# References for the SDSAB **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 21, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761 "2000-12-21T21:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![onigame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@onigame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onigame)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/1 "2000-12-21T21:27:45Z")
In “Was George Washington not the first U.S. president?” ( [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mprez1st.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mprez1st.html) ) CKDextHavn cites Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader as a source. While I don’t dispute this particular answer, I’ve found that while Uncle John’s many books provide for entertaining reading, I’ve also found many a factual error in them, not to mention the “touting urban legend as true story” syndrome I’ve found in so many books of this type. I should hope that the SDSAB uses some, uh, more authoritative references to back their claims up, or at least give multiple independent sources… ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/2 "2000-12-22T07:30:36Z")
I, myself, rely almost totally on Google searches. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/3 "2000-12-22T15:08:27Z")
Yes, it happens that on this one Uncle John was correct, and the cite was somewhat tongue in cheek. The fact is that the information was available from almost any encyclopedia or in-depth history book of the era, and I just got a perverse kick out of citing an otherwise dubious source. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/4 "2000-12-23T06:29:42Z")
And me, I just make shit up. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2000, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/5 "2000-12-24T22:49:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JillGat \* > \*\*And me, I just make shit up. \*\* But provide a made-up cite as well, of course. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/6 "2000-12-29T00:41:03Z")
_Proceedings of the British Colonial Shipping Board_ ? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/7 "2000-12-29T01:31:03Z")
I only use _Skeptical Inquirer_, just to piss off True Believers and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2000, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/references-for-the-sdsab/46761/8 "2000-12-29T16:40:00Z")
I just listen to whichever voice in my head happens to be the loudest at that particular time. :_twitch_: