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For example,. I knew before the MSM that the Shuttle Columbia was burning on reentry. While the MSM were awaiting the landing in Florida, I was reading a current thread on the Net, where a citizen-reporter with a high-powered telescope reported the shuttle was trailing burning parts. It’s a matter of knowing where to go and who to read, to find truth on the Net.

And yet for every story like this, there's a dozen where people report it too early, before all the facts come in. I remember a lot of threads concerning the Montana election, for example, that turned out to be completely false, yet people still asked "why isn't the MSM reporting this?" This place is fun to come and read opinions, but for late-breaking news, I find myself questioning it more than I would the mainstream press.

You're absolutely right. Skepticism is essential in dealing with hard "information" on the Net. A sloppy fraud catcher and frequent error rates is why I never click on Wikipedia, which Time, in its ignorance, salivates over.

I look for websites that are highly accurate. And within such sites, I look for individuals who have the apparent background to offer as much accuracy as I demand of myself. Even then, I remain skeptical.

But with all those caveats, the Net remains a better source for accuracy on politics than the New York Times, because I know the Times is lying -- I just don't know how much, and on what "facts."

John / Billybob

I knew . . . the Shuttle Columbia was burning on reentry while the MSM were awaiting the landing in Florida . . . It’s a matter of knowing where to go and who to read, to find truth on the Net.

And yet for every story like this, there's a dozen where people report it too early, before all the facts come in.

This place is fun to come and read opinions, but for late-breaking news, I find myself questioning it more than I would the mainstream press.

Skepticism is always prudent, and the shorter the deadline the more skepticism is prudent. Since we-the-people express our sovereignty only at election time, unless we are invaded "breaking news" is a dispensable luxury which is heavily taxed with error and fraud.

The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing . . . It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough. - Adam Smith

Half the truth is often a great lie. - Benjamin Franklin