This or That

I asked myself a question today.  “Who is most believable, those at the coal face or those writing about the coal face?’  My answer to that is those at the coal face in general.
The reason my thoughts were along that line was I read some of a report that has been issued by an organization held in high esteem the world over.  It made a number of assertions.  It was written by people thousands of kilometres from the coal face.
I also read a report by someone at the coal face.  Someone that has firsthand experience of what is being talked about.  The reports could not have been more different.  It was like each report was discussing a different thing, yet they were both about the same thing.
It made me think that so much I hear is not necessarily the fact of the matter, but someone’s opinion or agenda.
What I really want to guard against is believing a lie. To me it matters not how high I hold a person or organization in esteem, it is up to me to check what is being said.  It does not matter who or what it is, all organizations or people are capable of misrepresenting.  Some is well meaning error and others is deliberate lies to further a particular cause.
I must admit that even when I watch the news, I believe what I see (even that can be manipulated these days) but the spin that goes with it, I take with a grain of salt.  So often what is said is someone’s interpretation of what has transpired.  Often I am disinclined to pass judgement on something even though the media says I should think a particular way.
I am happy to make up my own mind based on what I glean for myself rather than parrot what I am told.  Even when the source is one I have found to be trustworthy.
I learned that when I was in charge of an organization.  I felt that in answer to a question from a judge as to “why did you do so and so”, saying “because so and so said it” was not good enough.  My actions needed to be based on what was, and not on “so and so’s” opinion.
I ask myself, “why does this matter?”  To me it matters heaps.  I do not want to believe a lie.  I am sure there are those who will repeat what they hear and believe it without question.   Often it seems what is espoused conforms to their own views.
Yet I know there are also those like myself who will weigh something up and not give a view until the matter is investigated.  Then again, I may not even give a view.  I have found that for every view I hold, there are those that hold an opposite view.  I will give a view on what matters to me, but there is a heck of a lot that really does not matter at all.