Far Too Much Misinformation
 

It appears the activity on this forum has increased in the past few months. Many more viewing, more threads and more responses. That's the good news.

There also seems to be an increase in the amount of erroneous information. That is the bad news.

A lot of this can have serious consequences. People asking for information may rely on the answers they get here. However, those answers may be from self styled experts who are wrong. There are even cases of others correcting the error only to replace it with another error.

I am not referring to questions such as electric cart vs. gas cart or new vs. resale. Anyone asking about subjects such as those will expect opinions. However, much more serious questions are asked. They include bond issues, taxes, our form of government, IRS issue and more. People deserve correct answers as they may be making a big decision and that decision could depend on the answer they get here.

This problem is out of the hands of the Admins. They cannot be expected to check the accuracy of every post. It is in our hands. Let's get our facts right before responding.

My comments are not meant to include the political forum or any sub forum or question requesting an opinion.

point taken, however on any forum
if you ask for free advice or input, you get what you pay for.

It's best to double check on your own, anything that you ask in life.

This board is not made up of a group of experts but I find that most of the information is correct. Anyone with a serious, life changing question should seek the advice of an expert.

But to think that it's a problem that deserves attention is wrong. Maybe you should check your "facts".

I am NOT a Morse. Don't know the Morses and I just love TV.
 

To try to quell rumors and correct misinformation just because we care about the new folks who read what is written here and really don't know what to believe, to try to give them truthful answers is a very good thing.

I still don't understand just sometimes blatant fibs on here by first time posters. You have to wonder what the agenda is for that.

You are right. Everyone has to do their "due diligence" but some of us really care that folks who have NEVER been here get the right information.

And sometimes some of us act like "know it alls". :o

That would be me. I'm sorry.

Most posts are very helpful
 

I think that if people are going to ask for advice on anything of critical importance on this forum, they should always follow up with checking on things themselves. The information people give, is from their own experience or information they may have been given. It is not gospel.

In general, the information on this forum is invaluable and if nothing else it points you in a direction. What I may have experienced with a person or place or thing does not necessarily mean you will experience the same. We tell from our experience and hope that helps others. I say keep the posts coming!

:agree: Very well stated. Do your own homework for backup.

The problem is that most of the intellectually perceptive and inquisitive posters, that would thoroughly research the thought provoking topics about TV future issues ,no longer post.They obviously became extremely exasperated with the negativity they received on this board, about their message(don't kill the messenger) on controversial and significant issues on the future of TV. I miss their invaluable contributions and hope someday that some of them will return and enlighten us again on TV and it's long term future.:read:

Who do you miss the most?

I also am somewhat dissapointed by those who are quick to spread illogical statements( from someone that they just met) ,conspiricy theories and issues that can bring real harm to individuals and organizations without the minimal use of basic research or common sense. But, this is what happens on many public forums.

Can you be more specific? Any particular issues you care to offer the correct answer?

A recent example is "When the build out ends" thread. Then there are the bond threads, IRS threads, traffic threads, roundabout threads, taxes threads, etc.

I have in the past researched comments and posted corrected information. There are others who have done the same.

Well, Joe, I did check my facts. In fact I gave it a lot of thought before posting because I knew there would be flack. I absolutely think it is a problem that deserves attention and if you don't recognize it, so be it.

I am perfectly aware this forum is not made up of a group of experts. However a Newbie looking for information deserves correct answers and there are people here who provide them with those correct answers. But, there are those who appear to be experts who give wrong answers. How is Newbie to know the difference? If he /she thinks we are going to provide a wrong answer, why would they bother to ask?

Another example of false information was about "free amenities" for Village employees.

Bingo!

I think you are all over reacting a bit. Example is the amenities thread, the OP said he heard it from an employee and was asking the question, didn't state it as fact. Part of the problem is people ask something without complete information or enough background to provide an accurate answer. Three people read the question, interpret it a little different and answer to the best of their ability. And each answer is different.

Two key points.

1. I don't believe anyone is doing it intentionally, they all do the best they can and sometimes make mistakes. Sometimes it's lack of background information and others it's lack of knowledge.

2. If you make a major decision on anything based on something you read on the internet, hear on the news, read in a paper, hear in a conversation without doing proper verification and diligence then you are a little dumb and own the results. I believe less then 20% of anything I see, hear, read or find out from other sources.

I agree. But sadly people do believe what they want to believe.

TOTV is invaluable.

BUT:

That being said, anyone who believes everything that they read on the internet should contact me for really cheap oceanfront property in Summerfield.

Let me start by saying, I've found this forum very informative and helpful. But I was told by a couple of different people that I would not be able to move to the villages at age 52 or 53. But a couple of other posters correctly stated that is not totally correct. Like (Happinow)stated most people are going to research their questions. So I called the villages and told them how old I was and asked if I had to wait three years to purchase property. I was then asked if we had a children under the age of 19. I said no. Then was told it would not be a problem. Like I said this forum has been very helpful and I'm sure the people who told me I had to be 55 thought they were giving me the correct information. After all TV say you have to be over 55. I use the forum to ask questions from villagers who know a lot more than I do. But you should always follow it up with research.

Happinow, You couldn't have said it any better!

