How can we know who we can trust?

In a world with so many loud and strident voices vying for our attention, who do we listen to? Who can we trust?

One thing I always try to keep in mind is that there isn't any unbiased reporting. Even if a person really was trying to represent both sides fairly, what they choose to say and how they say it will influence how others will perceive the situation or concept. People have to make "judgement calls" because there simply too much information to present, and their readers want to have that information organized and interpreted, so they can use it in their lives. 

What if people were taken out of the equation and only video cameras were used, (of course assuming that we had the time to watch it all); wouldn't that be completely objective? Well, no. People still choose what and when to record. They decide on the camera angles, the lighting, and other technical details which affect our perception of the event. Plus, what about all that isn't in view of the camera, or the events that precede, or occur after the recording? 

I just love those stories where you see a situation, then they go back and show you the same event from the point of view of each of the characters involved, sharing some of their motivations and feelings. I enjoy getting more of the "whole picture" and being surprised that things aren't really what I first thought they were. 

This is what I also like to do with information to help me get a more accurate  perception of what is really happening. I will read articles written by various people on the topic or event to help me see the different sides of the same situation. Of course this means that I must choose articles which have different biases or viewpoints. I've learned a lot from reading "for" and "against" arguments. 

It is not enough just to read articles which support different perceptions of the event and have different solutions to the problem, I have to make some "judgement calls" of my own. Spending my time reading a lot of sensationalized garbage is a waste of time. If a magazine or writer is known for writing fantasized "facts" such as claiming that only they have the "magic" cure to the conovid 19, then I stay clear of them. I do not consider them a reliable source of anything except for "truths" that are so absurd that they provide me with some good laughs. 

So how do I know who is reliable? 

• One thing I look at is reputation. If that journalist or organization has a good track record for fair reporting, I'll read what they have to say. 

• Also, I look at who has knowledge about a particular topic. If I'm researching something about cars, then I'll trust the comments of mechanics over that of a doctor. If I'm trying to learn about an ailment, then I'll value the doctor's statement over the mechanics.  

• I will also consider the motivation of the writer. If the article is written by the Democratic Party, rather than the Republican Party, then I will keep in mind what their goal in writing would be. If a report on insect pests is written by a prestigious university, I will value their information over the information I'm given by a pest control company. (I tried this once with cockroaches. A university said that it is impossible to completely eliminate this pest and recommended several no cost control measures, while the pest control company assured me that their spraying everywhere at two week intervals would completely "solve my problem".) The question I ask myself is what does this person have to gain by writing what they wrote. It they have a lot to gain, then I had better look very critically at their "facts".  

As I find information, I discuss it with my husband. Not only is my best friend but he has very different interests, a fantastic memory for dates and details, and different talents from mine. While I step back so I can see the whole picture and see future possible consequences, my husband steps forward to examine closely the logic and details and compare them to historical records of similar events. Discussing what you read with someone who has a different perspective of life from you can not only be fun, but it can be a great help in evaluating the truthfulness of what you read and in making informed decisions.

After all my research and evaluation of all I have found, my final test is to take my tentative decision to someone I trust implicitly-- the Lord. He has always been there to help me and even gave His life so that I could progress and grow. When I pray and feel that warm assurance that my decision is correct, I know I have finally found information I can trust.