Snopes has been discussed on another thread but it was buried at the end. I thought I'd post a stand alone thread on the subject for those who use or are curious about Snopes.

If you use Snopes have you ever found an error on the their web site? If so would you post a link? Many people swear by Snopes and others doubt it's credibility. If you are unfamiliar with Snopes it is an Urban Legend fact checking website. WWW.Snopes.com I use it almost daily as I've become the clearing house for my Left and Right friends. That's why I'm so interested in the site's credibility. In the years I've used their web site I've never found an error. But, if you have please post it or comment in general about the site.

Tim

How do you know if you find an error? The fact that you're using the site to see if something is true means you don't know the truth, therefore you wouldn't know if the site was wrong...seems like a vicious cycle to me.

I'm assuming that if you found an error it would be because you found other information that disagreed with Snopes' findings and verified that the other source was correct. I know many people who, if they don't find the answer they were looking for on Snopes, will look at many other sources for the answer they are looking for. Snopes provides sources for their determination. Perhaps someone has found that a source did not actually confirm Snopes' conclusion. With the hundreds of thousands of users who have used Snopes you would think someone would have found an error if one existed.

Tim

Internet forwards and Snopes have one thing in common. A ratio of about 99 to one. Snopes is right about 99% of the time, and forwards are wrong about 99% of the time.

But seriously, anyone who posts internet forwards as the truth, then is concerned that Snopes isn't perfect, has a serious problem.

---

To the pure, all things are pure...

'63 MGB
'68 MGBGT
'80 VW Vanagon Kombi
'09 Mazda 3 with 5 speed manual




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2012 05:40PM by Rod H..

Another fact check site that focus on political claims is

http://www.factcheck.org/

A quick look at their home page reveals they take on both parties.

Many claims made by politicians can be easily verified or debunked. He once said. . .,She voted for. . ., he previously supported. . ., etc.

I think most politicians hate "permanent record" today's technology provides



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2012 11:13AM by taskadog.

When it comes to fact checking there are a few different categories:

Claimed Neutral:

Snopes.com
Truthorfiction.com
Factcheck.org
Politifact.org

All four of these sites claim to be neutral; conservatives claim all four have a distinct liberal bias.

Claimed Neutral… but:

Accuracy in Media
http://www.aim.org/

Their mission statement reads: “… to promote accuracy, fairness and balance in news reporting. and hold the mainstream press accountable for its misreporting.”

However when you go to their “Who we are” page the Chairman’s’ bio says that he oversees American Journalism Center which is an intern training program for conservative student journalists and that his blog is frequently re-published by influential conservative web sites.


Announced Bias:

Media Matters
Mediamatters.org
Mission statement reads in part: “…dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.”


Media Research Center
MRC.org
Mission statement reads in part: “…holding the liberal media accountable for shamelessly advancing a left-wing agenda, distorting the truth, and vilifying the conservative movement.”


Other:

Stephen Colbert often says "reality has a well known liberal bias." Sites like conservativefactcheck.com seem to prove him correct.

Conservative Fact Check
http://conservativefactcheck.com/content/articles/13

Seriously… read this explanation of job growth!

Job Growth by Decade.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2012 12:34PM by Steve64B.

Seriously...Ha,,,that is funny!!!

Mediamatters.org
Media Matters
Stephen Colbert!!!

No wonder your so easily duped...
Should I print a list of lies from Liar in Chief???

No, I will abide by the rules, unlike you.

Don, rather than just posting a negative comment about something someone else has posted how about posting your findings about the lack of credibility on the part of the sites you mentioned? It appears from your post that you have first hand knowledge of inaccuracies on those sites. Please post a few example of inaccurate or false information those suites have posted. I'm not asking for any politicians statements just inaccuracies or mistakes you may know about that the sites you mentioned have made. I'm not being sarcastic. I really would like to have you confirm and verify that those site have made errors. I think it would help everyone better asses those sites they may rely on for factual information.
Thanks

Tim

Why… it’s DonnieSFB doing a drive by!

