http://www.spencerbarron.com/2007/01/dont-take-their-word-for-it/ Rants, Raves & Real Estate Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:32:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.spencerbarron.com/2007/01/dont-take-their-word-for-it/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Spencer Barron Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:17:50 +0000 http://www.spencerbarron.com/archives/59#comment-162 You're moving to Kansas? wow. I do think people blindly accept information from the internet as fact. I think their acceptance has more to do with the graphical appearance and general popularity of the site rather than any sort of analysis of the source or subject matter. At the top of my list of how to verify something from the web: 1. Corroborate the material. Who else is referencing it. 2. What's the motive of the publisher. Every article has editorial qualities to it. What does the author gain by publishing his 'truth'. 3. What does the author believe on the subject and how does that differ from the crowd? 4. Is the author the creator of the information or a collator of said information. 5. Is the site an interpretation of data or actual data. I took a look at that search and was surprised that it doesn't make a claim as to the source of their information. They differ it to an estimation based of their "trend assessment technology". I really would prefer a source. Census data, a phone book, google, or if they actually collated the data themselves, maybe they could say that. It's a good looking site but doesn't seem to convey any relevant information in a manner that is actually useful to a consumer. I'm following it though, it's still in Beta testing. You’re moving to Kansas? wow.
I do think people blindly accept information from the internet as fact. I think their acceptance has more to do with the graphical appearance and general popularity of the site rather than any sort of analysis of the source or subject matter.
At the top of my list of how to verify something from the web:
1. Corroborate the material. Who else is referencing it.
2. What’s the motive of the publisher. Every article has editorial qualities to it. What does the author gain by publishing his ‘truth’.
3. What does the author believe on the subject and how does that differ from the crowd?
4. Is the author the creator of the information or a collator of said information.
5. Is the site an interpretation of data or actual data.
I took a look at that search and was surprised that it doesn’t make a claim as to the source of their information. They differ it to an estimation based of their “trend assessment technology”. I really would prefer a source. Census data, a phone book, google, or if they actually collated the data themselves, maybe they could say that.
It’s a good looking site but doesn’t seem to convey any relevant information in a manner that is actually useful to a consumer. I’m following it though, it’s still in Beta testing.

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