It is not uncommon to be suspicious about much of what is posted on the internet.

That’s not new, of course. It’s as old as the internet itself.

However, when the internet was new, most people gave scant thought to the misinformation and evils that could embrace it and be hidden within it. It was something new, something fun, something exciting, something intriguing — and people increasingly were captivated by it and its myriad possibilities.

Over the years, however, attitudes and perceptions changed, the one big change being that people have, as noted in this editorial’s first paragraph, become increasingly suspicious of it –although not everyone. There are millions of people still being duped every day, despite urgings from many sources about being generally cautious, as well as protective of one’s own personal information.

More and more people are indeed stepping up their caution, although still not enough people — even here. Many local individuals still continue to allow themselves to be misled, even people who otherwise are successful and watchful of their personal interests, as well as the well-being of their communities.

There’s nothing wrong with questioning the motives of those who tout themselves as well-informed about an issue but who really are something less. There’s nothing wrong with getting in touch with officials close to issues to try to ascertain what’s really correct, what isn’t and what potential decisions might be forthcoming but still are in limbo.

For Altoona residents in recent days, the issue on many residents’ minds has been the true-or-false related to the city’s actions regarding Garfield and Fairview parks.

Some information on the internet has suggested that city leaders are engaged in actions targeted eventually at abandonment of the two recreation facilities.

Meanwhile, city leaders, trying to set the record straight, say the opposite is true, and they provided an explanation that was published in the Mirror’s Aug. 26 edition.

What officials reported seems logical and a positive, correct course of action. In no way does it indicate gloomy days, unworthy of hope, for the parks in question.

But a reasonable question is how many local people — especially people of the Fairview and Garfield areas –experienced concern and alarm because of misinformation that they accessed online? Said another way, how many people were captured and angered by the prospect of abandonment by the city when abandonment was not even being considered.

The Aug. 26 Mirror article in question made clear that the state is interested in ensuring that actions related to the parks are correct because of state money allocated here leading up to the present.

Actually, a deed restriction that guarantees that Garfield remains a park was a prerequisite for receiving a $350,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, according to Nate Kissell, Altoona public works director.

When a community accepts money from a higher funding source, it has an obligation to comply with all of the stipulations tied to those funds.

The concerns expressed online have stemmed from what was described as a misunderstanding of what is meant by a legal unification of certain grounds at the two parks.

Now that the issue has been the center of focus, hopefully the city will be able to go forward with what is planned and proceed forward from there.

Meanwhile, hopefully members of the public who were upset this time when being upset wasn’t necessary will find it easier to evaluate city issues more easily, going forward.