You bring up something that has been on the back of my brain pan for a while now. In other words, you have triggered me. I don't have this thought fully fleshed out, so I'll do what I do. Just get to typin'.
Windy, I don't know if you're old enough to remember a time before Algore's internet, but I am. I remember it well. And I am also fascinated by history.
Throughout mankind's existence and before we had the internet. when a group of men were talking to each other, and one man made an assertion, did anybody ask him for a link? Did anybody say, "Pics or it didn't happen?" No, they did not. It would have been ridiculous. Nobody knew what a link was. Nobody carried a set of encyclopedias or a photo album around with them.
Without this level of proof, how is it you ask, that men communicated? A worthy question, and I will take a stab. You need to know this.
A man made a statement, and the veracity of it was backed by his reputation. And his honor. To be called a liar on those times was a grave insult and, during certain periods, could result in violence, duels, and even the loss of life.
Were those better times? That is open to discussion. I happen to think so. I like the idea of a man building a reputation over a lifetime and standing on it and defending it. I like the idea of honor and defending that as well.
To bring us back to the present. I back up my statement with my reputation, which you may not be aware of. And I back up my statement with my honor. I take great pride in thinking of myself as an honest man. If I say I have seen a picture of Chels in a boot. Either I have, or I am mistaken, I have made mistakes like that before. My memory is not what it used to be, or I have actually seen it.
You can take any statement I ever make as one that I believe I am telling the truth. If I end up being mistaken, I will admit it. I will not require myself EVER to provide a link or pics to prove I am telling what I believe to be the truth. Besides, I can post links or pics. I'm honest, but retarded.
Anyway. A couple of smart guys posted Chels in a boot pic on this thread. So the point is moot.
Did you see the one of Huma in YUGE bell bottoms? Shaky business, right?
I’m very much old enough to remember the pre-internet days.
Even back then, we could back up our assertions in an argument by referring our opponents to published news reports, history books, science journals, text books, legal decisions, encyclopedias, maps, mathematical calculations, demonstrations, tests, reference books and manuals of all sorts, and even common knowledge, vouched for by group acknowledgement.
Posting a link is a whole lot easier than how we used to do it.