#CRAAP

[iwan1979]

The CRAAP Test for Executive Resumes

Applying the CRAAP test to your executive resume ensures it's more than just a list of jobs—it becomes a strategic document that gets you a seat at the interview table rather than a spot in the "not interested" pile. A well-crafted resume demonstrates currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose, putting you ahead of the competition.

[studyskillsuni]

How to Use Google Scholar to Effectively Do Your Assignment

Introduction How to use Google Scholar to effectively do your assignment may not be something you think about when doing assignments. If this is true for you, you should. Think about it this way, if you were studying for an undergraduate degree, you will probably use Google Scholar for every written assignment. That’s a lot of usage if you were to consider how many assignments you would have done when you graduate. This means that it makes a lot of sense to have a strategy on how to effectively use it for any assignment. This article will give you some tips on how to use Google Scholar with other techniques to smash your assignment. Specific Questions The first step is to be specific about the articles or other materials you are looking for. You need a clear understanding of your assignment topic and questions to do this. The topic will provide the general context within which you can answer the assignment question(s). Clarity about the question will help you pull out what to specifically search on Google Scholar. In the questions below, there are three main topics, internet marketing, 7Ps and globalisation.

There are thousands of articles and materials about these topics in many different situations on Google Scholar. In this case, the specific search phrase to ask Google Scholar will include the benefits/opportunities of internet marketing. This will provide sources to read, cite and apply to the chosen business using examples. Other specific phrases will include ‘7Ps and internet marketing’ ‘globalisation challenges and internet marketing’ internet marketing and business performance’ principles of internet marketing’ challenges of internet marketing. Google Scholar Usage After having the specific search phrases ready the next step is to access Google Scholar via scholar.google.com. Typing the search terms in the search bar will produce good sources to pick from. However, you can make your search more specific by using the advanced search option via the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left corner of the home page. This will allow you to refine your search by specifying keywords, authors, publication dates, and more. Boolean Operators can also be used here for more specific searches. Titles and Excerpts Before you start to open the articles to decide on the suitable ones for your assignment, scan through the titles and excerpts. This will help you quickly identify the articles that are worth exploring further. For example, searching one of the search phrases will return the following articles:

The first article seems useful, and so does the part of the second that looks at business performance in general. However, the part that focuses on export may not be relevant if you are using a business that doesn’t export for the assignment. The third doesn’t seem relevant except the business that you chose for your assignment sells elderly products. Abstract and Introduction If an article seems relevant, click on the title to access the full text. Then read the abstract and introduction to be clear if it is definitely relevant. In some cases, the article may be freely available, while in others, you may be prompted to pay or log in through a university library system. Learn how to take advantage of your institution's library resources to access paid articles here. Citation List One useful feature of Google Scholar is the "Cited by" link that appears below each search result. Clicking on this link will show you a list of other articles that have cited the original article. This can be helpful in finding additional relevant sources. There are 66 in the first and 473 in the second article. Related Articles Google Scholar also provides related articles and recommendations based on the article you're currently viewing. These suggestions can lead you to other sources that may be valuable for your assignment. For more recent cited-by and related articles, you can customise the search result to the current year on the left-hand side. Source Credibility

You can’t use all the suitable sources that you find. You have to use credible ones. The credibility of the sources used goes a long way in determining the standard of the perspectives, views, arguments in your assignment. The same for the standard of the analysis in your work as the assignment requires. Assess the credibility, relevance, and authority of the authors using the CRAAP and other techniques. Consider factors like the journal's reputation, the peer-review process, and the author's credentials. Citation Trails Once you find a useful article, explore its references to find additional sources that are cited within. This technique can help you discover more relevant articles and build a stronger foundation for your assignment. Conclusion Remember, Google Scholar is just one tool among many for academic research. While it can be a valuable resource, it's important to explore other databases, library catalogues, and disciplinary repositories to ensure you have a comprehensive collection of relevant sources for your assignments. Finding the right sources is an excellent step towards doing your assignment the right way. However, how well you use the sources to answer the assignment question will determine the grade you get. This is why it is very important to learn how to answer assignment questions as your lecturer expects you to. Read the full article

