Where Did You Hear That?

It is Election Day, 2016 today. Hillary Clinton (Dem.) is running against Donald Trump (Rep.). I'm with Her. We shall see if I have chosen the right person. I certainly hope so.

Because I am an educator, I am very much in tune with the concept of using a prime source. In case

Election Day 2016

you are not aware, a prime source is defined as:

In the study of history as an academic discipline, a primary source (also called original source or evidence) is an artifact, a document, diary, manuscript, autobiography, a recording, or other source of information that was created at the time under study.

In the real world, I keep the concept in mind when I hear or read something that just doesn't seem right. Being raised during the 1950's I am well aware of brainwashing and how those people that do that sort of thing don't change everything in a piece of information. However, when the words are rearranged just slightly, the meaning changes markedly.

I had a friend swear up and down that Paul Harvey had said something very hateful on the radio and, because Paul Harvey said it, it must be so. When he read that same piece in writing, the writer had changed ever so few words. That small change left the my friends believing that it was what he had heard.

Thankfully, this election is over today. This is just for future reference. When you hear something that sounds a bit wonky even if it agrees with your beliefs, please check it out. Where we get the information is more important than anything. Talk show hosts are very good at bending our perception of the facts to suit their agendas and I can't imagine that you don't take what they say with a grain of salt.

I don't know if Snopes is infallible. I can't imagine that anyone can be. But they check facts and I have found original sources of information that I could go back to if I just used my brain. There is a site that evaluates charitable trusts. It would pay you to check that out before you begin repeating information about that sort of thing. I am sure there are many many others.

So, now that I have that off my chest, I am settling in so I can see how this day unfolds. I hear that Donald Trump is already suing Nevada for letting people vote after the poles are suppose to close. (I have not checked that piece of information out yet so do that before you repeat what you see here.) It should all be very interesting.

b+

Snopes: Clinton in Egypt False
Snopes: Nobel Peace Lies False
Snopes: Uranium Given to Russians (Note: Among the ways these accusations stray from the facts is in attributing a power of veto or approval to Secretary Clinton that she simply did not have.) Unproven

Snopes: Trump Calls Republican Voters Dumb False