After joining YA! I am sorta unable to distinguish what is right and what it wrong?

Question

Most issues when touches on History, R and S, Politic, they are always divided into at least 2 groups or more and everyone would start answering and backing up with sources from google, books, news channel etc. Now, my questions is how reliable are those sources? At times we have a situation that both parties have sources to back their answers : For example, like history..some countries even amend their history to avoid further shame befall into that nation but the people from that nation would argue that theirs is tue history. Or Israel and Palestine feud? Etc and etc...Have anyone doubted this before?

And I am not sure this Q is under which category...

Answer 1

Well, it used to be said that history is written by the victors, but in these days of ongoing and unresolved conflicts, that might not be as true anymore, especially with the advent of easy printing sources and now the Internet. It is called "spin", someone giving a positive slant to something negative and everyone does it.

You are right to question sources. One should refer to them, all of them, and ultimately make up ones own mind. Short of having personally observed something that is all one can do. Hence, the other admonition, "consider the source". This means that before believing a source one should determine what the interest of that source is and therefore how prejudiced their account of the situation might be, which would affect their believability.

A good example of what you are talking about is Japan's response to WWII. They have never admitted their culpability, not do they teach the true history of their aggression and atrocities to their children in their schools.

Answer 2

I think being confused about right and wrong is a healthy sign; it means you're suddenly seeing that many questions have many answers instead of just one.

I think your question might be: how can we know anything at all?

I'll try to answer.

Knowledge consists of facts and interpretations of facts.

Facts are certain statements that are verifiable, whose truth can be verified by large numbers of people.

I cannot go to the North Pole to see that the polar ice caps are shrinking. But I can read the reports and see photos and diagrams provided by numerous authorities.

These kinds of reports are very different from reports about, say, extraterrestrials.

So I take it as a fact that the polar ice caps are shrinking.

Any arguement that the planet is not warming must take into account this fact, and all the other facts available about global temperatures and trends.

The best news stories, histories, commentaries, etc., are those that look at the largest amount of verifiable data, and attempt to explain all the data.

However, it is still very difficult to know anything beyond a shadow of a doubt.

We must use our reason and intelligence to continue exploring reality and learning more about it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

It is a lot like unraveling the rhetoric regarding Iraq - - - - at times ya want to flop on your back like a sea turtle and just stare at the clouds. Shifting clouds are less confusing than using this forum for news & information. As with all sources one needs to shift through piles of BS to get a clear yes or no and no I know of no solution to the pollution of rational reasonal discource especially those fighting to defend their favrite sources some of which are links to virues.

Nuff Said - - - PAX----------------------
YIKES YAMSTERS hold off reporting me, Brain Stagnation is abbriviated BS, no I would never refer to solid waste or waste byproducts and bi-products are strictly prohibited --

Answer 4

I think as a history person that it takes years of experience to weigh up the facts and to believe what you wish to believe.

Welcome to the world of people who think.