[gingericywolf]

I was bored so I made this Picker Wheel of Critically Endangered Animals according to the IUCN.

for science tag what you got and vote on this poll

There are currently 95 animals in the wheel but it is open to expansion if anyone wants to suggest more species thaat fall in the CR category.

all of the animals on this list are currently also part of an Art project i'm planning where i'll hopefully draw most of them, but it is also very hard to find any photo or picture for some and i'd be more than happy for other artists to join too, either with this same list or making their own and covering more species

[purpleumiz]

heeyy so um, i need more darkshipper/proshipper friends, please. If you have discord pLEASE send me ur username ,,,,,,,,,,,puppy eyes /silly

[markwatneyspacepiratee]

Leaving the craap test here. Through the craap test all things are possible. I learned the craap test in grade school and it has never done me wrong. Peace and love on your road to a more advanced level of critical thinking.

[aspiring-decomposer]

at dinner last night the conversation topic went from whether or not a YouTube comment passed the C.R.A.A.P test to televangelism.

[oro-junestar]

hii sorry i havent posted in a LONG while heres some of my craap mostly featuring null and infected

[library--fairy]

Reminder from your friendly neighborhood librarian that there will be a lot of misinformation aimed at making you upset. Chaos and outrage help fascists - creating an opening for them to present a persuasive case of order that makes the silent majority feel secure. Check the facts before you spread information that isn't real.

It's so easy to fall victim to it, especially photos and video. Let me share one of my favorite tools, the CRAAP Test, made by Sarah Blakesee, a librarian from the Meriam Library, California State University, Chico. There are many other methods but this one will get you started. When in doubt, check if it's CRAAP!

[cursed-and-haunted]

Many of you could benefit from learning about CRAAP

[carusolikey]

So You Want to Fight Fascism?

A handy compilation of resources and guides for getting through a pathetic attempt at suppressing the American spirit of Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness.

As I remain on the path of intentional civil disobedience, I will continue to add sources as I receive / come across them. This will be a dynamic document, constantly updating. Please feel free to share it wide and far and remember, that we are stronger together.

Let's get started!

Simple Sabotage Field Manual (Declassified) by the U.S. Office of Strategic Services

Written during WWII as a means of helping everyday people fight fascism by clogging up the system in simple ways, this guide was declassified by the CIA in 2008. It's now currently available to download for free, via Project Gutenberg.

Upcoming Protests

Advice for Protesting, From an Aging Anarchist

The Protesters' Guide to Smartphone Security

Protests Week of February 3, 2025 @ OPM in DC

February 6th, 11 a.m. - USAid Protest @ US State Dept. in DC

February 6th, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. @ Savannah, GA

February 6th, 5 p.m. @ University of Washington Campus

February 6th, 1 p.m. @ University of Minnesota, MN

February 6th, 3 p.m. @ 24th & L Streets, Omaha, NE

Additional Upcoming Protests

February 7th - 15th, 2025

February 16th - May 1st, 2025

50 Protests, 50 States, 1 Day

The Official Website for Future Protests

The General Strike

Historical Significance of the 3.5% Rule in Peaceful Protests

Articles & Reading Material to Defy Fascism

The Authoritarian Regime Survival Guide

In January 2017, after being published as a series of spontaneous tweets, this Guide went viral in the US and many other countries, being translated into several languages, from Turkish to Filipino. It was printed on placards during anti-Trump protests, studied at two American universities, quoted by CNBC’s Joy Reid on national TV and recommended by former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.

Each tweet ended with their trademark signature, “- With love, your Eastern European friends”, and the accompanying hashtag #LearnFromEurope.

On Tyranny - Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

Free download of Timothy Snyder's social and political playbook, offering small but significant steps individuals can take to resist autocratic rule.

