The Rise of The Internet has created new levels of factualness for information. Here are a few:
Reproducible, peer-reviewed, scientific research results. - this one's been around since the enlightenment, and is generally considered the gold standard of factualness. The internet does report these, but they are frequently boring, so are given low priority in search engines, especially if the news is depressing but not fear-inducing.
The results of 'shocking new studies'. - on any one of a number of attention-getting subjects, typically cancer, a pandemic flu, or how your breakfast cereal may be changing your gender. These facts might be gold, but look closely fool.
Saw it on Facebook/Twitter/YouTube. - now the most common means of communicating 'facts', or their interpretation. If your friends think it's real, or cool, or cute, or just plain awesome, then so must you. Pass it on, and do so with a post that would make anyone not pressing 'Like' seem racist.
Note that I did not mention Wikipedia. I like Wikipedia, even though referencing it is an act of faith in a humanity that doesn't really deserve it. I always put on my special 'Wiki Glasses' when I surf to the Wiki. They are rose-colored, and they make everything believable, and that's a fact.
Reproducible, peer-reviewed, scientific research results. - this one's been around since the enlightenment, and is generally considered the gold standard of factualness. The internet does report these, but they are frequently boring, so are given low priority in search engines, especially if the news is depressing but not fear-inducing.
The results of 'shocking new studies'. - on any one of a number of attention-getting subjects, typically cancer, a pandemic flu, or how your breakfast cereal may be changing your gender. These facts might be gold, but look closely fool.
Saw it on Facebook/Twitter/YouTube. - now the most common means of communicating 'facts', or their interpretation. If your friends think it's real, or cool, or cute, or just plain awesome, then so must you. Pass it on, and do so with a post that would make anyone not pressing 'Like' seem racist.
Note that I did not mention Wikipedia. I like Wikipedia, even though referencing it is an act of faith in a humanity that doesn't really deserve it. I always put on my special 'Wiki Glasses' when I surf to the Wiki. They are rose-colored, and they make everything believable, and that's a fact.
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