Information plays a pivotal role in our lives. It is acquired by us or fed to us for various purposes ie, for our comfortable living, to enrich our intelligence, to excel in our studies, to acquire and progress in our careers, to educate our dependents and finally to be satisfied that we have lived a fruitful life. It is for these valuable purposes we are given a brain (without which we would live a vegetable’s life).

Where do we get information from? The sources of information evolve from time to time. Until the late ’80s, information came via word of mouth, writings, radio, television, observation and instinct.

All the above sources were normally believed to be from reliable sources and the information gained was taken as factual. However, there was certain element of doubt with the information given out by radio and television stations (as they would normally edit their news segment in line with their investor’s penchants).

Nevertheless, it was still okay as far as identifying reliable information from these sources was concerned. Even the international news providers and publications were mostly reliable. We (in Malaysia) did not get the television broadcasts back then so we did not bother about the legitimacy of the information they provided.

Today, it has all changed. The sources of income have increased from that of the 80s. We now have cable TV which gives us information from the local and international scenes (including news from the international news providers). We are also flooded with A to Z information through the Internet. We also get information in the form of SMSes (some are from unknown sources).

Can we say that we are getting legitimate information from all the available sources today? Of course, the bulk of the information we get from those sources give room for doubt. The following are the possibilities that influence us to apply reservations on the information we receive:

in a haste to deliver the information as soon as possible, the are possibility of errors in their information. Slip-ups are very likely.

Some deliberately adulterate the information to please their bosses.

Some write or upload information full of lies just to garner support or discredit certain personalities, organisations or countries.

Some, so-called ‘writers, journalists and website masters’ whose credibility are under question, write a lot of untrue and biased information either knowingly and unknowingly.

Some mischievous juveniles and ‘fun-loving’ adults play up sensitive issues and make provoking statements without bothering about the consequences of their act.

Therefore, it is necessary for us to always confirm and reconfirm whatever information we get especially the information from online sources and through SMSes.

By the way, I received an SMS a few months back that said I had won RM 10,000 in a contest and it asked me to go to my bank’s teller machine and call the number given by them. Thank god, I didn’t believe the message.