The Logic of Destruction & How to Resist It

A follow up to On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder.

Robert Reich's Guide for Resisting Neofascism

A top ten list of everyday things to do to protect the vulnerable, organize boycotts, and keep fighting, while continuing to find the joy in the humanity, the bravery, the indefatigable spirit of America.

Starting Somewhere: Community Organizing for Socially Awkward People Who've Had Enough

This book offers readers a crash course in organizing, educating, and agitating in the 21st Century. Written with a mix of incriminating anecdotes, personal retellings, and historical examples, "Starting Somewhere" is a first-person look at radical community organizing for misfits and outcasts committed to saving this planet for some inexplicable reason.

Evaluating Resources & Misinformation

The CRAAP Test is an evaluation method that was designed by librarian Sarah Blakeslee at the Meriam Library California State Universiy, Chico. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose. This provides you with a method and list of questions to evaluate the nature and value of the information that you find.

Resources for Civil Servants

Civil Service Strong, a Project by Democracy Forward

People, organizations, and communities across the country are joining together to ensure our civil servants have resources if they are targeted or attacked. Check back as resources come online and for monitoring of threats to the civil service. And, see some of the essential available resources, centralized for the first time.

Hold the Line, Know Your Rights Flyer

Independently created fact sheet based in part on resources compiled by Civil Service Strong. Additional and updated information at civilservicestrong.org (Updated Jan 30, 2025)

The Justice Connection

Justice Connection is moving as quickly as we can to build a network of DOJ alumni who will provide employees with practical support, including:

Legal services in connection with employees’ current or past official position

Help to employees who’ve been doxed or harassed online

Whistleblowing guidance

Job-search assistance for those who feel like they need to leave the Department, or are forced out

We’ll also stand up for DOJ employees and combat the pernicious “deep state” narrative in Congress, and in the public square. And we’ll be responsive to DOJ employees’ evolving needs in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions

This public resource tracks legal challenges to Trump administration actions. If you think we are missing anything, you can email us at lte@justsecurity.org. Special thanks to  Just Security Student Staff Editors, Rick Da and Jeremy Venook, and to Matthew Fouracre.

The Tracker is part of the Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of the Trump Administration’s Executive Actions

The Tracker was first published on Jan. 29, 2025 and is continually updated.

How Do We Live Up to Our Oath?

We swore an oath. Foreign and domestic. That oath feels so hollow right now as it seems we’re stripped of any agency to fight this. I reached out my representative and senators. I’m sharing what I’m seeing with friends and family. None of it feels like it’s anywhere near enough.

Be a good witness.

Things like:

Who directed the action

What you were told

When they directed the action

When you were instructed to perform the action

Where you put things / did things

Preserve original if changing things

There are no “off the record” conversations. Only conversations you make extra notes for. Be a keeper of the facts.

Why? Good people may ask you to do things, and you may have to do them, but understand at some point in the future there will be people trying to fix what was broken or destroyed, and prosecute those that recklessly broke our laws.

When the time comes it will help both efforts. It may also be the only protection available when people look for others to blame.

I'm not a lawyer. You make your own choices, but if you find yourself in shock and uncertain what to do, at least be the best witness you can be in the moment. - u/MuchAppresch

Support Civil Servants as a Civilian

Donate to Unions Pushing Back Against Musk & Trump:

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Reproductive Health Care

Auntie's Medicine Cabinet

Planning Parenthood

Don't Even Get Me Started

When it's time to Plan for C

You've Got Mail - (but don't store it anywhere steamy)

Las Libres - (keep it cool - Article about Las Libres)

Your Auntie misses you. Send her a message, schedule a visit.

Get A CLU - Papa Don't Preach

CDC Reproductive Health Documents

Jessica Valenti of Abortion, Every Day, has been working to download documents that have been deleted on the CDC's website relating to sexual health, intimate partner violence, and reproductive rights. The information has been archived at the link above, and if you'd like to reach out to assist in the continued effort, or provide support, click here. There are currently many people working to preserve data from the CDC, as well as rogue members of the CDC.

