For some reason there has been an increase in the number of discussions posted on this board based on outrageous claims originating from this or that website that have not been independently checked for accuracy. The most egregious, in my opinion, are those pertaining to upcoming or pending legislative bills, which motivate folks to call, write or email their representatives with completely invalid complaints.
With everything that is going on in this country I applaud each and every individual who is paying attention but, if we are going to stand on the wall, we NEED to be sure of what we challange...what we object to...what we support. The members of this board should not be forced to fact check every other discussion just as the members of this board should not be subjected to shocking and upsetting information that is not true. So, please, PLEASE, if you find something online that concerns you, check it out before posting it. I don't believe that's too much to ask, do you?
[question posted by spalladino]responses and comments:
Honestly, when it comes to the internet - I do think that's too much to ask... be it here, or anywhere else. There may be a short period of time when things are good, but you're always going to lose that as the population of an internet community (such as myLot) increases past a critical point. It's just something to live with or actively deal with somehow... I don't know how to achieve the latter, however, so for now I just live with it. [codezebra]
It went fine...for me! lol As a last resort he tried to claim that we were responsible for some scratches on the custom paint job on his tank. Sorry, buddy, you don't have to get near the tank when changing tires and that bike has been out of our custody and control for too long in addition to being in another repair facility. Whaat doofus. [spalladino]
Most people have a bias towards a certain type of media, and tend to doubt that source less than others. I have to laugh at the frequency with which people use sites like World Net Daily as a source. I'd be less inclined to fact check a source from Fox News than WND, that's how bad it is. But it's not just a particular media source that suffers from inaccuracy - all of them do it. That's why I usually look up the legislation in question if a particular person is posting news on it from an indirect source (Fox, CNN, etc.). I'm with you on this one. If you're going to cry foul, make sure you fact check first. [Latrivia]
WND is not a news site its a political propaganda site. For information relating to the UK the BBC website is probably one of the best sites to use for correct information. Some US members seem to have views on the UK that I really can't believe. Apparently we are becoming an Islamic state despite the fact that we have a Muslim population of less than 2.5 million in a country with a population of 60 million. [mike1976]
I try to avoid websites and media that aim for one side only. That's getting harder to find these days! [irishidid]
The Huffington Report has never been news. Just look at the background of Ariana Huffington. She changed political parties with the blowing of the wind and a divorce. I wish more people would realize it's people not party and country not congress. [irishidid]
Ah but you know it is not going to happen. The few fringers here jump on anything they think is remotely negative before they read it through. And then if you come up with something to prove that they are wrong they do not even bother to read those links either. [Barbietre]
I hear ya! I'm a horrible person who's goal is simply to attack and "degrade" others when I go to the trouble to research the true facts and to post them...along with a link to the true facts. Some folks aren't happy unless they're crying about some bs...true or not. [spalladino]
Oh my goodness I know exactly what you mean....especially the ones that are totally just being prejudiced against a certain group of people in society. I came across one the other day that i knew right away was completely outlandish and kept asking for a link to the bill, the link they gave was to a website and where one of the reviewers of the bill on that website was called "faith4action"....the one person who finally did submit a link was against everything the original poster was saying and prooved that the topic was blown WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY out of proportion, it makes me sick how certain people on here go out of there way to twist things and might make people prejudiced against other people [spicysweetie21]
I agree, posts like those do serve to increase prejudice and they also waste the time of the staff at our elected representatives offices who have to then field angry phone calls, emails and letters from constituents over a non-issue, helping the *real* issues to become lost in the mess. [spalladino]
Thank you for making this topic. There have been several times lately when I have ended up agreeing with posters only to later find from the actual source that the entire topic was a complete twist of reality. confused [murderistic]
I thought I gave up teaching when I moved to Florida but I guess I'm stuck being the b*tch who has to correct this post and that one, too. I'm just a blah,blah,blah naysayer. lol [spalladino]
I agree. Whether it's about legislation or anything else, facts should be checked before they will be posted as facts. Otherwise, we should know how to use the word "allegedly" or "according to unverified report". The best rule I think is, if you are not sure and you can not confirm it after all, don't post it. [eichs1]
