Do We Research TOO much ???

Absolutely. They over research and over think. They rely on info that at best is historical and changing very quickly. Players/parents rant because they had a bad experience and others because they had a good one. Basing a decision on others opinions is always dangerous. Also basing on BB is also risky. Each coach while they are there see every player differently. So called informed decisions are risky at best.

i must be an unknown, when i google me nothing comes up. maybe i'm the victom of identity theft.

seariously, i try and find stuff that's varifiable when i search, even then you don't know.
your right tr people can take things and go with it, never knowing if it's the truth or not.

The internet has made many bloggers and posters legends in their own mind. A fault in human behavior is that people seem to think that when they read something or hear something in a conversation they become an expert on the subject, when in reality many times it is just babbling blither. It reminds me of the game "post office"

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20dad quote:
i must be an unknown, when i google me nothing comes up. maybe i'm the victom of identity theft.

I'm here for ya 20dad. I'll get a blog going and claim you are the "stud muffin" of the Northeast, extremely wealthy philanthropist who shares his wealth at the drop of a hat.

My friend, you will no longer be lonely, and there's no need to thank me.

No. I think we should research MORE. The "head in the sand" or the "lemming" approach is much more dangerous. The people in our country choose to be ignorant or informed. I was amazed at the people on the street that voted for the president that thought John McCain was the Vice President. One doesn't have to go to the library of congress to get that information. The internet news articles would suffice. I think we become much more informed by gathering different "opinions". Many scientific gains have be made because of theory. Law is based on opinions and interpretations ---- medicine is based on opinions. I have heard "expert" opinion for the defense and the prosecution differ 180 degrees. I have also resolved medical problems with second and third opinions that disagreed with the original opinion. I think we should educate ourselves to where we can decide for ourselves what's in our best interest. Yes we should ALWAYS consider the source. Yes we should look at their track record --- if they have one and act accordingly. Do we take too much for "gospel"? Even "gospel" can be debated. How many different opinions can one get for the true meaning of "gospel". No matter how much we try we can still be led down the wrong path. History is full of examples of where many people and societies have been led to destruction by those they KNEW were qualified.

The HSBBW is a great example of where differing opinions come together and the reader should emerge more informed. Occasionally there will be someone step forward that "demands" the readership accept their opinion but again I think the vast majority of readers have the ability to evaluate opinions and are not "forced" to accept anything as what you and I might call "gospel".
Good topic TR.
Fungo

Fungo,

My thoughts exactly.

.

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Originally posted by TRhit:
Be careful my friends in what you accept from the internet--even on forums some can talk a great game with no substantial background

I dunno' TR...it looks pretty substantial to me!

Research is fine. But validate the information.

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No. I think we should research MORE. The "head in the sand" or the "lemming" approach is much more dangerous. The people in our country choose to be ignorant or informed.

Good point Fungo, and RJM qualified that with the point on validation. What is scary, is the "netter" whos assumptions pollute the minds of those who want facts and not unsubstantuated "I know of" statements. We can say those people should do their homework, but in essence they are are by reading and listening to the half truths.

The old phrase "consider the source" comes to mind.

The more research the better.IMO

The more research done, the more one can figure out what is most likely true and what is most likely false. Just reading what one person has to say, is not researching the subject. Without lots of research there are certain things you can't possibly know for sure?

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Originally posted by puma1:
The old phrase "consider the source" comes to mind.

The only problem is that with so many folks out there providing information that it's hard to identify the source and many people looking for info will take the word of everyone because they don't know the right answer or where to look.

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I'm here for ya 20dad. I'll get a blog going and claim you are the "stud muffin" of the Northeast, extremely wealthy philanthropist who shares his wealth at the drop of a hat.

i knew i coulda been somebody. kinda like a barroom,you can be who ever you want.
but there is a good chance i'm not even the stud muffin of my house. not as long as the dogs around. i do have enough money to last me the rest of my life........if the world ends before the mail (bills) comes. that is the reason i don't wear a hat. but the rest is true.........i think.

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Originally posted by 20dad:
i must be an unknown, when i google me nothing comes up. maybe i'm the victom of identity theft.

I didn't recognize you with your glasses on 20dad...

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What is scary, is the "netter" whos assumptions pollute the minds of those who want facts and not unsubstantuated "I know of" statements. We can say those people should do their homework, but in essence they are are by reading and listening to the half truths.

rz1, I don't disagree because I know this happens. They are listening to options --- some good, some bad (by our standards). But are "those people" that much different than you and I? I have a lot in common with "those" people than are being inundated with half truths. In my opinion I have the ability to sort through those things and make choices. THEY too have to make their choices. I don't like it when someone comes in and dictates what I must read or what I need to listen to in order to be better informed (in their eyes). The Fairness Doctrine is a good example of this. I say let all the people hear all the opinions and allow them to chose. It's not just the netters that distributes half truths. TV, newspapers, politicians and preachers do the very same thing. Validation can be difficult if not impossible.
Pretty easy to validate the reverend Jeremiah Wright because was the pastor of a 8,000 plus member church, he attended Virginia Union University, he earned his bachelor's and masters from Howard University, he received a masters from U of Chicago Divinity School and then a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton. Pretty impressive! Yet when he says "God Da** America!" should my common sense take over and say discard the idiot --- or do I validate him?

