From Many Voices, The Truth Shall Come

All truths begin as hearsay, as far as I'm concerned.
-Matt Drudge

And
, unfortunately, all falsehoods begin as hearsay as well. The challenge is to se
parate truth from fiction.

The Internet allows anyone with a computer and a mo
dem to gather and transmit information on a medium with global reach. It has mor
e "channels" than television and radio combined. It ignores na
tional boundaries and is difficult to control.

As such, one can find a mind-nu
mbing array of websites that cater to almost every interest and taste. Individuals have more choices on where to get news, commerce, entertainment and analysis. This diminishes the control of television networks, national newspapers and various government entities over what you see, hear and know. That troubles some because falsehoods can spread quickly and assume legitimacy by mere repetition.

However, rumor mongering and deception are not new or unique to the Internet. Writers for the New Republic and the Boston Globe have recently resigned for making up stories and quotes. CNN retracted a story alleging that the U.S. military used nerve gas on defectors during the Vietnam War. The former Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy all engaged in censorship and propaganda.

On the contrary, the ability of millions of people to communicate on the Internet acts as a great deterrent to deception or at least minimizes the ability of falsehoods to deceive. The Vice President claims global warming has caused the hottest summer in recorded history – check an online almanac. Some pundit says the latest Supreme Court opinion tramples on civil rights – read the opinion at a Supreme Court website and decide for yourself.

Hence, I hope that the Humble Opinion will become a source of useful hearsay and an effective tool for sorting out the truth from the falsehoods for those in the legal profession or those who seek a better understanding of the law. With government regulation constantly encroaching into almost every aspect of human endeavor, it behooves us all to have a greater understanding of the law and how it applies to our everyday lives.

Everything that appears on this site is merely opinion, hence the name. Please consult an attorney if you intend to do anything with the information you find here. As much as possible, we will link to the source of the information to allow you, the humble viewer, to decide for yourself whether you agree or disagree with the Humble Opinion.