What makes a good cite?

[Ike Witt]

The nature of these boards leads to people making various claims of “fact”. Often the “fact” is challenged, and a cite or a source is requested. This is good to a point, but what happens when there are different claims of truth for the same “fact”? For example, A says that the percentage of homosexuals in the population is 1%, B says the percentage is 10% and C says it is 6%. A sharp poster notices the marked difference and asks A, B, and C to support their claims. A posts a link to a university study that supports his claim. B cites the Kinsey Report, and C refers to GLAAD.

So, the three posters have shown that they are not talking out of the sides of their mouths, but is anything settled? Does one cite hold sway over the others? Obviously, citing something that you just posted on your home page would be looked at with suspicion, but what about when there is valid support for each claim?


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If I was discussing Lucy Lawless but I wrote Lucy Topless, would that be a Freudian typo?

[DrFidelius]

Imply that your opponent's sources are biased.

Attack your opponent's sources while avoiding citing your own.

Post links to sources that have only tangental relevance to the discussion.

Claim your source has greater authority.

Use a pseudonym on the board in case you have to cite yourself.

Whine.

[APB9999]

Hey Dr.F! You've obviously been to grad school!

[Scylla]

A good cite is one that supports my contentions.

All others are by defintion false, or taken out of context.

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My ideas are currently being studied by experts at Cambridge... ...SO THERE!!!

[Triskadecamus]

A cite in an open debate, such as these forums is usually a link to a site where the participants can read material from other individuals not part of the debate. It doesn't take long to learn that you can find an idiot on the net even faster than in a University. So, the trick is not what the information is, but who the informant is.

Ask yourself a few questions about the web site: Is this site maintained by more than one person? Do the participants on the site have a financial interest that is better served if the information leads to some particular conclusion? Are the facts claimed on this site also referenced to other verifiable sources? Have you ever heard of anyone that is mentioned as a reliable authority, and if so, do you consider them reliable?

After reading the referenced material, investigate the authors in a separate location. Search the web for the author's name mentioned by others. See what they say about the author, and the subject. If the subject is something you can actually test by observation, do so. There is no reason to appeal to authority when experience is available. When you do find an impartial, and authoritative source, bookmark it. You can use it again, in related matters, with more confidence.

<P ALIGN="CENTER">Tris</P>
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The speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792,458 meters per second.