Is It Fair To Ask People To Validate Statements They Make?

[sevenOP]

Especially, but not only, when those views/opinions/assertions/allegations are expressed on Public Forums.

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on what they are and the circumstances. Some are self evident, some you could web search, and opinion is often are based on gut feeling at the core so validation isn't available, even if justification is. Allegations may have a need to be validated however they do tend to be made with the source. But ask if you like, just don't expect every demand to be met.

[AuntPollyGrey]

One can't validate an opinion or a 'view'. Assertations & allegation? well it depends on the subject really ,news items usually have links but for example I could accuse a member of a public forum of lying or stretching the truth but would not be able to substantiate or validate that accusation, therefore it would become an opinion, which is subjective. So my answer is no its neither fair nor possible to validate these things on a public forum unless the discussion is evidence based.

[woofgang]

If they are basing their argument on something that they claim is a statement of fact, then yes it is fair to ask them to validate it.

[Jordyboy9]

But surely on here if you try to validate something
They would be breaking Site Rules,and the answer would be removed.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I think if you challenge someone on here as to what they have said, then validate that statement with a link to the thread they made that statement on, then that is not against Site Rules.

[Khandro]

Do you mean you want proof that an assertion is true? The fact is that one cannot actually prove anything to be true. A statement may be correct, but it may not be true, it may also be logical but not necessarily true.

[AuntPollyGrey]

How can a statement be correct but not be true?

[Bobbisox1]

I take things at face value, a lot may turn out not to be correct but that’s the way it is on forums such as this,isn’t it?

[Zacs-Master]

If the statement is something unprovable like ‘Donald Trump Is an idiot’ then that’s just an opinion. If they state ‘Donald Trump will launch a nuclear missile by the end of January’ then I’d expect some sort of basis (politicians opinion / professor’s assertion) on which to found their statement.

[sevenOP]

^^^^ In deed.

[Togo]

^^^Indeed......Haha.

[Zacs-Master]

Ah, I see this is all about Naomi’s Villejeuf thread. I think her proof of your alleged undesirability was the closing of two threads (I’m not sure which these were, or even if it’s true BTW) and possibly your identifying as female in your profile but then appearing to be male when you post.

Naomi often has to pop out to the shops or something when things get.... a little difficult but I don’t think that’s justification for starting a whole thread on people justifying statements. I also think it’s frowned upon by AB management / mod’s.

[Bobbisox1]

ZM and me never agree on anything but I concede to this time, I

[Bobbisox1]

100% do

[ToraToraTora]

is depends on the coefficient of Friction of the validatee.

[naomi24]

//Naomi often has to pop out to the shops or something when things get.... a little difficult //

Not true.

[Khandro]

Aunt Polly// How can a statement be correct but not be true?

The statement, 'Sherlock Holmes lived at 221b Baker Street', is correct, but it isn't true.

[Zacs-Master]

Eh? He either did or he didn’t. As SH is a fictional character and 221b Baker St didn’t exist in the 1880’s it’s clearly and very much incorrect.

[ichkeria]

This exchange illustrates the pointlessness of arguing out of context. Sherlock Holmes did indeed live at 221B Baker Street - in the books.
But he didn’t really live there. So it’s both correct and incorrect, depending on whether you are doing a literary quiz or actually trying to trace a real person.