Why I am Asking for a Source.

You know how doctors hang their licenses on the wall?  You know how in any given situation you want a person to be credentialed, or informed about what they are doing? I often see posts on social media about how people want to have educated, civil discourse.  This is one in a series of posts that will help us achieve that goal.   One of the most frustrating things is when people jump into a thread with emphasis on how wrong everyone is and then they refuse to validate their own view points with a source.  Our ideas are products of influences that we then interpret and synthesize.  If you really want someone to hear you, you should be able to provide the platforms you are getting those ideas from.
 Given that you know something better than anyone else, you read it, or heard it yourself, it wont be a far stretch to google and link the source so the person you are attempting to have an educated discourse with can then interpret and process and provide sources that they derived their ideas from.  That's what educated civil discourse entails. No insults, no refusal of sources that are valid, no refusal to provide a sources.  If this is not the kind of interaction you are looking for, move along.  You don't actually want an educated civil discourse. Here are some steps you can take to decide whether to cite a source.

Source Citing

When someone asks for a source it means they are attempting to have a discourse but need to know what information you are working from. I never ask for a source out of condescension, though that is frequently the response I get. Or told to google it myself.  The reason you are being asked for a source is to explain where you derived your idea.  Why you personally think that you are asserting factual information.  

When considering what source to provide to help deepen the conversation here are some good sites that will help you determine what is an is not a good source. You look at the publication, the author and compare with other sources.  There is a lot of fervor about bias media, however bias is not as troublesome as its being made out to be.  the facts are what matter.  The bias is just what the person presenting information feels about the information. We are all free to make inferences as to the meaning of the information. 

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/02/

https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/determining-validity-and-reliability-sources-english-iii-research

Break down of the various new sources. 

Next we have the problem of where the information is coming from.  This really is dependent on your views.  There are a multitude of charts on the Internet. The one above is  one I personally found helpful. There are about a million of these.  I would move MSNBC more center,  the New York Post and Washington Times more right.  So the next time someone shares their source of information, think of this before you refuse to accept it.  Instead put on your critical thinking pants and look at what they have provided for you.  Ask questions. Explain why you disagree all without demeaning or belittling the other person

If You Cant Do These Things.

If you cant do these things. You may need to reassess your perspective.  Walk away take deep breaths.  Even if you are not coming from a place of inaccuracy you are unwilling to engage your critical thinking skills in a way that allows you to even provide a source.  I dont know you. You dont know me.  The internet provides a level of anonymity that shrouds us from consequence and judgement. 

Personally I am always seeking a deeper and more full understanding of things, I ask questions. I google everything.  So maybe some pieces. Thats not threatening, I am not going to be offended at being wrong. I might even admit that I am wrong. Being wrong isn't synonymous with not smart. The need to insult is all your own ego. You might think I am being arrogant but seriously the number of times I have been attacked on social media only to be denied any facts to back up their ideas has left me frustrated and annoyed that anyone pretends they want to have an exchange of ideas.