Some useful websites to verify information

[.]

Recently, I started looking over some of the websites that I use to verify different claims I see made in the media, on blogs, and on message boards and comment pages I frequent and noticed a couple of pretty glaring errors I made in a recent claim on this forum. As much as I don't like admitting I am wrong I find it much preferable to having someone else admit it for me and turn out that they are right.

I made a statement saying there have been 25 hearings into the Benghazi attack that had turned up nothing, a statement I based upon something I heard but failed to check out-and according to Politifact there have been eight that have not turned up any smoking guns to indicate willful wrongdoing but have resulted in some questions being answered that may not have been. By any account, that is something which is more than nothing. Considering that it would have taken me a minute or so to verify my own claims the omission is rather embarrassing (and doubly so since I preach it but didn't practice it).

For me, it makes it clear that verifying what I am skeptical of is important but it's even more important to verify what I am inclined to believe because what I am inclined to believe heavily influences virtually every decision I make, whether large or small. Acting on information one knows is bad can be considered asking for trouble but there is a very real danger as well to acting on information one believes but doesn't actually know for sure is valid. With information being passed around on pretty much every forum and social media site out here, there are a lot of claims made by a lot of people, counterclaims by other people, and some of the back and forth less than completely civil as one person may post something that challenges an opposing viewpoint (or challenge what someone else lays claim to) it's useful sometimes to be able to cut through some of the rhetoric to see what independent research through available evidence has turned up.

Probably some of you are probably already using some or all of these references and others besides, but if not you may find them useful for fact-checking pretty much anything whether to verify your own information or to punch a great big hole in somebody else's (mine included-like anyone I hate being wrong on anything but, like everyone, sooner or later I will be on something). And if there are sites other than these that some of you have used and found reliable and want to post a link I'm sure it will be much appreciated.

Here's a list of the sites I use the most which have proven over time to be reliable and which don't have a bias toward any position or ideology that I can determine:

http://www.factcheck.org/  (this may be the best of them all but it's not always the easiest to navigate)

http://www.politifact.com/ (easier to navigate and has a primary focus on political issues)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/ (I know that some folks won't get out of bed without checking the Washington Post to make sure the day hasn't been canceled and others wouldn't even use it as toilet paper but the fact-checker blog seems to be free of editorial influence and punches holes in both right and left wing claims)

http://www.snopes.com/ (this is the one probably most referenced and not everyone is convinced of its reliability, including me, but it's a handy site to keep on hand for secondary - or even tertiary - reference to fact check the fact checkers every so often)

http://www.opensecrets.org/about/ (this one is great if you want to see where the money is going in the political arena, who is most open, who isn't, and to the extent possible-where the money comes from)

This last one isn't so much for fact-checking but is more geared toward keeping folks abreast of the latest evils stalking about the Internet trying to get into your computer, your bank account, or just trying to commit general mayhem and chaos. I tossed it in as a bonus and hopefully someone will find it useful.

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ (with so many email hoaxes going around, internet scams proliferating, and online security being compromised at seemingly every turn, this site is a good reference to find out what's out there to be aware of, or to check out an email you aren't sure of, or to keep up with the latest cyber-threats to avoid becoming a victim, this site is well-regarded)

Hopefully, these will be of use to someone but aside from fact-checking information and verifying sources, a lot of the stuff here is just fascinating all on its own and pretty fun to go through when it gets too cold or wet to be out riding.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very informative post

[Gryphon Rider]

I, for one, try my hardest to make sure that everything that I state as fact, actually is.  There have been several times where I have doubted the veracity of statements others here made, but before I typed anything, I checked the facts.  Sometimes it turned out they were right and I was misinformed.

I also make a point of quoting and attributing source material when I can.  I know that I'm not writing academic papers here, but I think that copying and pasting in such a way that it isn't obvious that it isn't my writing, is dishonest.

[Patrick]

You put quite a bit of time and thought into this. Thanks. I'm sure I'll try to use them, should be interesting. 

[BF]

It's Bush's fault.   

http://www.itsallgeorgebushsfault.com/