CDC Data Hoarding Courtesty of r/datahoarding:

CDC Main, Preserved January 19, 2025

CDC HIV Info, Preserved January 18, 2025

CDC Reproductive Health Info, Preserved December 20, 2024

CDC Adolescent & School Health Info, Preserved January 14, 2025

CDC Injury & Violence Prevention Info, Preserved January 14, 2025

Support for Immigrants

Immigrant Legal Resource Center & National Immigration Law Center

Family Preparedness Plan

Know Your Rights

Printable Red Card in Multiple Languages

ACLU - Know Your Rights

People Over Papers

Anonymous ICE Sightings

Find Strength Through Community

Don't Believe Him - NYT OP-ED, by Ezra Klein

Is Somebody Doing Something?!, by Jay Kuo

Issues to Call Your Lawmakers Regarding

Find Your Senator Find Your Representative

5 Calls

5 Calls makes it easy for you to reach your members of Congress and make your voice heard.

We research issues, write scripts that clearly articulate a progressive position, thus taking the anxiety out of making your calls, figure out the most influential decision-makers, and collect phone numbers for their offices.

All you have to do is call.

OPM Memo - RE: Defending Women

Summary: "...providing the following initial guidance to agencies regarding the President’s Executive Order entitled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Defending Women)." Interpretation: ✌🏻Truth✌🏻, but not facts. Likely to be weaponized against women, non-binary, trans, and intersex people.

Musk Aides Lock Federal Workers Out of Computer Systems at U.S. Agency

Summary: Article is here. What Musk did is extremely illegal. He and his aides have no business hooking up outside tech to government technology, allowing them access to citizens' dates of birth, Social Security numbers, home addresses, income, government workers' information. This tech allows them to read federal workers' emails and spy in other insidious ways, presumably to ferret out anyone who's not unquestioningly loyal.

David Lebryk Denied Musk Access at U.S. Treasury, Abruptly Departs Position

Summary: "David Lebryk, a career civil servant who oversaw the more than one billion payments that the federal government makes every year, was placed on administrative leave this week after resisting requests from Mr. Musk’s lieutenants... Mr. Musk has been fixated on the Treasury system as a key to cutting federal spending. Representatives from his government efficiency initiative began asking Mr. Lebryk about source code information related to the nation’s payment system during the presidential transition in December... Mr. Lebryk raised the request to Treasury officials at the time, noting that it was the type of proprietary information that should not be shared with people who did not work for the federal government. Members of the departing Biden administration were alarmed by the request.." Elon has not been confirmed for any position within the government, DOGE is not a real department, he has absolutely zero clearance, and has taken no oath of office, unlike the many federal employees currently working to protect our government from threats both foreign and domestic. Tell your lawmakers that he needs to go, STAT.

USAID security officials — John Voorhees and deputy Brian McGill, Placed On Leave After Denying Access to Musk

Summary: "...the administration placed two top security chiefs at USAID on leave after they refused to turn over classified material in restricted areas to Musk’s government-inspection teams... DOGE, eventually did gain access Saturday to the aid agency’s classified information, which includes intelligence reports... It comes a day after DOGE carried out a similar operation at the Treasury Department, gaining access to sensitive information including the Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems... USAID, whose website vanished Saturday without explanation, has been one of the federal agencies most targeted by the Trump administration in an escalating crackdown on the federal government and many of its programs." No. Again, Elon has no business in those offices, amongst classified files - he is a threat to national security, and we all know he just wants to drain the national coffers for his own means. Get him out of there.

Senator Chris Van Hollen Wants to Hear From You

Summary: Senator Van Hollen has a direct link to contact his offices about how Trump's Executive Orders are affecting you, if you live in the State of Maryland. Help him fight back against this authoritarian kakistocracy by providing your personal feedback.

