How Much Internet Information Do You Believe?

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
NOT, as in the news, but as in medical information, DIY-Repair information and other things?

I was told by our marine mechanic and the marine office manager, "don't believe everything you read online about boat repair or anything else about boats.

I was told by a master auto mechanic the exact same thing, but dealing with auto stuff.

When I told my wife's PCP that we looked on the Internet about something medical, even he told us the same thing, but about medical stuff.

Now, the thing is, a person can't always see their PCP for everything that happens to them, so they will go online for information. Same goes for auto info and other things. It costs money to have a vehicle checked out, see a PCP or whatever.

What do you think?

I do try to use the Internet for information, even though these professionals are somewhat-to-definitely against it.​
 

I do look things up, but don't necessarily believe everything I read. I think we should combine our eagerness to learn with a certain amount of watchful caution.

One thing I have found helpful is reading the "reviews" of various products I am thinking of buying online. When about a dozen different people have all said that the dress is made of very flimsy
fabric, runs very small so order a bigger size, etc., I tend to believe it. If only one person says that, I'm kind of skeptical.

For medical information, I'd be very leery, unless it is an official medical site like mayoclinic.org .
 
I've never believed everything I read online, or what I hear from people in real life, including doctors, mechanics, etc. But I do like to have access to information and use my common sense to make my own decisions on the subject.

As far as my health goes, I've always been open to hearing of alternatives to prescription drugs with their harmful side effects, and have used nutrition and supplementation after doing enough research to satisfy my needs. Always a benefit to get different points of view, in my opinion. As the sayings go: 'Take what you need and leave the rest', 'Take everything with a grain of salt'.
 

Sunny said:
I do look things up, but don't necessarily believe everything I read. I think we should combine our eagerness to learn with a certain amount of watchful caution.

One thing I have found helpful is reading the "reviews" of various products I am thinking of buying online. When about a dozen different people have all said that the dress is made of very flimsy
fabric, runs very small so order a bigger size, etc., I tend to believe it. If only one person says that, I'm kind of skeptical.

For medical information, I'd be very leery, unless it is an official medical site like mayoclinic.org .
Click to expand...

I was told to watch out on Reviews, in that there are reviews that people are paid to put on and other reviews are done by the company advertising the product and make it look like a person from the public put it on. So, that means that Reviews, just like information on the Net, can be misleading to untruthful all together.
 
It seems logical to me that a person selling information would try to discourage you from getting that same information for free on the internet.

When I look for information on the internet I generally check several sources and then decide for myself what is best for my situation
 
I agree. It all depends on the authority of the site.
Some information is very old, some are large generalizations, some does not pertain to you
or only true in some nations or states. Most of the time the information is too old to be relevant
and if the date is not stated, I'd be very very cautious. Google maps can be wrong, anything
could be wrong. The auto mechanic or another could be wrong.
 
"How Much Internet Information Do You Believe?"

100%

(don't believe me)

0%

(don't believe me)...

50% give or take depending on the source

(believe me)


 
I used to believe a lot more, but now take more with a grain of salt. I would still fall back on asking someone for the info I seek. The only stuff I truly believe in is when I watch cooking videos.
 
I have found the videos on UTube, and various repair parts sites to be a lot of help when I'm trying to fix something for the first time. Using this data has saved me a bundle, over the years, on appliance and auto repairs, etc. Insofar as health care is concerned, I Always go to sites like WebMD and Mayo Clinic to verify any symptoms I may be experiencing, and the information I receive from a doctor. Much of the "news" that appears on the Internet...political, financial, etc., is usually just the writer's "opinion", and should Not be taken at face value until multiple sources are checked.
 
The health information and selling of supplements I don't trust.

They create an artificial deficiency and unless you get tested for it you shouldn't just jump at any of them.

That's basically self medication.

You might be getting sufficient minerals and vitamins in your diet.
 
Don M. said:
I have found the videos on UTube, and various repair parts sites to be a lot of help when I'm trying to fix something for the first time. Using this data has saved me a bundle, over the years, on appliance and auto repairs, etc. Insofar as health care is concerned, I Always go to sites like WebMD and Mayo Clinic to verify any symptoms I may be experiencing, and the information I receive from a doctor. Much of the "news" that appears on the Internet...political, financial, etc., is usually just the writer's "opinion", and should Not be taken at face value until multiple sources are checked.
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Couldn't have wrote this better
 
If Google wants to know something, where do they search???
Click to expand...

