week3-- Is Reliable Information Always True? --WU WENHAO

 

WU WENHAO,2021080464 

Summary

  When evaluating information, we often confuse "reliable" with "neutral" or "true." However, a reliable source is not necessarily neutral or entirely objective. Wikipedia clearly states that its editorial principle is “verifiability, not truth.” This means that as long as the information is supported by a clear source and evidence, it can be considered “reliable”—even if it carries a certain bias or perspective. On issues involving values, beliefs, or political stances, there is often no single “truth,” but rather multiple viewpoints and interpretations.

Interesting Discovery

  I found that even sources considered “reliable” can present the same event in very different ways. For example, conservative and liberal news outlets often report on political events or conflicts with clear differences in tone and perspective. This made me realize that “reliability” is more about having verifiable and transparent sources than about being unquestionably “correct.” Wikipedia, when covering such topics, often includes differing perspectives from multiple authoritative sources and clearly labels their positions, reflecting the complexity and diversity of the issue. For example, in the Wikipedia article on "Hamas," the section titled "Terrorist designation" presents differing views from multiple authoritative sources on whether Hamas is considered a terrorist organization.

 Discussion Questions

  Are we idealizing the idea that reliable sources are always “neutral” or “true”? When a source is well-cited and transparent but clearly opinionated, how should we assess it? On topics like religion, historical interpretation, or political systems—where absolute truth is hard to define—how can we find balance among competing viewpoints?

Comments

  1. ljhwaMarch 22, 2025 at 2:12 AM

    I think the only way to strike a balance between conflicting views is to encounter both opinions in the end. In this field, Wikipedia is thought to be playing a sufficiently appropriate role for the purpose of establishment. However, malicious and intentional editing and revision by the other party should be properly prevented.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 권현지June 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM

    It is difficult to be neutral in areas where there are no clearly defined facts, such as religion, historical interpretation, and political system. Therefore, I think various opinions should be presented on this topic. This is because these topics allow people to see the fact more clearly through people's various opinions than through only one point of view.

    ReplyDelete

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