Forewarned is forearmed

That's the problem and it happens a lot. Just because someone believes something doesn't make it factual. It's a laugh a day for me, just chuckling at the wrong info that is posted here. Of course everyone has an opinion and the right to post it. Don't believe everything you read here.

If you ask for an opinion then you should be happy with all answers and the one that agrees with what you first thought is the one you sought anyway, therefore will be the correct one, unless someone provides a good enough argument or enough people provide references for you to change your mind, which most people don't like to do unless they're truly open and objective in the first place.

If you ask for a fact then, even if misinformed with good intensions, you have narrowed a possible 100 answers down to a few that are easier to research yourself for a final answer thereby saving you a lot of unnecessary steps.
The end result is up to you. Final answer! :laugh: (but I'm going to think about my answer and may change my mind!)

Another problem with giving info based on personal experience is TV is constantly changes the rules and regs to suit it's purposes. What one person was told last year or last month or last week may not be the policy today.

Thanks
 

Thanks for posting that and it's something to consider.

"Constantly"?
 

"Constantly"? Really? I read TOTV quite a bit but I am not aware of TV constantly changing their rules. Can you give examples that show how constantly it happens? Thank you

If you asked someone living north of 466 if you're allowed lawn ornaments and signs on your house, they would say absolutely, the more the better.
The first time I visited TV, the first thing the sales person asked me is are you 55? Apparently, they don't adhere to that anymore.
When I moved to TV, you were not allowed to drive a golf cart after dark.
If you asked someone living north of 466, excluding Marion County, if Patio Villas have guest parking, they would say yes, they're all over the place. No more.

Even improvements that were addressed in the developer's newspaper never came to fruition, and now that the growth management law has been repealed, the developer no longer has to provide roads, schools, or even sewer service.

It has been said that more information (data) is generated in one day today then had been created from the beginning of time until 2003.

Another reason for the misinformation is the one upmanship being played by many posters. Personally I had a belly full of it in the corporate world and hence often defer rather than engage.

That old saw " Believe nothing you hear and half of what you read" should be changed to "trust but verify"

Most of what one reads on a blog is "opinion" and that's fine if one judiciously gleans bits and pieces that are helpful say regarding someone's opinion concerning an eatery

I opine you decide

IMO, I don't believe that it's that "they don't care anymore" but rather that the 80% 55+ occupancy rule has been reached and exceeded thereby permitting purchases by those under 55 and will remain open until they reach the 20% mark and the 55+ falls under 80%, if it ever does. Here's a link to that requirement:

Requirements / 55+ Housing / Florida Commission on Human Relations

The reason is many of the responders don't even live here. There are a few posters with over 2,000 posts that have visited here once.....One that doesn't live here, doesn't rent here and has been on property 1 time!

I posed the question when the build out ends. I was not unhappy with the info provided. What I walked away with is that some portion of the maintenance of TV will be under resident control and other ill not. I will confirm all this with TV. Based on what I read I simply will buy in the newest section I can. Although I'd like to think otherwise I will not live forever and it will eventually be my kids problem. People post what hey believe and that's fine by me. I have been an auditor for lost my entire career.. They trained us to follow: You don't know until you absolutely know I.e. see it in writing etc.,

Right on. Add to that the rumor mongers and conspiracy theorist and the problem intensifies:sigh:

I don't understand the meaning of your post. Hope I'm wrong but I got a feeling that perspective buyers are not welcome to post in your opinion?

I just recently learned how fraudulent the internent can be. I was always cautious but didn't think it could be all that bad when it comes to medical and health issues. I was wrong! I was told that a certain product is a cure for a common ailment. I did a yahoo search and sure enough there it was, a well known product advertised as a cure for ailment X. And it said, "money back guarantee". But when I called the company, they said, "NO, we do not advertise our product for that purpose."

So, that's the nature of the internet. If something is very important to you, you need to check and double check to see if the information is true or factual. Don't just believe everything you read.

Take everything with a grain of salt whether it be newspaper article, cable news, etc. including what's written on TOTV. It is only an opinion of a person even if it is written as facts. On TOTV, I sometimes detect comments as a gruntled view of an employee or an ad posing as a Villager. Can't blame them for trying though am sure Admin. will control any blatant disregard for the spirit of the posting.

I agree with CappyJon and the others who say...ya gotta do your own homework! And how much is the cheap oceanfront property in Summerfield? :)

Do your own homework!

It is too late .Almost 90K of us have bought up a bunch of dumb land in the middle of Florida. We have not only done it but we have been given some kind of numbing agent or kickipoo joy juice and we love it here.

The misinformation comes from those not similarly ingested or infected or injected.

:D:024::popcorn:

I will be back in TV on June 8 for 9 days to drink the kickipoo joy juice and/or to be injected with the mind numbing agent. Please have the supplies ready as soon as I cross into TV terrority :).

Uh Oh....That last time I was given numbing agent and drank the kickipoo joy juice I became pregnant...Hope that doesn't happen this time. :1rotfl::1rotfl:

In Hedoman's defence, from reading this thread, I don't think that he is saying that potential buyers are not welcome to post their opinions. Not at all. Not a bit. I think his point is that if a question is asked, potential buyers should make sure they have correct information before replying so as not to mislead readers.

For you, 1/2 price!