A blog called SloshSpot ran an article entitled "The 10 Oldest Bars in the United States."
How did the author do his research? No idea. Whatever steps he took, he was wildly inaccurate, as many commenters on Digg.com and SloshSpot were quick to point out.

People were so quick to point out older bars that he had missed, that a thought struck me. How quickly would he have been able to solicit answers if he had simply run an article asking for the oldest bars in the United States?

By baldly stating that his list was correct, the author spurred a lot of people into action. Annoyed, indignant, completist, helpful, proud, angry, or just plain old knowitall, it doesn't matter - the rebuttals came fast.

Could it be that the best way to get answers from a large segment of people is to deliberately proclaim the wrong answers in public first?

The original list, and the updated, user-supplied corrections, after the jump.

(Continued)

Original list:
10. P.J. Clarke's -1868
New York, NY

9. White Horse Tavern - 1880
New York, NY

8. Ear Inn - 1874
New York, NY

7. The Little Shamrock - 1863
San Francisco, CA

6. The Saloon - 1861
San Francisco, CA

5. McGillin's Olde Ale House - 1860
Philadelphia, PA

4. Old Ebbitt Grill - 1856
Washington, DC

3. McSorley's Old Ale House - 1854
New York, NY

2. Bell In Hand - 1795
Boston, MA

1. Jean Lafittes Blacksmith Shop - 1772
New Orleans, LA

The actual 10 oldest list, thanks to commenters:

10 - The Spread Eagle - 1837
Hanoverton, OH

9 - Bell In Hand - 1795
Boston, MA

8 - Gadsby's Tavern - 1785
Alexandria, VA

7 - Warren Tavern - 1780
Charlestown, MA

6 - The Horse You Came In On - 1775
Baltimore, MD

5 - Jean Lafittes Blacksmith Shop - 1772
New Orleans, LA

4 - Fraunces Tavern - 1762
New York, NY

3 - The Pirate's House - 1753
Savannah, GA

2 - Middleton's Tavern - 1750
Annapolis, MD

1 - The White Horse Tavern - 1673
Newport, RI