" that Bush won FL...then retracted, etc....

I think gullible people learn not to be gullible sometimes by repeating what they heard and then getting feedback...this is one way to get "wised up" on a topic.

I'm usually "all ears" for quite awhile...long after lots of folks have quit listening and already had decided on a matter.

-Just my 2cents worth