Hello, sorry if this has been asked before, I searched the forum but no to avail. I was just curious as to how you answer all these questions, like where does your information come from, and how do you know its always a 100% legit? I have no doubts as you always support your claims/statements. I just find it impressive that someone can know so much.
We’re not one person here. We do have experts here in almost any topic you could imagine.
Some of the professions represented here that I can think of off the top of my head without thinking very hard (Hey, it’s 5:00 on Friday! The brain’s turned off now!):
Librarians, Power plant engineers, Chefs, Coin dealers, Cinematographers, Call center supervisors, Explosives experts, Physicians, Pilots, Information security experts, Auto mechanics, Lawyers, all sorts of computer programmers, network admins, database analysts, webmasters, etc. On and on…
Nobody’s information is 100% legitimate. Every encyclopedia has mistakes, intentional and otherwise, and every source of information is biased in directions it won’t tell you about. Here, the best you can do is look to see if there are citations to relevant and reliable sources. Out in the real world you often don’t even have that much.
There are some genuine savants on this board along with some plain very smart people. One thing that most of us have in common is that we are very curious and read a lot. That doesn’t mean that you memorize everything but it does help a great deal when someone asks a question that you have read about before and you want to find that information again whether it is on your bookshelf or on wikipedia. Knowing what information is correct or not requires research skills and that comes from experience and maybe college coursework. If you know how to cross-reference sources then you are generally safe in assuming that it is accurate. Expertise in a given field fills in most of the rest. This board is also peer moderated in a way and there are plenty of people ready to pounce if you post incorrect information especially if they are experts in that field.
I assume our guest is actually asking how Cecil knows all what he, er uh, knows.
The answers so far are relating to the posters on the Board. But the answers would hold equally true for the Master.
Moved from General Questions to About This Message Board
One of the things many people don’t realize is that finding and retrieving information (research, if you will) is a skill in its own right. I started my college career out in biochemistry and then shifted to accounting. Both degree programs had a class dedicated to how to conduct research.
Many of the smartest people around are the ones who remember how to find things, rather than remembering the things themselves. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a good memory and to spend your spare time reading on random topics just for the fun of it.
I have noticed my paleontological questions never get a thorough answer. the same for deep sea life. You wouldn’t happen to be an expert in one of these would you? I have a thread to reactivate for both.
Let me add…
Non-profit board member, recent Basic Math tutor for the GED program once held at the parent organization, recent editor-in-chief for a full-feature newsletter for a Rochester Rehabilitation program, “alumni” self-help drop-in center volunteer, “ditto” for a tenant board member of a self-run apartment community (partially initiated by said center), co-chair of the neighborhood block club during the same time-period, participant in multiple fundraising activities, current steering committee member of the local Bertrand Russell Society, current active participant of Flower City Philosophy…
***And that’s just me! **** 
(All of the above just covering the past ten years of a multi-decade life that has hardly been dull, in spite of several years wallowing in major depression…)
…and generally speaking, all-around professional wise-ass know-it-all who
never listens! 
And as far as any 100% legit ideal for information, what Derleth said.
- "Jack"
- Well, on one recent thread we were *encouraged * to brag!
I am Cecil-icus
(waits for everyone else to join in)
I am Neda.
Plus a few total dipshits
Finally, I get a mention!
Professional chess teacher too. ;)