If It's On the Internet ...
I have come to the conclusion that the instant availability of information has not necessarily made us any more well-informed or smarter. Much of what is presented to us on the internet is not true or accurate; it's just someone's opinion on a subject matter, and they are more than happy to share it to spread misinformation. Unfortunately, many people buy into it and continue to share with others.
How often have you heard someone say, "if it's on the internet then it must be true"? Do they really think there are truth police out there who check everything before it's posted and shared? The reality is anyone can write articles, blogs, etc. and put their own spin on a subject. Much of it may be fact, but there is also personal opinion woven in. Usually this is harmless, however at times it can be harmful if filled with lies.
Don't get me wrong, I know there is a wealth of accurate information available to us today. No matter what the subject is we can find answers to explain/teach us about what something is, where it originated, and how to use it in our life. We're fortunate to have this at our fingertips, but it's more information than any of us will ever look at. Makes me wonder how long did it take, and how many people, to input all the data that is available?
If you are having health issues you can just type in your symptoms and a plethora of diagnosis will come back. Of course, you need to be careful not to assume the worst from all the possible conditions and diseases that are returned. At times it seems this self-diagnosis can cause more harm than good; are we creating a world of hypochondriacs?
Many of us can remember the days when you had to look up information in encyclopedias or periodicals. If you were lucky you might have a set of World Book Encyclopedias at home to do your research; most had to take a trip to the local library to do so. Libraries were filled with research books, old newspaper articles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses and so much more. It taught us how to be resourceful and the art of researching a topic.
Although I am a lover of books, I am not suggesting we go back to having them as our only avenue for information. The internet is an amazing thing providing us with anything we need to know with a few clicks on the keyboard; it would be difficult to lose this capability. Just remember to use it wisely, be cautious, and take some of what you see with a grain of salt. Not everything can be trusted.
How often have you heard someone say, "if it's on the internet then it must be true"? Do they really think there are truth police out there who check everything before it's posted and shared? The reality is anyone can write articles, blogs, etc. and put their own spin on a subject. Much of it may be fact, but there is also personal opinion woven in. Usually this is harmless, however at times it can be harmful if filled with lies.
Don't get me wrong, I know there is a wealth of accurate information available to us today. No matter what the subject is we can find answers to explain/teach us about what something is, where it originated, and how to use it in our life. We're fortunate to have this at our fingertips, but it's more information than any of us will ever look at. Makes me wonder how long did it take, and how many people, to input all the data that is available?
If you are having health issues you can just type in your symptoms and a plethora of diagnosis will come back. Of course, you need to be careful not to assume the worst from all the possible conditions and diseases that are returned. At times it seems this self-diagnosis can cause more harm than good; are we creating a world of hypochondriacs?
Many of us can remember the days when you had to look up information in encyclopedias or periodicals. If you were lucky you might have a set of World Book Encyclopedias at home to do your research; most had to take a trip to the local library to do so. Libraries were filled with research books, old newspaper articles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses and so much more. It taught us how to be resourceful and the art of researching a topic.
Although I am a lover of books, I am not suggesting we go back to having them as our only avenue for information. The internet is an amazing thing providing us with anything we need to know with a few clicks on the keyboard; it would be difficult to lose this capability. Just remember to use it wisely, be cautious, and take some of what you see with a grain of salt. Not everything can be trusted.
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