Crap Detection 101

Amateur Whale Research Kit?

Howard Rheingold is credited with Crap Detection 101: How to tell accurate information from inaccurate information, misinformation, and disinformation.

Put your crap detector to work here: http://www.icrwhale.net/products/amateur-whale-research-kit

Some of the usual investigative techniques (backlinks, fact checking) don't work very well. What is it that "tells" you this information, at face value, cannot be trusted?