Primer on how to recognize bullshit and misinformation?

December 24, 2016 3:00 AM

With the topic being in the news, I recalled a fairly lengthy and detailed primer that made the rounds a few years ago on the subject of identifying misinformation, propaganda and bullshit. It may also have had tips on proper research and how to find good sources of information, and was primarily focused on the media. I can remember it's title, though, and I can't find it! Does anyone have it bookmarked or know it?
posted by backwards compatible to Writing & Language (6 answers total)

Was it the piece titled "On Bullshit" by Harry Frankfurt?
posted by wenestvedt at 3:24 AM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

Kind of the opposite of lengthy, but any version of The CRAP Test (e.g.) is a pretty good guide, easily digested.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 4:34 AM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

Breaking News Consumers Handbook? (Link goes to audio file, transcription, and graphic).
posted by ardgedee at 5:41 AM on December 24, 2016

I bet it is the CRAP test. Here are some links to versions.
CRAP Test 1
CRAP Test 2
CRAP Test 3
There are many more versions out there. Seems like every university library has to reinvent this wheel and tweak in the way they like best.
posted by Miko at 6:41 AM on December 24, 2016 [6 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks all! Definitely the CRAP test, although the particular version that I was looking for had some additional elaboration.
posted by backwards compatible at 7:15 AM on December 24, 2016

Another classic is Carl Sagan's The Fine Art of Baloney Detection, summarized here.
posted by bruceo at 11:03 PM on December 24, 2016