Political and military turmoil sets us all on edge — and there is no doubt the events of the last several years combined with the pervasive nature of social media already have our collective mental health and ability to interact with one another civilly in a fragile state. Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard was right to try to get ahead of fears that surfaced after U.S. strikes against Iran.

“First and foremost, there is currently no credible or verified threat specific to our county. We remain in regular communication with our local, state, and federal partners, and we receive updates through established intelligence and law enforcement channels,” he wrote on Tuesday. “If there were any imminent danger to our area, you would hear it from us immediately.”

West Virginia’s Emergency Management Division has not changed its operational status.

“We are monitoring and operating under normal conditions,” a spokesman said.

So while “See something, say something” remains an important strategy, Woodyard was also right to ask residents to think critically about whether they should report something — and to understand that sharing a suspicion on social media is not proper reporting.

“If you see something that GENUINELY (emphasis ours) seems out of place or concerning, notify law enforcement. Remember, if you see something, say something. It is always better to check and be sure than to ignore something important,” he said.

Fueling the rumor mill does not improve public safety. In fact, shameful motives for generating some rumors can only create larger problems.

“Rumors and speculation can create unnecessary fear and distract from real, actionable information,” Woodyard said. “Please rely on trusted sources and official updates.”

While readers rightly count us among those trusted sources, it is equally as important to understand that much of what is spread via some other channels does not meet those high standards.

Yes, of course, if you see something truly suspicious, report it to the proper authorities. But think carefully about what you are planning to report; and don’t spread rumors and falsehoods purely for the sake of becoming part of the conversation.