Sounds like a good rule to me! [spalladino]
Facts? You actually want us to use facts? No, that's way too hard to do lol Sorry I had a bad day yesterday and my sarcasm is still my coping method. When I post I like to check a few different places about what I am posting about and if I can't find anything about it I won't post. I personally think that you should have added something about posting a link to their information source unless of course they are just posting their opinion. [ZephyrSun]
LOL...you mean facts are a bad thing??? confused Yep, I should have included something about posting links...that's a very good point. [spalladino]
Actually when it comes to discussions like that, I mostly just skip, or answer in a neutral manner because first, I am too lazy to check sometimes, and second, whenever there are links our internet speed hinders me to multi-task. So I just leave it as it is. [Theresaaiza]
That sounds like a good way to deal with it. Sorry about your internet speed....thumbdown [spalladino]
It's kind of like someone sends you an email saying "The sky is falling!" and instead of looking outside to see if it is or not, you immediately post to several websites that it is falling and we're all doomed... Okay, NOT the greatest analogy, but... Yeah, a little fact checking never hurts...although I myself have suffered from "foot in mouth" disease a few times...blush [MYKLJ999_VERSION_2]
No, your analogy was a good one. Like I posted above, I almost did the same thing with the U.K.'s Holocause denial email that I received. Had I simply posted it I'm sure there would have been a lot of outrage...all for nothing since it's not true. Of course, I won't correct my mother. She's old enough to have known some Holocause survivors and family members of those who didn't survivce so this subject is an emotional one for her. [spalladino]
I'm totally with you. I have gotten so tired of the way certain people here love to use blogs as their source and do absolutely no factchecking whatsoever. Those same people will just run and hide when beaten over the head with facts from a multitude of valid sources. Sometimes I feel like I'm just wasting my time trying to show these people the truth over fiction. [Taskr36]
I had to laugh last night. I posted the exact bill that outrageous claims were being made about and a couple of other folks responded that the original information had nothing to do with the facts in the bill. *Certain* people continued to respond with outrage and indignation as if our posts in the thread did not exist at all. I guess they probably didn't in Fantasyland. lol [spalladino]
Very good point. One bill in particular is mis-reported, especially in the talk shows. They are saying it will be illegal to have a backyard garden! The bill is actually about inspecting vegetables that are for sale from farms and private gardens, not prohibiting the gardens. [dragon54u]
"You mean I don't have to worry about the garden police showing up to rip out my little garden?" But god help you if you so much as sell a single zuccinni out of that garden with out the propper permits, inspections and long laundery list of requirements. [xfahctor]
No, I really don't. And if the person cannot find a lot of information, they should at least note they cannot be absolutely sure if their information is completely correct. I have seen some things on mylot I just skip automatically. Some of them are so obviously not true, it is just silly. Perhaps people get so caught up in having news before anyone else, thinking their information will incite a lot of responses. But it would be nice if there were more things substantiated before someone posts them. And I do understand there are innocent mistakes, but for the whole, I would really recommend looking further into the claims one is planning to post. [AmbiePam]
Hey Spal, here's a great story on how even the morons in the media are too stupid to verify their stories and fell for a wikipedia hoax. It's their freaking JOB to verify what they're printing and they don't do it. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519283,00.html [Taskr36]
LOL, it looks like the U.S. isn't the only country dealing with lazy reporters. That was a very good quote...too bad it was made up. lol [spalladino]
hello just thought id drop by!! sorry about it [Jamesyo62]
I agree, but at the same time, we should probably be telling people not to assume everything on here is correct, and to check the information for themselves. If you want something done, do it yourself. The spelling and grammar on this site irks me much more than the ridiculous topics being posted. [rebelmel]
It is just laziness. I try to get my information confirmed by 3 sources before I go on a propaganda-bashing witch hunt on music education and related subjects. lol anyway when you are trying to persuade anyone about your point of view you really should do your homework so that you can effectively defend your position. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and their opinions should never be put forth as facts. I guess when people post these unchecked or biased links they are going after the masses that will not read or think for themselves. [LuvBr0wn13s]
