Ill-Informed Discussions.

[ebo]

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[DeanSheen]

I think often the social media folks are given far too much leeway here.

Damn kids, get off my lawn!

[White Dog]

Chuck started this thread at 3:39AM. I don't know about the rest of you, but I always post grumpy when it's that late and I'm all hopped up on OGD 114. :lol:

[dbk]

If I understand Chuck's original post, I think it was less about "dumb questions" and more about "thoughtless rumormongering and ignorant speculation," such as the stuff inspiring this blog post. As a newbie, I didn't feel like it was directed at me. I'm sure there are plenty of newbies like me who have posted stupid questions without having done the proper research first—and I hope that I'm not already guilty of having done so myself—but I suspect that Chuck's target is something more pernicious.

[pepcycle]

I concede on the Chuck's lawn thing.

Didn't realize you were condo/townhouse.

How come Timothy didn't bite on my troll. (Yes, you're cranky, but not that old)

To get back on topic, I too share a feeling of dismay when I or someone else posts misinformation.

I feel like I'm a part of this community and it REPRESENTS ME in exchange.

I tell folks about it and defend its independence and atmosphere.

I do feel a bit of responsibility to shepherd those that wonder and "keep them honest" by challenging or at least questioning misinformation.

The beauty of this site is how naturally that occurs and how those that respond to coaching take guidance.

Occasionally, the fiercely independent tread too heavily and they get booted. Its rare but part of the deal. More often than not, truth prevails and we take our lumps.

We don't have to agree on how this happens, but accept that it does.

Thanks Jim, Moderators and contributors.

I take no offense when a post of mine disappears. In retrospect, the balance is there.

I appreciate a PM indicating that I may be too big for my britches on subject matter that I'm not well versed in.

I encourage feedback in a discreet manner at first, more forceful when needed and outright frank when deserved.

[barturtle]

How come Timothy didn't bite on my troll. (Yes, you're cranky, but not that old)

Because I like being called "not old":grin:...Had someone guess I was 27 the other day, made my entire weekend.:slappin:

[cowdery]

My complaint never was about dumb questions. It is about dumb answers. In many cases people speculate wildly about something, as if it's a big mystery, when they could have found the actual answer with a little bit of research.

As I say in the introduction to my book, alcohol is like sex in that most of what people know about it they learn informally -- on the street -- and most of it is wrong. This occurs because the more formal channels -- parents, schools, media -- tend to lie about both subjects. When people realize this they find themselves skeptical about any information on either subject that's provided by authorities and similarly tend to trust the informal channels. The informal channels don't deliberately misrepresent but they tend to be dominated by myth and ill-informed speculation, so they are equally as unreliable.

As we get older we are able to rely more on personal experience but until then we are mired in ignorance. At least as regards American Whiskey, this site tends to be a good place to get reliable information, despite it being an informal channel, but I worry its fragile utility will be overwelmed by a massive influx of ill-informed instant experts.

And as for my lawn, it is now covered in snow. Metaphor?

[callmeox]

For the ill informed, would they be A Lyin' in Winter?

[cowdery]

My lawn, earlier today.

[OscarV]

And your Christmas lights are still up?!?!?!?!?

OK, ballgame on Chuck's lawn!

[craigthom]

I read it on the inter-web so it must be true. The only subscription I have is to Modern Jackass.

My favorite line from that show: "I always throught quesadilla meant "What's the dealio?" in Spanish"

Then I've got you beat. I got my knowledge straight from the horses' mouths, during distillery tours. Everything they say is true, right?

[Josh]

I agree wholeheartedly that Josh is a veritable cornucopia of misinformation.

With that said, if you didn't understand Chuck's lawn remark you need to get out on the internet more. :grin:

On a completely unrelated note, I learned something new today. Everyone knows how, under International law, Kentucky is the only state allowed to have its name on a bottle of bourbon. But then how can Virginia Gentleman, a new bourbon from Buffalo Trace, have a different state's name on the label?

Well, because Bourbon County was orginally a county of the state of Virginia, VG was grandfathered into the treaty. True story!

[cowdery]

That's cool. I just heard about this great little distillery in Templeton, Iowa, that was started by Al Capone and has a system for making ten-year-old whiskey in about 15 minutes.

[Hawg73]

But, I thought bourbon......oh, I see what you did there. Heh heh.

[Guest wripvanwrinkle]

On a completely unrelated note, I learned something new today. Everyone knows how, under International law, Kentucky is the only state allowed to have its name on a bottle of bourbon. But then how can Virginia Gentleman, a new bourbon from Buffalo Trace, have a different state's name on the label?

Well, because Bourbon County was orginally a county of the state of Virginia, VG was grandfathered into the treaty. True story!

You see Josh, this is exactly the kind of misinformation that Chuck is talking about. It is well known that Bourbon County was carried out of Virginia into the Appalachians during the Whiskey Rebelion. In retaliation, George Washington genetically modified their native rye grain into corn.

[Brisko]

In all seriousness-- and as a newcomer, I don't think this problem is limited to SB. I spend a lot of time at a music-related forum, where the membership ranges from established pro musicians down to high school kids. And, for every "dumb" question, there seem to be at least one or two people willing to jump in with information that is misleading at best, and just plain wrong at worst.

And we've been having a very similar discussion to this one about twice a year for the past several.

For what it's worth, though, the site admins have worked hard to make the search function more useful-- and it seems that the typical "noob questions" have slowed down a lot. SB's search function is not bad, but it helps to know what to search for. Sometimes a noobie won't even have a good idea of where to start.

[CorvallisCracker]

For the ill informed, would they be A Lyin' in Winter?

Only if he was named Henry and claimed his wife had been doin' him wrong.

[sku]

By the way, if you want a fun way to kill a few minutes, go to one of the wikki Q&A sites like Yahoo Answers and do a search on whiskey or bourbon. Both questions and answers are filled with hilarity.

[cowdery]

Some people seem to actively reject accurate information, like they have an immunity to it.

[The Boozer]

Some people seem to actively reject accurate information, like they have an immunity to it.

Its called "one cannot educate the truly stupid".

[TNbourbon]

My lawn, earlier today.

Mine earlier this week -- and I'm in southern Tennessee!:shocked: :eek: :

(Off-topic -- but Chuck started it!)

[cowdery]

I need to move because, snow or no, I like your view better than mine.

[flintlock]

Some people seem to actively reject accurate information, like they have an immunity to it.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened."

- Winston Churchill

[squire]

Facts are stubborn things.

[TNbourbon]

I need to move because, snow or no, I like your view better than mine.

Thanks, Chuck. Unfortunately, I bought just before the bottom fell out of the home-sales market. Still, I got an interest rate equivalent to what my parents paid 50 years before, a payment I can afford, and a location I'll want to reside in the rest of my life -- so resale value doesn't really matter!

Please come visit when you can.