Why are there so many questionable statements that are presented as facts?

Question

For Example:
1.) The prolific use of the word always.
2.) Stating an opinion as a fact
3.) Quoting unamed sources

Surely a serious question deserves a qualified, thought-out answer. Doesn't it?

Giovanni: Did you read the question that was asked?

Answer 1

Because this is not a peer reviews publication. There is no requirement to be factual here. Why do you expect an open forum to have higher standards than the main stream media?

Answer 2

There is this great essay by George Orwell, Politics and The English Language. Just type that in as a yahoo search. It cleared up my thinking on why folks have slid into the low standards of discourse you have described.
Yes a serious question deserves a competent answer, but this is the web, after all.

Answer 3

I agree with you.Is it because everyone thinks they know all must tell all...factually.as if it were gospel,when indeed they are not really sure themselves,but you can;t see thier face or know who they are so theres all sorts of ways to boost our self esteem and confidence by presenting to you Facts.Also though it is a place you can get a little of your daily grind out and if somethig is on someones mind there are going to present it however they see fit.I am guilty of this myself in a big way,just about an hour ago I was having a s*it fit about something I found offensive and the whole world got the oppurtunity to see how inmature I am.And Iam ok with that its like therapy.I think I need a few more sessions though

Answer 4

The are too many people on this site, that get there information from only using this site and do not know the facts. This is their main supply of current events.

I also enjoy all the non-answer, answers.

Either personally attacking you.
Or asking a question in response to a question.

Answer 5

For the same reason that when you post links to the facts - to the Census Bureau, for example - to support assertions made in your question, people still respond with answers that, if they'd just clicked on the link and read the data set or abstract, they'd realize were wrong!

That's one thing that has always frustrated me is people operating with their own set of made-up facts.

I don't understand how they go through life.

Oh and even worse than people who make up their own facts are people who make up the other side's arguments for them - lady, nobody says the earth was created 6,000 years ago. We just point out that it was warmer than it is today....

Answer 6

I find it strange that many Conservatives who think that Global Warming is "junk science" believe that God created the world in 6 days just 6,000 years ago.

Gee, what was the definition of "junk science" again?

Most Conservatives call Liberals names like "unintelligent" or "dumbacrat", yet they believe they were created by a magic invisible man who lives in the sky, and who has been there for all eternity.

edit: Truthsayer, come over to the R&S board and meet two thousand Christian Conservative supporters of George Bush who think the world was created 6,000 years ago and freely damn everyone to hell that disagrees with them.

Want to solve the problems in this country? Put atheists in charge. Because anyone that believes in God is delusional.

What does religion have to do with politics, you ask? When we have a delusional leader who thinks God told him to invade Iraq, religion has plenty to do with politics.

Answer 7

1. Lack of intelligence.
2. Lack of intelligence.
3. Lack of intelligence.

Yes to your question. Don't hold your breath waiting for reasonable answers to most of your questions.

Answer 8

Reality is different for everyone.

Nobody will ever make a bigger joke out of The White House than george dumbya bush has!

Answer 9

Simple, on the internet you can always present "facts" and state that they are unassailable. Like the global warming fanatics.

Answer 10

I always provide facts, they come from a friend of mine.