How much should we believe what we find on Google?

[rich08]

I have observed that a large number of people often quote or link to websites on the internet to make their points. And I have often seen facts quoted as objective that bear little resemblance to the results of a quick google search or (being old fashioned) picking up a book on a bookshelf.

The thing with the internet is it is very easy for anyone to pretend to be anyone or present something as true and to get it widely circulated - so how do people work out what is what?

At the end of the 17th century it became common practice in England to publish books in the name of your enemies making the 'author' (note inverted commas) say things to disprove their 'own' arguments. And it was common to spread rumours and gossip to undermine someone. For example when James II became king there was a lot of civil unrest because he was a Catholic; there was great concern that he may produce an heir (who would almost certainly be Catholic) and the Protestants in England didn't want this. James II's wife bore him a son and a conspiracy was hatched stating that the baby had died in child birth and another baby had been smuggled in to replace the dead baby so that this baby wasn't the rightful heir. Detailed information was circulated stating how this has been done (in relation to how the baby was smuggled in and which route) - which when looked at would have been impossible; also to ensure that a real baby had been born the poor queen gave birth in front of several witnesses. Ultimately it led to war and eventually a protestant king (William of Orange) on the throne.

Ok this isn't the 17th century - but my point is to show how information can be misused and circulated and in some cases has a significant impact.

So how do we decide what information to trust? And not to trust especially in this internet era?

[nChrist]

Google is just a search engine. It may yield the truth or lies, and it's up to you to decide which. You can assign various levels of trust, depending on the source and what you know about the source. Example: maybe you've used a particular Christian site for a long time and found it to be reliable many times. Now, compare that to a site you've never used before. You can also compare numerous sources for the same information and see if they are in agreement. I really think it's a matter of common sense and never just automatically believing something you are not familiar with. Another example: one of the search results is the Library of Congress, so the chances are that the information there is completely accurate.

[xero]

Depends on the topic. Most things can be fact checked online with multiple sources, which takes time, so its a question of wether or not the topic is important enough to give it time and attention.

If its irrelevant to the gospel and its of no import then why bother?, lol, but if you must find the answer theres always a means to determine the veracity of a statement.

I do agree with you brother alot of "information" online is just sensationalism and worth little more than a chuckle.

[BFP]

There is very little truth out there...anywhere...not just google. Research is most often biased toward what the researcher is trying to prove...medicine and big pharma are after your pocket more than they are trying to save you, law seems to work best for the criminal, not the victim...we won't even go near politics...so why would the internet be any different? It is even more anonomous...meaning more smoke and mirrors. ever try searching for truth...LOL, I have, on many subjects...all I find is confusion out there.

[gdemoss]

I trust the Spirit of God that dwells within me to guide me into 'all' truth. I don't trust Google.

Gary

[Sevenseas]

I have observed that a large number of people often quote or link to websites on the internet to make their points. And I have often seen facts quoted as objective that bear little resemblance to the results of a quick google search or (being old fashioned) picking up a book on a bookshelf.

The thing with the internet is it is very easy for anyone to pretend to be anyone or present something as true and to get it widely circulated - so how do people work out what is what?

At the end of the 17th century it became common practice in England to publish books in the name of your enemies making the 'author' (note inverted commas) say things to disprove their 'own' arguments. And it was common to spread rumours and gossip to undermine someone. For example when James II became king there was a lot of civil unrest because he was a Catholic; there was great concern that he may produce an heir (who would almost certainly be Catholic) and the Protestants in England didn't want this. James II's wife bore him a son and a conspiracy was hatched stating that the baby had died in child birth and another baby had been smuggled in to replace the dead baby so that this baby wasn't the rightful heir. Detailed information was circulated stating how this has been done (in relation to how the baby was smuggled in and which route) - which when looked at would have been impossible; also to ensure that a real baby had been born the poor queen gave birth in front of several witnesses. Ultimately it led to war and eventually a protestant king (William of Orange) on the throne.

Ok this isn't the 17th century - but my point is to show how information can be misused and circulated and in some cases has a significant impact.

So how do we decide what information to trust? And not to trust especially in this internet era?

Well call me old fashioned too...lotsa books in my shelves here. Google can be an excellent source of info...however my method is to

research and not just hit on the first 'hit'.

Another good way, is to pose your question here too...as you have done...and you can pick and choose which ones makes sense

The internet is neither good or bad...it all depends on how one uses it. I have found Google to be very helpful...one can look up Bible verses

very quickly...if you just remember a fragment of a verse and then find the entire verse by typing in your 'fragment'...any question that

you can conceive of will bring a response. You can access any concordance you want and on and on.

Edited June 2, 2012 by sevenseas