It's True Because It's On A Blog!
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
July 27, 2009 2:40pm CST
Has anyone else notice the abundance of lies being told on mylot with blogs as sources? Lately there are a couple members who do nothing but post garbage they read on blogs without an ounce of fact checking.
Newsflas folks, thinkprogress, DailyKos, and Media Matters LIE TO YOU!. I'm tired of reading these stupid threads, and having to correct the four or five people who respond in support of the post and insulting the victim of the lie without realizing that they're just believing a lie propogated by a poster who believes everything they read in blogs. I typically get thank yous from people once I set the record straight, but then you see the OP disappear or, rarely, insist that their blog would NEVER lie and that I'm just using "spin".
When you see a thread using a blog as a source, do you believe it without question? Do you assume the poster researched the truth or do you go and do your own research before responding?
4 people like this
8 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Jul 09
What, no mention of WorldNetDaily? How do you feel about the tabloids such as the Enquirer or the Globe? I know this discussion is at least in part directed at me even though I didn't "disappear" because of anything anybody posted in my discussion. I don't use blogs as a source for news but sometimes I do get things like transcripts or photos from blogs because I can't find them anywhere else and I look for transcripts because my speakers don't work so I can't use a video. Whatever the case, I'd never claim that ANYONE would "never" lie and I don't use any source without having done more research.
Annie
2 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Excuse me Annie, but did you expect me to list every blog and bogus site in my thread? There are far too many to name and I thought the concept was pretty straightforward.
"I don't use blogs as a source for news"
Annie, in the last two pages of threads you've started you've used about 5 blogs. That's a lot, and the content of them has been dishonest and misleading like the story about Jindal where you wrongly claimed that he didn't want to accept ANY stimulus money. You've used more blogs than almost anyone who posts in politics. You have no problems using sites that have told viscous lies and made personal attacks on children like DailyKOS, and Huffington Post. Your hands are certainly not clean on this one.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Taskr, I NEVER use blogs as a source for anything I post on here. I also don't usually look at links that people provide as support for their argument. I search what they say, and if I can find a contridiction, or I know better, then I put in my two cents. I know of one person on here that uses blogs every day, multiple times a day, and some of the post are completely lacking fact of any sort. It would be nice to see EVERYONE on here who post stand up and do something about this cronic poster.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I try not too but occasionally while researching something that I find a link to the subject which it too technical or hard to understand legalese I will sometimes use a blog of the subject which gives the same answer but in a way that is easier to understand. However when I find a discussion which is linked to a blog and always do a separate research on the subject before I believe any of it.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
27 Jul 09
A blog may relate stories from the news and give them wider exposure or even send videos and stories viral, but essentially, except in a very few cases, a blog is opinion writing. People read one type of blog or another based on whether they like the perspective offered and share those opinions.
There will always be spin on these blogs, even the blogs by real journalists that you find on major news websites.
I would except certain types of blogs, especially those coming from within countries without a free press. Blogs like "Burmese Bloggers without Borders" brought important photos and first-hand accounts of the monk protests and murders in Myanmar.
The internet can be used to disseminate information that people cannot access otherwise, but it can also be used for propaganda and disinformation. It's up to the reader to beware.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
28 Jul 09
Hi Taskr, I dont usually believe everything that bloggers write, unless it's their personal experience, then it's hard to cast doubt.
I believe the yahoo news more than those bloggers. Recently in Singapore, a lawyer was charged and fined for spreading his opinions about the opposing party. The court said that even in blogging, he should know that as lawyer, he should keep to the code of conduct.
1 person likes this
@busybeekorner (18)
• United States
27 Jul 09
ROFL!!! I agree with you 110%. Not only that, but did you know that everything we watch on tv is 100% true and accurate? LOL!
Not much you can do about it. People will be people. Personally, I like to have several reliable sources about something before I go on to post about it.
1 person likes this
@icenjelrocks (116)
• Philippines
28 Jul 09
errr..I think what you mean by that is that not everything we have seen on tv are 100 percent true...right?
@murtuza89 (513)
• India
28 Jul 09
As far as Television is concerned t is the Last source I would rely on for true data. Nowadays TV channels give out all incomplete and fake data which is very risky to use.
Primary data sources are more reliable to get some good information.
so I would not go for TV but rather prefer a good Newspaper for my set of Data.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
27 Jul 09
Considering that anyone can write a blog, I take it all in as opinion. Then I remember what my mom told be about opinions and sweaty feet.
I do not even trust the news most of the time unless I hear the same thing from several different sources.
To me "spin" is about the same as a lie, because when you twist the facts there is a tendency to loose truth.
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
28 Jul 09
No! In fact I would have to go so far as to possibly insult several hundred people and say No critical, logical thinking person would believe anything they hear from someone with out checking facts. We can value a persons opinion with out checking a fact but not believe what ever they say. I posted my opinion then searched, then reposted if my opinion was erroneous, or reposted the sources supporting my opinion.
Many people though will form and post their opinions with out any regard to truth or merit, because they think long posts earn them more money. I think after reading this, I will be sure to do my researching before even posting my first unsolicited opinion, but that would be less fun.
Cheers, and thank you very much for bring up the subject. I appreciate you!
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Thank you and hey, nobody needs a source for their opinion. What people need, is to make sure they're expressing opinions on actual facts. Saying you don't like Obama for example, is fine. Saying you don't like Obama because you read that he eats small children, well, that's when there's an issue. I'm amazed what some people will believe without a source, or with a blog as a source.
2 people like this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
28 Jul 09
I have been in the service/hospitality industry for around 9 years. People have stopped surprising me. The way we think, the way we think when we are alone, and the way we think when we are online, or with a group of people. It is all different.
It is frustrating to me that folks are like that, believing whatever they hear, where-ever they hear it. This is the internet after all, and aren't we constantly warned that not everybody online is who they say they are?
I can totally understand your frustration, but for myself personally I would not be surprised by it.
Cheers.
1 person likes this