Good research is hard-work and time intensive. The internet is a wonderful tool for initial research, but one must go much deeper if they are serious about a question or an issue. For example, take baseball scouting. No serious scout would dare rate a potential prospect based upon what they found on the internet--no matter how detailed it was. Recently, I heard an Atlanta Braves' scout talk about how he researched the potential interest of a prospect who was also an excellent football player. Not only did the scout go to the young man's home, but he asked the young man to show him his bedroom, as well. The scout noticed that while there were lots of football posters and memorabilia, there was nothing baseball-related on the walls. Sure enough, the prospect ultimately chose football over baseball. Similarly, I have heard scouts say that when they go to a prospects' game, they will talk to the moms and students at the game and innocently ask them what they think about the prospect. Multiple sources also are a must---that's why baseball teams have crosscheckers. TRhit's and Bobblehead's points about the dangers of relying upon anonymous blog postings are especially pertinent. A good researcher always knows the source of the information he is relying upon. Students and their parents should keep these points in mind when researching colleges and making their final decisions. Go to the school, talk to students there, and read as much as you can in multiple sources. After the tour, walk around on your own. Visualize yourself at the school. How do you feel? Can you see yourself there for four years? Is this a school you would love attending putting aside baseball? Take notes and compare them to notes from your other visits. When you have done a thorough research job, make your decision based on what is best for you--not what someone else thinks might be best.

TR- funny you should mention this. Just today my husband and I were talking about baseball and I mentioned reading some things here. He knows I read this site all the time and I have learned alot through the years, some good, some bad. We both agreed that sometimes you can know too much (ie the politics).

Anytime you are researching anything it's best to use multiple sources. Specific to this site, you'll get many different answers about the same question. You always have to consider the source because their version of the "truth" has been formed by their experiences.

Whenever I read professional publications for my profession it's important to understand WHO wrote the study and perhaps if they have a vested interest in only representing one side of an issue.

I think there are many "experts" on this site and for that reason it is a great place to research high school and college baseball. That's one reason I appreciate the lively discussions that go on around here.

I had the urge for some cheesy potato soup the other day but didn't have a recipe. I went to the internet and found one. I validated it tonight! Good!

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Originally posted by Fungo:
I had the urge for some cheesy potato soup the other day but didn't have a recipe. I went to the internet and found one. I validated it tonight! Good!

I often use the internet for recipes, and I actually "research" sometimes for the quickest and easiest one.

Google is IMO one of the greatest tools ever invented. You type something in and you can get no match found or 358 matches found. It's up to that individual to do research. Better than those old encyclopedias (does anyone still use them).

The concept of message boards and blogs is just another form of communication and the discussions on most boards raise questions to make one think.

There are actually some people that have all the proof in front of them and still form their own opinions. Good example, the holocaust.

Anyone going to a message board or blog does so knowing it is made up of opinions. You sift through the info and then form your own opinions based upon your beliefs and your experience. It's up to you to beleive what you want, just like those that believe the holocaust never happened.

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Originally posted by Fungo:
I had the urge for some cheesy potato soup the other day but didn't have a recipe. I went to the internet and found one. I validated it tonight! Good!

But I'll bet you are a good judge of cheesy potato soup .

I had the "hankerin" for some some French Onion around Xmas and a message board poster claimed to be an expert. She wasn't, and I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. It was a good thing that the soup issue was not that big of a deal.

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Anyone going to a message board or blog does so knowing it is made up of opinions. You sift through the info and then form your own opinions based upon your beliefs and your experience. It's up to you to beleive what you want, just like those that believe the holocaust never happened.

Great example.

I have often said if I'd had the internet, a fourwheeler and a camera when I was a kid there's no telling what I would have learned and places I would have explored.

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For example, take baseball scouting. No serious scout would dare rate a potential prospect based upon what they found on the internet--no matter how detailed it was. Recently, I heard an Atlanta Braves' scout talk about how he researched the potential interest of a prospect who was also an excellent football player. Not only did the scout go to the young man's home, but he asked the young man to show him his bedroom, as well. The scout noticed that while there were lots of football posters and memorabilia, there was nothing baseball-related on the walls. Sure enough, the prospect ultimately chose football over baseball. Similarly, I have heard scouts say that when they go to a prospects' game, they will talk to the moms and students at the game and innocently ask them what they think about the prospect. Multiple sources also are a must---that's why baseball teams have crosscheckers.

Tom Horton,
I believe in research as much as anyone, but don't think I would ever during a home visit ask to see someone's bedroom. Did he rummage through his closet, too? Also the best people to talk to are other players rather than other parents. Good players have no problem recognizing other good players and they are easy to read if there are any doubts about anything.

We are very close to the Atlanta Braves, I'll remember to tell their scouting director about the bedroom visit made by his scout. Maybe TR is right, that is a bit too much research. IMO

Anyone care to see a good recipe for Chicken and Rice soup?

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No serious scout would dare rate a potential prospect based upon what they found on the internet

Kids have lost rides based on what's on their MySpace or FaceBook sites. Another issue is someone taking a picture of an athlete in a bad situation and posting it on the internet. Scouts find this stuff on the internet and make character assessments.

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Originally posted by PGStaff:
Anyone care to see a good recipe for Chicken and Rice soup?

Would you like that with matzo balls?

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Originally posted by RJM:

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No serious scout would dare rate a potential prospect based upon what they found on the internet

Kids have lost rides based on what's on their MySpace or FaceBook sites. Another issue is someone taking a picture of an athlete in a bad situation and posting it on the internet. Scouts find this stuff on the internet and make character assessments.

One parent pointed out to her 18 year old son who had received a "scantily" clad photo on his cell phone from a HS freshman girl, that it could be considered child pornography...got to protect yourself with all this technology.