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Snopes and politics

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by NaasPreacher (C4K), Aug 12, 2012.

  1. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    It has become the practice here to just dismiss Snopes and other fact check sites as liberal and biased and so discount them in a debate. That often now is taken as the way to end debate and shut up those who disagree with allegations and charges. A common pejorative is that only 'lefties' give any credence to Snopes. Of course there is nothing worse than a lefty.

    'Don't give me a Snopes response because they love liberals and hate Jesus.' (Not an exact quote, but it gives the sense of the argument)

    Is there documented evidence that Snopes lies in their political fact checking?

    Or is that charge based on personal bias?
     
    #1 NaasPreacher (C4K), Aug 12, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 12, 2012
  2. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    You pretty well know my political stances, no use for the left, liberal tendencies of the Democrats, and not much more use for the establishment Republicans like Mitch McConnell who have turned the party into a thirty year progression from conservative to a string of milquetoast candidates that have no idea of how to lead this nation, but are only interested in power. The only two questions I ask are, do they want to serve this nation by the Constitution, and do they have a minimal standard of morality according to Scripture? In the present situation, those questions do not apply, it becomes who can do the less damage.

    With that said, I see no evidence Snopes lies or has a liberal bias. They have been pretty much accurate, and people from both sides have zapped me with their standards in the past. Until I see examples otherwise, I consider them a fairly reliable source. For what it is worth, I also do not consider you a liberal person. To me, you stike me as almost a person outside the Democrat-Republican box, willing to point out the hypocracy in either side, or point out the good elements in either side. Sometimes, like now, it in essence is neither side. I do think those supporting Republicans tend to get more irritated at your balanced look at things than those on the left. Anyway, I like your way of thinking.
     
  3. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    I don't know of any documented evidence that Snopes lies. They cite references for any one to look up and test their bias. I've found them to be pretty solid in their findings.

    The reason people object to Snopes is because they debunk the hundreds of wacko anti-Obama emails that circulate amongst the right wing-nuts.
     
  4. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    Regardless of what they are why should anyone find them credible? Who are they? I personally do not know how they votes on politicians or issues. What makes them the standard for truth and error? They are just a private couple who took it upon themselves to be fact checkers for everyone else.

    Having said that being a lefty is not a good thing.
     
  5. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    But have they been proven wrong? Has it been proven that they lie? Has it been proven that they are pro-Obama?
     
  6. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    I don't know as I have never seen anyone make those claims. As far as being wrong I believe the bigger question is have they been proven right? I have never seen that either.
     
  7. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    A regular poster here has recently posted that they are known Obama supporters and are biased against the right and against Christians.
     
  8. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    My own experience with Snopes tells me they are unreliable and sometimes just flat wrong.

    There is danger in believing any person is the final arbiter of the truth. All people are biased in one way or another about something.

    You're much better off doing your own checking.

    I will read snopes, but not accept every conclusion they come to as correct.
     
  9. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    So this was one single poster? Really?
     
  10. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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  11. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
     
  12. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Well said! Worth :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
     
  13. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    That poster suggested (strongly) that a separate thread on Snopes - so here it is.

    I am just giving that poster a chance to clarify his/her position on why Snopes is so summarily dismissed.

    Here is thread where the topic came up. All I am asking for is proof that the couple who run Snopes are 'Obama shills.'

    http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=80668
     
    #13 NaasPreacher (C4K), Aug 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2012
  14. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Of course, but at least there is a convenient place to start your research.

    BTW, I would be interesting to know when you found them wrong in political stories since that is the them of this thread.
     
    #14 NaasPreacher (C4K), Aug 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2012
  15. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    I've never found them to be wrong. They cite sources, and I check those sources. I've not found them to be biased, just seekers of truth.

    Yes, people are biased. But that doesn't mean that they can't set aside their bias for fair reporting or research.

    Now, if you have some examples of where they have been found wrong and then still stuck to their original statements, then I would gladly change my mind about them and agree with you.

    Finally, no, they should not be the "final arbiter of truth", but it's a great place to start, especially since they cite other sources that you can check out on your own.
     
  16. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Good words Sapper!
     
  17. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    They are considered to be both objective and accurate in their considerations of many "urban legends."

    One of the reasons that Snopes is considered useful is that they are crowd sourced and allow for conversation about their answers. Thus if one has a legitimate question you can get your answer and have it checked by a variety of people.

    The reality is that a lot of people simply don't like the answers they get. Thus they feel like there must be a bias (I've heard from some "liberal" friends they have a conservative bias) against your position. It's pretty commonplace among unreflective folks.
     
  18. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Ironically, the 'proof' that the people that run Snopes are Obama shills was another one of those right wing-nut emails that get sent around and forwarded ad infinitum.

    As I have said and Sapper Woody has said, the Snopes website lists the sources for their research so anyone can check it out on their own.

    BUT....

    If I may give a preemptive reason why this would be invalid here it is:

    <ahem>

    The mainstream media is run by leftists and they are all LIARS! They will falsify stories and run half-truths to bolster and burnish Obama's image and standing in the world. Just because Snopes quotes FALSE LEFTIST STORIES in the mainstream media does not make them true! They're all in cahoots together. Really, you should read Drudge and Fox News to get the real story. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  19. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Saw a quote today that sort of reminded me of this situation:


    At some point you have to stop blaming the liberal establishment for all the crappy stuff that dominates popular Christianity. When Ken Ham is your scientist, David Barton is your historian, and Bill Gothard is your pastor of spiritual formation the problem isn’t the liberal academic establishment, it’s you.
    - Francis Beckwith

    If the shoe fits...
     
  20. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    So you want to attack anyone who does not agree with you. Hmmm
     
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