Maybe the reason you’re duped is because you fail to read! Media Matters included in the section marked as having an Announced Bias: Should I have made that a little more clear?

We all know why you hate Stephen Colbert… it hurts doesn’t it?

You’ve printed your list of lies before… and a little fact checking proved that everything you post is a lie.

BTW: Love the new Avatar, it’s just so… you.

I have no idea what Snopes is,

But maybe someone can check this one out, Is it true or False.

AN ACTUAL CRAIG'S LIST PERSONALS AD
To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last.
Date: 2010-09-27, 1:43 am. E.S.T.
I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.
First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket.. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. my girlfriend was happy that I just returned safely from my 2nd tour as a Combat Marine in Afghanistan .. She had just bought me that Kimber Custom Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head ... isn't it?!
I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with crap in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].
After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, -- on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 153 gallons and was extremely grateful!
I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!]
I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb ..... after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car.
Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.
The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).
;In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you ... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to pursue in life.. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day!
Thoughtfully yours, Semper Fi,
Alex

Peter... my guess is that this too is Legend!

Peter.....

http://www.snopes.com/crime/justice/mugger.asp

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Seems that Snopes may only report that which it can debunk. A search to verify whether "3 million miles on the odometer" was factual failed to find anything on Snopes.
I'll accept the Guinness Book of Records as validation then.

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Chris Howells

1968 MGB Purchased already dis-assembled which is why I'm often ignorant about what some parts are, and even more ignorant of where they go.

Snopes only checks information sent in by their readers, and then only of there are many requests or the inquiry would be of interest to the general public at large. If you want to check the validity of the 3 million mile car go to the Snopes web site and ask them to do so. The fact that they don't look at every news item, posted everywhere in the world hardly suggests that they only post items they can debunk. They do have an "undetermined" category that they publish when they can not prove or disapprove an item's truthfulness.

Tim

41 categories on the home page menu. I clicked automobiles, because this is a car site, and was presented with 14 sub-categories of content. I clicked I Fought the Law and was presented with 26 myths which were a mixture of True, Legend and False.

The 3 million miles story is different than the myths. First theres a name attached, not just "a man in upstate New York"

There are specifics and a witness, his mechanics, who is also named.

Possible, sure. Plausible, 3 million in 46 years, 65k a year, driving 250 miles a day 5 days a week every week of each of those years you could rack that up... But he worked as a teacher for at least half those 46 years? At 65MPH 250 miles takes about 4 hours. The numbers are on the edge of disbelief, but it might explain why he's divorced?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2012 04:51AM by Steve64B.

Read the very bottom line!

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/heritage/events_community/overview/feature/id-689a3e9630b9d210VgnVCM2000007d184335____/pdf-highmileageaward

Close?

I love it...

Because snopes.com is all about rumors, it was only a matter of time before rumors began to circulate about it and its operators, such as the following:

Snopes receives funding from an undisclosed source. The source is undisclosed because Snopes refuses to disclose that source. The Democratic Alliance, a funding channel for uber-Leftist (Marxist) Billionaires (George Soros etc.), direct funds to an "Internet Propaganda Arm" pushing these views. The Democratic Alliance has been reported to instruct Fundees to not disclose their funding source.

The snopes.com web site is (and always has been) a completely independent, self-sufficient entity wholly owned by its operators, Barbara and David Mikkelson, and funded through advertising revenues. Neither the site nor its operators has ever received monies from (or been engaged in any business or editorial relationship with), any sponsor, investor, partner, political party, religious group, business organization, government agency, or any other outside group or organization.

It appears there are paranoid and suspicious people everywhere, not just here:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/internet/a/snopes_exposed.htm

George Soros is the source of all evil according to the right wing nuts of this world. If he had 1/4 of the power they claim he has this would be the United States of Soros.

Tim