When I post a piece of legislation I feel is relevent, I not only provide a link to the bill, I post the actual bill text (when length permits) along with my comments on whats wrong with the bill using segments of text from it to illustrate my points. I alos if possibly try to name sponsors and conflicts. For example, the food modernization and safety act that someone else pointed out as hype in this thread. Though it doesn't ban gardens, it does place severe restrictions and requirements on selling vegatabl;es from one's gardens, effecting mostly small farmers who would be driven ut of business by this. In addition to this, there were conflicts, a consponsor's husband heads up a consulting firm that had Monsanto as a client and in addition to this, the cosponsor herself had recieved over $180,000 in contributions from big food comanies that would benefit from the disapearence of small farms from the market base. THIS is how issues and bills should be adressed. There is enough legitimate scary stuff happening with out having to resort to hype. All hype does is discredit an important issue or movement. [xfahctor]
lol! Yeh, I red those things, painfull and mind numbing as it is somethimes. I fuond more bad bills than good this way. I operate under the assumption that a bill is bad until I read it, because most are, we already have enough laws(sinical, perhaps) then I let the bills language speak for it. [xfahctor]
Accuracy on this board? The funny thing here is that the people that are doing this won't understand that you are talking about them. I agree with you 100%, I don't even bother looking at post that talk about this stuff in the subject line. Thanks for bringing this up. [thegreatdebater]
I know that I'm getting a reputation for being a b*tch by some of "those" people but I have to read those posts and I just can't stand seeing folks all worked up about absolutely nothing. I really pity those who live in fear due to ignorance. There are enough real things to worry about without adding total bs to the pile. [spalladino]
As internet has take an important role in our daily life. We shop online, learn online and sometimes we earn online. The internet is full of information. But it need time for us to make sure the information is true or false. And the accuracy of the internet information attaches much importance in our knowledge, our living and our invest. Sometimes our decision would be affected by internet information .SO it is quite necessary for us to check the accuracy of the information on the internet. [zepoiou]
This is true...and welcome to mylot, zepoiou. happy When someone screams "Contact your senator!" that person should at the very least make sure what she's asking you to contact him/her about is legitimate. [spalladino]
Hi, spalladino. No, it is not too much to ask. But please don't have high hopes that you will get what you are asking for. Again, it's not too much to ask. Happy MyLotting! [taski24]
Hi taski...welcome to mylot! happy Don't worry, my hopes aren't high. The same folks will still post the same garbage with no concern about whether there is any truth in it at all and I will continue to correct them when I can. [spalladino]
I think it just boils down to the persons principle. There are people who do not value integrity or are just plain lazy (which is another bad trait) and this is why we get postings that are not accurate. I guess we will just have to hope that more people will have the sense of responsibility towards what they post. [mimibt]
Welcome to mylot to you, too, mimibt! happy You hit the nail on the head with the use of the word "integrity". Some folks have none. Their personal agenda and personal hatred take priority over any ethical standard...all the while claiming to be of such good moral character. At least they're usually good for a laugh at some point. lol [spalladino]
happyDon't worry I haven't reached the 500 post yet. but even though i reached that mark there's no way am gonna put too much attention on posting links about issues sadbecause i only do that when it's very interesting internationally. well, some prefer to post when they believed it can generate many responses and arguments in that discussion. you can't blame them, but nice point though. [Mikaela_taz25]
Spall, we have to watch what we say on myLot now, Rose is apparently reporting everything we say to WND. [murderistic]
AND you would probably get detention for three days! lol [spalladino]
Sometimes I think the internet feels an obligation to be the number one creator of urban legends. It's not just on Mylot. It's the entire internet. Inaccurate information spreads like prairie fire. [irisheyes]
Ain't that the truth! I'm constantly trying to convince family members that one thing or another that they either received in an email or read on a website somewhere is bogus. [spalladino]
GREAT discussion, Spall, and one that's been overdue! I guess it IS too much to ask for some here. There are some here for whom "facts" and "accuracy" have totally different definitions than they do for the rest of us. I'll admit, when I was new to the internet I would sometimes post links from some of the more biased blog sites but I honestly didn't know any better. Now I'll still sometimes use a link from either a liberal or conservative blog if they have a video or transcript of an interview or quote but it's not for their editorial content it's just for the information. Annie [anniepa]
Apparently it is, especially for a certain homophobe. I had problems at first identifying biased blogs disguised as news sites...still have to do some checking even now. There's just so much information out there lately. As I posted...somewhere...I almost fell for the "U.K. pulled all references to the Holocaust from it's schools" email that my mother fowarded to me, until I checked it out. She was so outraged about it that I haven't had the heart to tell her yet that it's not true. [spalladino]