Good question! I imagine Google has thousands of people busy researching their topics day and night, constantly changing their findings. They look at historical records, written opinions by experts, current news articles,
everything and anything. Probably they have editors examining all the findings and deciding which ones should provide their material, and which should be thrown out.
 
I enjoy the fact that I can easily and swiftly research any subject or issue I want more information about. Sometimes all I'm looking for is anecdotal info...I want to read others' experiences or opinions to get a first hand look at what I'm researching. Sometimes as others have mentioned I will focus on the reviews to get a better overview of the product I'm interested in. But I'm prudent about that...if there are only a few reviews I tend to not bother. There have to be enough to get a decent overview of the product, mindful that there will always be a few negative reviews amongst the positive because that's just human nature. ;)

I'm much more careful about medical matters when it comes to internet research. I take everything with a grain of salt to start out. Again, oftentimes all I want is anecdotal information....I first of all want to know that i'm not alone in the issue I'm having, and that my symptoms are similar to others' experiences. It also helps me determine the severity of the health problem and whether or not it's serious enough to actually go see the doctor which I try and avoid as much as I possibly can. I'm healthy and fit and don't take any medications and want to keep it that way for as long as possible!!!

And as other poster stated, Youtube tutorials are of enormous help, especially because I am a very visual person so actually SEEING something is of so much benefit to me, both to determine what to do as well as what not to!

I think back to the days before internet research and the tedium of having to go to the library to research anything I wanted information on, and am so so grateful that these days WHATEVER I want to know is just a couple of keystrokes away!!!
 
In the earlier years when it was referred to as the information super highway, I tended to believe a bit more....But since it has become the 'advertisers / sales' super highway.....not so much.
 
Camper6 said:
The health information and selling of supplements I don't trust.

They create an artificial deficiency and unless you get tested for it you shouldn't just jump at any of them.

That's basically self medication.

You might be getting sufficient minerals and vitamins in your diet.
Click to expand...

I always look for the hidden agenda. When it comes to supplements most of the time all you have to do is follow the money.
 
Sunny said:
Good question! I imagine Google has thousands of people busy researching their topics day and night, constantly changing their findings. They look at historical records, written opinions by experts, current news articles,
everything and anything. Probably they have editors examining all the findings and deciding which ones should provide their material, and which should be thrown out.
Click to expand...

You're joking, right?
 
.

Regardless of the quality, accuracy or political slant of the info you read on the internet...
just reading info via the internet changes your brain and damages long-term memory.
Read the book, "The Shallows."
 
KingsX said:
Regardless of the quality, accuracy or political slant of the info you read on the internet...
just reading info via the internet changes your brain and damages long-term memory.
Read the book, "The Shallows."
Click to expand...
Can you tell us why you think that? The Shallows is just a fictitious shark tale (some say it's true but apparently it's not). Can you tell us what you base your statement on on?
 
Lara said:
Can you tell us why you think that? The Shallows is just a fictitious shark tale (some say it's true but apparently it's not). Can you tell us what you base your statement on on?
Click to expand...


No, the bestseller book called "The Shallows" is NOT about sharks.

But I am not surprised that when doing a Google search, only the popular culture movie about sharks comes up.

Nicholas Carr's "The Shallows" is a serious scholarly book about how the format of internet pages [flashing ads, videos, embedded links in limited text, etc ] affects and alters brain function. It reduces the ability to concentrate, retain information and think critically. It impairs original creative thinking and long-term memory.

http://www.nicholascarr.com/?page_id=16
 
Ohhhhh...what a difference that makes! How unfortunate for the author to buried in the google lineup because of a another shark movie. I can understand what you're saying now...and what the author is getting at. Thank you Kingsx for clarifying that.
 
KingsX said:
No, the bestseller book called "The Shallows" is NOT about sharks.

But I am not surprised that when doing a Google search, only the popular culture movie about sharks comes up.

Nicholas Carr's "The Shallows" is a serious scholarly book about how the format of internet pages [flashing ads, videos, embedded links in limited text, etc ] affects and alters brain function. It reduces the ability to concentrate, retain information and think critically. It impairs original creative thinking and long-term memory.

http://www.nicholascarr.com/?page_id=16
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation. I just ordered the ebook from my library.
 

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