When lateral reading fails

Rather than attempt to determine credibility of a source from the source, recent advice is to open a second tab and search for other positions on the same topic. This approach is recommended because web content is becoming more sophisticated so the things on a given site to look for can be shaped to be convincing. The fact-check approach has been labelled lateral reading.

I feed birds and I thought I had read that bird feeders can spread this disease. However, I read a contrary position in our local paper which is typically regarded as a credible source. A few hours later my said I should take down our feeder and pointed me to this source. This report comes from a different local news source also with a good reputation.

What is a careful reader to do?

P.S. – We have since decided to move our feeders inside. We live close to a nature center which has found dead owls and the proximity to birds dying from the bird flu made the decision for us.

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