Let's evaluate this Web site's authority and credibility.
Look at the screen below, noticing the 1. and 2. on the page.
1. The site draws in Web users with powerful questions. Are these questions based in fact?
2. Who is "President Mbeki"? What does he have to do with HIV/AIDS? What's the "Petition" about?
3. Notice that the quotations/sayings on the screen below are from people who we might consider to be authorities. "Dr. Kary Mullis
" won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. "Dr. Heinz Ludwig Sänger"
is a university professor. But, are these people authorities on HIV/AIDS? Were these quotes taken out-of-context or misunderstood?
4. Notice the use of the word "heretics" and the tone of the message in the paragraph below? Obviously, this site has a strong message to send, but is the message based in facts? Is it accurate? Valid? Whose opinion is this?
5. Notice on the screen below that "Robert Laahoven" is the WebMaster, or producer of this site. Is this individual an expert on HIV/AIDS? What is his background? What is his professional experience?
6. Notice below that this site was last updated in April 2002. It is more than one year old. Why hasn't it been updated since then? Is the site still active? Has it been abandoned?
TUTORIAL MENU
