Cite your sources

Somewhere sometime someone is having a crisis. It’s me!

I’m having a crisis. I am losing touch with the part of the world that feeds me information and I’m worried I am starting to sound like a one of those people who spouts so-called facts that you know aren’t true. Their verity may be questioned without question because they (the facts) are so ludicrous that nobody but a Dimwit Donny Disciple (DDD) would believe them (e.g., did you know gas is only $1.98/gallon), or because they (the fact-spouters) are DDDs or DD hisself.

Believe it or not, this is not a political post. It’s a true personal crisis. I’m forgetting not things, but that which made me aware of the thing. Don’t question. Just read on. It will become clear.

It came to me when I mentioned to my daughter, “I just read somewhere that keeping cut fruit in the fridge in glass containers will add at least 2 days to their use by date versus storing them in plastic.” This isn’t something I dreamed or something I overheard in the produce section while working my way around the gaggle of grocery gals gathered in front of the mango display. This was a real “read somewhere” moment, but I can’t recall where. If it was say in Food Network Magazine, then it’s probably a pretty good tip. Likewise in the food section of the newspaper or a real food expert’s social site. On the other hand, if I read it in the comments section of an online recipe or in the social site of the dingy broad who records entire recipes in 30 seconds and posts them to a site known for lip-synched videos and blasphemous AI generated images, it likely is as true as claims of sub $3.00 eggs (per dozen, not apiece).

This worries me because I always would be able to recite the source of my information as readily as the information. I know I found the cut fruit tidbit in a respected, responsible source, but not being able to recite that source feels like I should be being fitted for a red hat. (By the way, why does the Dummy in Chief always have those stupid hats on its desk in the Oval Office. Is there a merch table at the back of the room to visit between acts?) if I should be challenged in the fresh fruit freshness extension tip, I wouldn’t be able to cite my source other than to say, “I read it somewhere.” Well, that’s not an answer. I might as well expound on the sphericalosity of the earth without doing the math.

So you now understand my crisis. (You do, don’t you?) How will I ever be taken seriously again. How will I ever take myself seriously again. I won’t be long before I begin a conversation with, “I saw somewhere that someone did something that I thought was interesting. What do you think?” My sole reasonable conversation partners will be clairvoyants, mediums (It is mediums not media when you’re speaking of those who communicate with dead, right?) (I figure they’d be a decent one to chat with considering by then I’d be at least brain dead), or DDDs (because they are experienced in listening to unfounded, unproven, unreliable sources of disinformation).

Anyway, I read somewhere than fresh cut fruit stored in glass containers will extend its life. That all I had to say.

12 thoughts on “Cite your sources

  1. And once again, dear friend, your Monday morning giggles have managed to transform a rough morning into a huge smile. I get your point–so many spout information that has no credible source, but because someone saw it on the internet, it must be true. When did we become the living dead? Zombies incapable of thinking for themselves and speaking the truth? You are quite a refreshing individual, my friend. Wiser than many. More humorous than most.

    1. That’s a good question you pose. When did we become the living dead? Probably could traced along the progression of social media sites.

  2. I’m smiling. I do the same thing – all the time. I find a nugget and then forget the attribution. Thankfully friends and family are tolerant. I can usually track back and find the source, but not always. I say you get plenty of grace. And the fruit thing??? I swear I’ve read that, too…
    😜💕😜

  3. I totally feel you on this! It drives me crazy when I read something and I can’t find it again to cite it. Oh, for the love of truth!! Happy Monday, Michael!

    1. Thank you Wynne. I think I’m going to go back to an old fashioned Rolodex and put all my discoveries in it so I have a ready reference locator. I know somewhere I saw how to do the same thing electronically but I don’t remember where I read that or how to set it up. 🤷🏻‍♂️

  4. I understand your problem and sympathize. It bothers me when I cannot be precise about where I learned something BUT considering most of the time I do eventually find or remember my sources I’m trying not to fret. Still… 🤨

    1. I don’t want to be the bearer of disappointing news BUT that day will come. I know. I read about that very thing somewhere.

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