Post by rreiter on Feb 11, 2016 22:11:43 GMT
It is an interesting exercise here when you are taking this from a “blank page” perspective. In other words, if I am evaluating each of these statements without any pre-programmed knowledge or bias, here is how I would answer:
1. The deepest part of the ocean is 35,813 feet deep.
Fact. This statement is stating what the deepest part of the ocean is.
2. Smoking is bad for your health.
Fact. This statement is stating that smoking is bad for your health.
3. 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer in the US are caused by smoking
Fact. This statement is stating what is the cause of 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer.
4. One out of every hundred American citizens is color blind.
Fact. This statement is stating what percentage of American citizens are color blind.
5. Two out of ten American citizens are boring.
Fact. This statement is stating what percentage of American citizens are boring.
In evaluating these statements and nothing more, these are not opinions. Each statement is presented with the verb “is” or “are”. They do not use the terms “I think” or “it is likely”. These are definitive statements being made.
Now, in letting outside resources, pre-programmed knowledge, and bias into the analysis, these statements could be viewed in a different way. A quick search shows that some of these definitively-answered statements (deepest part of the ocean, percent of lung cancer caused by smoking) are actually not true. Some statements (smoking is bad for your health) may seem accurate, but they are too general; they don’t offer specifics that would actually make that statement more true (smoking cigarettes are generally considered bad for your health, but for some people, smoking medicinal marijuana might have positive health effects). Other statements (percentage of Americans that are boring) seem ridiculous and made up. But none of the statements on their own are framed as opinions, so they APPEAR to be facts. They might be incorrect statements, but they still appear to be facts.
1. The deepest part of the ocean is 35,813 feet deep.
Fact. This statement is stating what the deepest part of the ocean is.
2. Smoking is bad for your health.
Fact. This statement is stating that smoking is bad for your health.
3. 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer in the US are caused by smoking
Fact. This statement is stating what is the cause of 85 percent of all cases of lung cancer.
4. One out of every hundred American citizens is color blind.
Fact. This statement is stating what percentage of American citizens are color blind.
5. Two out of ten American citizens are boring.
Fact. This statement is stating what percentage of American citizens are boring.
In evaluating these statements and nothing more, these are not opinions. Each statement is presented with the verb “is” or “are”. They do not use the terms “I think” or “it is likely”. These are definitive statements being made.
Now, in letting outside resources, pre-programmed knowledge, and bias into the analysis, these statements could be viewed in a different way. A quick search shows that some of these definitively-answered statements (deepest part of the ocean, percent of lung cancer caused by smoking) are actually not true. Some statements (smoking is bad for your health) may seem accurate, but they are too general; they don’t offer specifics that would actually make that statement more true (smoking cigarettes are generally considered bad for your health, but for some people, smoking medicinal marijuana might have positive health effects). Other statements (percentage of Americans that are boring) seem ridiculous and made up. But none of the statements on their own are framed as opinions, so they APPEAR to be facts. They might be incorrect statements, but they still appear to be facts.