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You Are What You Read:
How To Get And Give The Whole Story

A college professor of mine once stated emphatically during a lecture that, “I am only as good as what I read.”  That simple sentence has stuck with me.  We are only as good as what we read.  We read books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, message boards, and articles.  And what is the first thing we do when we read something shocking, interesting, and important?  We tell someone.  Often, we tell someone as though we know it for absolute certainty.  If the anecdote is notable enough, the person who heard it from us will tell someone else.  The cycle could go on ad infinitum.  But what if the item we shared is misleading, mistaken, or totally wrong?  Do we want to start a shadowy web of truth?  I say no.  And that is why I have created a plan that I use to make sure that I get and give the whole story.

First, of course, is simply to read as much and as often as humanly possible.  Nothing is more important than being informed of what is happening in the world.  So be well-rounded.  Know something about political news, foreign news, economic news, local news, health news, sports news, and entertainment news.  No one wants to be stuck at a party without anything to talk about.  Being able to fall back on the interesting story from the morning paper is priceless. 

Second, it is inevitable that something interesting will jump of the page, or screen as the case may be.  That something will undoubtedly have some effect or impact on how one feels about a subject.  It is automatic that those items will be incorporated into who we are, how we feel, and what we say and do.  But we must use caution.  Some things are important enough that we owe it to ourselves more than anything to ensure that we know all of the pertinent facts.  For example, one would not want to read an article stating that a certain type of car is the safest on the road and promptly buy that car for a teenage daughter only to find out that the study was done by the manufacturer of the car when in reality the car has the highest rollover rating possible.  Another example would occur during a presidential election.  It makes more sense to see a political advertisement, filled with accusations and statements, and then pick up a newspaper to find out if the facts are true than simply to take a political advertisement at its word.

The third step of the plan is in direct continuation.  It is hugely important to verify the most important pieces of what we read.  The first thing to remember is that one person will not see a particular story or issue the same as another and that it will be reported differently in many different places.  This is especially true with regard to the first example of car reviews.  Remember that everyone has a point and a purpose when they write something.  That point may not always be in the best interest of the reader.  Biases are unavoidable in communication.  But we can avoid letting the biases of others take over and control our lives.

The way that we can make sure that this does not happen is the fourth step in the plan.  It is simple.  Consult more than one source.  A good rule of thumb is that if one can find the information in five places, it is probably true.  If it seems like five sources is too many for something simpler, consider researching the source of the information.  With regard to news, does the magazine or newspaper lean conservative or does it lean liberal?  With regard to product information, is the source the producer of the company or a consumer affairs and protection group?  With regard to health issues, is the information coming from a pharmaceutical company or the Food and Drug Administration?  It should be generally clear after even a little research where the truth lies.

It is essential that we know what we are talking about.  We need to be well-rounded and able to hold a conversation with no hesitation, even if we are not precisely sure what the topic is.  No one wants to behind the times.  We would much rather be up on current events.  And that is a very easy thing to do.  All one needs to do is read.  Read anything that is available.  Topics are bound to double up so more research might not even be necessary.  If we are what we eat, we are what we read as well.  It is a painless and we are better off if we get and give the whole story. 

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