Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?

[draggar]

I think I've realized why things are so messed up here in the USA and its quite scary.

It seems like as people learn to use the internet, people get stronger and more aggressive about their political affiliation and beliefs. Nothing wrong with this, I even get a TON of political related emails, complaining about this, that, this person, that person, and so on.

Why is this a problem?

When I get these I guess I'm the first person in a LONG LINE of recipients who actually does some research.

I got one the other day complaining about the health care bill - it was nice to include page numbers, lines, section numbers, and so on but one issue - none of it matched up with the bill that was made available to the public. The article would point to a section on one aspect and complain about another. I had to reply back and tell them this and that before they forward on emails like that they should do some research.

I guess they didn't listen.

I got one today about oil in the USA but this one was nice, they included a link to the USGS (United States Geological Survey) article it was mentioning. One issue - the email claims that there is roughly 503 billion barrels of oil, enough to cut our dependency off of foreign oil for 41 years (and at $16 a barrel). One issue - the article it links states that there is 3 to 4.3 billion barrels of oil that is recoverable - this is enough to maybe cut our dependency for one year.

See a trend here? People are willing to read, believe, and then pass on anything and everything. If they're this ignorant then I have a bridge in Brooklyn and a statue in NJ I'd like to sell them - I'll give them a package deal.

Seriously? Have we become this wrapped up in our own little ignorant worlds that we believe everything we read in the internet? I guess so when stories like this are in the news:
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs...NEWS/803230338

I informed them I was the owner, but they refused to give the stuff back," Salisbury said. "They showed me the Craigslist printout and told me they had the right to do what they did."

Yes, it's posted on the internet so it is law. Try that one in court.

Maybe I could use this towards my advantage. I'll set up a site with Amazon.com links and search widgets and I'll send out mass emails telling people if they want to buy anything from Amazon.com order it though my site so it will be a "high priority" from them. (Seriously, I wonder if that would work (other than getting banned from Amazon)?)

Or, just send out a mass email with links to my parked pages (which would also get me banned?).

Seriously people, when you get something, read though it and do some research. Snopes.com is a great resource but sometimes you might have to dig a little deeper- like a quick Google search.

[Gerry]

Time magazine just recently named the past decade the worst in history.

I concur.

For all you mentioned above, didn't mention, and for all the actual and perceived threats (they start with the Y2K scare), it was a mess from the start.

As for your points above - reading is becoming a lost human trait. We don't read anymore; we scan. There is a massive disconnect between reading and reading comprehension.

Those that listen to or pay attention to one source are doing themselves a terrible injustice. You can not claim to make an informed decision when the information you have is one sided and slanted to someone else's opinion.

I have been and will be a huge advocate for getting the information from multiple sources.

Free your mind.

[draggar]

As for your points above - reading is becoming a lost human trait. We don't read anymore; we scan. There is a massive disconnect between reading and reading comprehension.

People do read - them sending out these emails and telling me about these things is proof enough. They just don't want to do any verification - THAT is the sad part and THAT is why the same BS keeps on happening no matter who lives and works in Washington.

[Gerry]

Yup, everyone insists YOU MUST choose sides.

You are either with us or you are against us.

Pick a side.

[fab]

I got one the other day complaining about the health care bill - it was nice to include page numbers, lines, section numbers, and so on but one issue - none of it matched up with the bill that was made available to the public. The article would point to a section on one aspect and complain about another. I had to reply back and tell them this and that before they forward on emails like that they should do some research.

Do you actually expect people to read 2000 page bills, written in legal-eaze.

Seriously? Have we become this wrapped up in our own little ignorant worlds that we believe everything we read in the internet?

This is nothing new. People believe whatever they want to.

[draggar]

Yup, everyone insists YOU MUST choose sides.

You are either with us or you are against us.

Pick a side.

I'm pro-truth. I don't care who it is about or who it came from.

Do you actually expect people to read 2000 page bills, written in legal-eaze.

Sadly, I think many of our politicians deliberately give these bills misleading titles and make them nearly impossible to read for the average Joe for this exact reason.

This is nothing new. People believe whatever they want to.

... and people wonder why the same thing happens every 2/4/6/8 years.

[fab]

... and people wonder why the same thing happens every 2/4/6/8 years.

It's called the pendulum theory. One side takes control, then you get sick of them and go the other way. I really wish politicians would be held personally responsible for the public debt they create.

Trivia Question: Who can vote themselves a pay raise, from other peoples money?

[HarveyJ]

EVERY time I get something like this, I check it on snopes.com and hoax-slayer.com
Those sites do research independent of each other. If they conclude the same thing about something, then you can generally believe what they're saying.

OF course, the lunatic fringe on both sides will say how they're left or right wing biased.
The irony is that if they're getting attacked by both sides for that, it actually means they're likely to be a genuinely neutral, non partisan source of information.

[DomainsInc]

Are you really surprised? Hell, people are still passing around emails saying if you don't forward this to x amount of people msn is going to shutdown hotmail, etc.

[draggar]

The irony is that if they're getting attacked by both sides for that, it actually means they're likely to be a genuinely neutral, non partisan source of information.

... and probably the closest to the truth.

Are you really surprised? Hell, people are still passing around emails saying if you don't forward this to x amount of people msn is going to shutdown hotmail, etc.

True, but at least those are obvious. Now I'm seeing people on Facebook joining groups promising them tons of money and points on games if they join and get all their friends to join - I guess that's a new twist on that.

[fab]

Hell, people are still passing around emails saying if you don't forward this to x amount of people msn is going to shutdown hotmail, etc.

ROFL, are people so gullible.

[Ed30]

Time magazine just recently named the past decade the worst in history.

I concur.

Worse than the First World War decade? Worse than the Second World War and Holocaust decade? I think not.

[jasdon11]

Worse than the First World War decade? Worse than the Second World War and Holocaust decade? I think not.

It's Time Magazine - they'll be discounting the rest of the world...