Comments on: The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/ Content on writing, tech, business, marketing, social media Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:21:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Using Twitter for business and networking | Meryl.net http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-813052 Using Twitter for business and networking | Meryl.net Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:50:03 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-813052 [...] The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter: Crowds can make us believe something that’s not true. [...] [...] The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter: Crowds can make us believe something that’s not true. [...]

]]> By: Meryl http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812987 Meryl Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:13:23 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812987 @Fred, I believe you're right that speed is what has caused this problem. Being first has become more important than being accurate. Not good. @Avil, thanks for the great tips and pointing to your blog entries. I am sure others will appreciate it as much as I do. @Davina, of course we all have folks that we feel we can trust all of the time. I didn't want to put that in the post for fear the important message would get cluttered. @George, and many writers fear for their careers because of this. But I believe over time people will return to what's important: accurate and unbiased reporting (aside from those who get paid to do opinion pieces). @Matt, thanks for posting the story. I was very surprised by it and felt we all need a reminder. As a writer, I would not do readers justice if I didn't check my facts. @Fred, I believe you’re right that speed is what has caused this problem. Being first has become more important than being accurate. Not good.

@Avil, thanks for the great tips and pointing to your blog entries. I am sure others will appreciate it as much as I do.

@Davina, of course we all have folks that we feel we can trust all of the time. I didn’t want to put that in the post for fear the important message would get cluttered.

@George, and many writers fear for their careers because of this. But I believe over time people will return to what’s important: accurate and unbiased reporting (aside from those who get paid to do opinion pieces).

@Matt, thanks for posting the story. I was very surprised by it and felt we all need a reminder. As a writer, I would not do readers justice if I didn’t check my facts.

]]> By: Matt Singley http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812953 Matt Singley Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:44:26 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812953 Hi Meryl, thanks for including my recent article in this post! You've written down some great thoughts here and you are absolutely right...we need to check facts before we publish AND retweet. I see a lot of foolishness get retweeted constantly. Thanks for being a voice of reason! Hi Meryl, thanks for including my recent article in this post! You’ve written down some great thoughts here and you are absolutely right…we need to check facts before we publish AND retweet. I see a lot of foolishness get retweeted constantly. Thanks for being a voice of reason!

]]> By: George Angus http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812951 George Angus Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:52:41 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812951 One of the unintended consequences of social media is that it has allowed anyone to be an instant reporter. Lots of folks have an ax to grind and others are just to lazy to do their research. They have no idea of the damage they cause, or they just don't care. A good reminder to not take things at face value. George .-= George Angus's blog ...<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TumblemooseProductions/~3/sf6L5ywv0Bk/" rel="nofollow">Netbookz! Umm, Bookflix? Aw Heck, Just Read the Post</a> =-. One of the unintended consequences of social media is that it has allowed anyone to be an instant reporter. Lots of folks have an ax to grind and others are just to lazy to do their research. They have no idea of the damage they cause, or they just don’t care.

A good reminder to not take things at face value.

George
.-= George Angus’s blog …Netbookz! Umm, Bookflix? Aw Heck, Just Read the Post =-.

]]> By: Davina http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812950 Davina Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:08:12 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812950 I probably should check sources more than I do, but I generally only RT blog posts of bloggers I've followed for a while. This was a good reminder Meryl. It's true, you can't believe everything you read on Twitter. That is sad to say. .-= Davina's blog ...<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ShadesOfCrimson/~3/dTIVKNTX808/" rel="nofollow">I Find Stillness</a> =-. I probably should check sources more than I do, but I generally only RT blog posts of bloggers I’ve followed for a while. This was a good reminder Meryl. It’s true, you can’t believe everything you read on Twitter. That is sad to say.
.-= Davina’s blog …I Find Stillness =-.

]]> By: Avil Beckford http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812949 Avil Beckford Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:42:40 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812949 Meryl, Thank you for blogging about this topic. Because of the instant nature and ease of use of Twitter we can all fall into the trap of retweeting false information. As a researcher with over 15 years experience, I come across false information that is taken as fact all the time. And I have seen many people who you would expect to know and do better using the false information. A rule of thumb is to find three independent sources to verify information, and pay attention to the original source. Good places to use information are universities, government sources, watchdog agencies (nothing is ever fool proof. Questions to ask is the person's motivation for presenting the Information? Is the person objective or biased? If your readers are interested they could read these two posts that I wrote: How to Analyze Information http://theinvisiblementor.com/2009/09/18/how-to-analyze-information/ Because Everyone is Saying It, Doesn't Make It Right http://theinvisiblementor.com/2009/09/29/because-everyone-is-saying-it-doesnt-make-it-right/ Thanks for dealing with this subject. Avil Beckford .-= Avil Beckford's blog ...<a href="http://theinvisiblementor.com/2010/01/19/the-invisible-mentor-interviews-lynn-kahle/" rel="nofollow">The Invisible Mentor Interviews Lynn Kahle</a> =-. Meryl,

Thank you for blogging about this topic. Because of the instant nature and ease of use of Twitter we can all fall into the trap of retweeting false information.

As a researcher with over 15 years experience, I come across false information that is taken as fact all the time. And I have seen many people who you would expect to know and do better using the false information.

A rule of thumb is to find three independent sources to verify information, and pay attention to the original source. Good places to use information are universities, government sources, watchdog agencies (nothing is ever fool proof. Questions to ask is the person’s motivation for presenting the Information? Is the person objective or biased?

If your readers are interested they could read these two posts that I wrote:

How to Analyze Information http://theinvisiblementor.com/2009/09/18/how-to-analyze-information/

Because Everyone is Saying It, Doesn’t Make It Right
http://theinvisiblementor.com/2009/09/29/because-everyone-is-saying-it-doesnt-make-it-right/

Thanks for dealing with this subject. Avil Beckford
.-= Avil Beckford’s blog …The Invisible Mentor Interviews Lynn Kahle =-.

]]> By: Fred Schlegel http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812944 Fred Schlegel Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:38:45 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812944 Good advice. With the emphasis on speed fact checking appears to be a dying art. .-= Fred Schlegel's blog ...<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/frogblog/yTub/~3/-BJd2OJbxKU/" rel="nofollow">Filtering Ideas – Yodeling Pickle</a> =-. Good advice. With the emphasis on speed fact checking appears to be a dying art.
.-= Fred Schlegel’s blog …Filtering Ideas – Yodeling Pickle =-.

]]> By: Tweets that mention The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter | Meryl.net -- Topsy.com http://www.meryl.net/2010/01/19/the-foolproof-way-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-on-twitter/comment-page-1/#comment-812943 Tweets that mention The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter | Meryl.net -- Topsy.com Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:09:56 +0000 http://www.meryl.net/?p=6715#comment-812943 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Peggy Dolane, Meryl Evans. Meryl Evans said: The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter: Do you believe what you read in Twitter? This is from ... http://bit.ly/7f9Kbb [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Peggy Dolane, Meryl Evans. Meryl Evans said: The Foolproof Way to Separate Fact from Fiction on Twitter: Do you believe what you read in Twitter? This is from … http://bit.ly/7f9Kbb [...]

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