Judging what you read.
WHAT TO ASK OF ANY SOURCE
Who wrote it What they hold What they are selling What evidence is provided
WHAT UNSOURCED CLAIMS INDICATE
Promotion.
WHAT TECHNICAL CLAIMS REQUIRE
Verification against documentation or independent analysis.
WHAT TO BE ESPECIALLY SCEPTICAL OF
Adoption claims with no named users Performance figures without conditions Partnership announcements that the partner has not confirmed Comparisons published by an interested party
WHAT TO CHECK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS
Whether the named partner has said anything.
WHY
Announcements have frequently described conversations as partnerships.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
Specific mechanisms Acknowledged limitations Named contributors
WHAT ABSENCE OF LIMITATIONS INDICATES
Marketing rather than analysis.
WHAT COMMUNITY SENTIMENT MEASURES
Enthusiasm and financial interest, not quality.
WHY THAT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE HERE
Holders benefit from others buying, which shapes what they say.
WHAT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS LOOKS LIKE
Named researchers, methodology stated, conclusions qualified.
WHAT TO BUILD
The habit of checking primary sources.
WHAT TO ACCEPT
That this takes effort, and that the effort is the defence.
