A.P. Lawrence

Who do you trust?

(Traditional format)

Sun Aug 29 11:46:08 2004 Who do you trust?
Posted by Tony Lawrence
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Referencing: http://techdirt.com/articles/20040827/0132238.shtml

The above link leads to an interesting TechDirt article where a traditional reporter complains about the inherent inaccuracy of information sources such as Wikipedia etc. The reporter's claim boils down to simply that you can't trust the rabble, and you need experts (reporters, one presumes) to present facts.

Well, OK. It's true that sometimes you can't trust a mob. When a subject becomes emotionally charged (for example the SCO Lawsuit), it's quite possible for mob-rule sources to be distorted by emotions and make it impossible for a balanced view to be presented.

But that's also true of reporters and "experts". Back before the Wright brothers, you could find plenty of scientific "experts" who could explain why mechanical flight was impossible. Later, similar experts would expound upon why physics would not allow us to travel faster than the speed of sound. There are many other examples and they continue to this day - probably always will.

So really, the same arguments about prejudice and inaccuracy apply everywhere. You can't implicitly trust Wikipedia or the New York Times. The librarian quoted in the original article says

 part of my job is to help my students develop critical thinking skills

which are just as necessary with any source, no matter what its reputation is.

However, bulletin boards, newsgroups, and Wikis at least offer the potential for other views to creep in. You get to read other points of view, unsanitized by corporate policy. Yes, that can let a lot of junk in also, but if you are thinking logically, the junk should fall out rather easily. Personally, I'd rather read multiple points of view and decide for myself.

Psst - Wanna work for yourself?

Comments
CommentsBlog1072 :
'At the mouth of two or three witnesses is a matter established' - a bad paraphrase from an ancient law code. The principle still stands. Selecting information from a single source is prone to error, even from "known experts." When verified by several independent sources, information can be more reliable.
---August 31, 2004



---August 31, 2004

Yes, though sometimes you don't know what to think. I've mentioned this before in the context of the SCO lawsuit - I can't trust my own feelings because I'm too prejudiced (against SCO), and I wonder if my understanding of my own prejudice affects my feelings toward other peoples opinions - in other words, I don't trust them because I don't trust myself.

--TonyLawrence



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