The Heritage Foundation's Definition of "Pro-Woman Feminism"

Summary: If you can suffer through this, it praises the feminism of women in 1848, of Antebellum. It's a Christofascist love letter to the subjugation of women, that honestly, I found myself skipping through because it was so disgusting. When you get to the bottom and discover that it was written by a woman, Erika Bachiochi, who describes herself as, "Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Senior Fellow, Abigail Adams Institute, and Author," you might do a spit take. I know I did. Even better, when I perused her "sources" for the article, most of them were pre-1900's, some of them were even 1400-1500's, and a good chunk of them? Her own writings. She used herself as her sources multiple times. Is that good research? Is it? Really? That all of your sources are pre-1900's and the other ones are you, when it comes to defining current feminism? And she had the audacity to besmirch Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the first feminist writers. Bitch, please, GTFO.

United States Renewed Membership in the Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family

Cool! We're back in the Geneva Convention, yay! Hold up - check that wording again. Geneva Consensus. Not the same thing at all. Summary: The Declaration has four main objectives: to secure meaningful health and development gains for women; to protect life at all stages; to defend the family as the fundamental unit of society; and to work together across the UN system to realize these values. Allow me to translate: It's a Global Gag Rule and that's a bad thing.

H.R. - Life at Conception (National Abortion Ban)

Summary: Sniveling piece of shit, Eric Burlison (R-MO), introduced this legislation to ban abortion nationally, after his home state of Missouri voted to legalize abortion. Bitter much? Tell him to suck it, and tell your lawmakers they better not.

H.R. 7 - Life Affirming Medical Care for Women

Summary: Extremely offensive resolution attempting to medically regulate women's bodies - could also have implications for the trans community, amongst others. This wording is especially concerning: "Whereas health care for women should also address the needs of men, families, and communities as they relate to women’s health care;" This resolution can catch itself on fire and go back to hell, where it was originally written.

Call or Email the Smithsonian Directly - LGBTQIA2S+ Activism

Summary: Cuban-born queer artist Felix González-Torres piece called "Untitled" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), a pile of shiny candies in a museum gallery that beckons the observer to grab and eat one, comes with this description: "This is González-Torres's unconventional portrait of his partner, Ross Laycock, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991. The candies' combined weight, 175 pounds, corresponds to Laycock's ideal weight before he got ill. Visitors are invited to sample the sweets. As the candy disappears, the pile shrinks in mass and weight, reenacting the debilitating effects of Laycock's illness." This article describes the piece: "When I understood the profound meaning of this installation as an AIDS memorial, and realized how, as the museum keeps replenishing the pile, Felix is giving his partner eternal life, I burst into tears, experiencing the transformative power of art. Felix, who died from AIDS complications in 1996, invites the viewer to participate in his works, which combine a minimalistic aesthetic with a very personal and political stance imbued with identities tied to race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic and immigrant status." But when they viewed the exhibit in DC in December 2024, the candy was laid out in a line, without the context of the description as a portrait, erasing the history of the AIDS epidemic and a big part of LBGTQIA2S+ history.

Digital Security Checklist for Activists

Plain language steps for digital security. For protecting yourself and helping keep your whole community safer.

While this has some good advice, some of the browsers / email options mentioned may have issues. I'm still looking into it. It seems that Firefox is the go-to from most tech resources. Will update as I get additional info.

Google to Change Gulf of Mexico

On Google Maps:

1. Search “Gulf of America” 2. If you find one, scroll down, select “Edit” 3. Select “Place is closed or not here” 4. Select “Does not exist here” OR “Offensive, harmful, or misleading” OR “Other” 5. Select “Submit”

To add “Gulf of Mexico”:

1. Drop a pin 📍 in the Gulf of Mexico 2. In the menu that appears, select “add a missing place” 3. Fill in the form starting with place name, “Gulf of Mexico” 4. For category, select “Outdoors and recreation”, then “Historical 5. Landmark” OR “Park” OR “Tourist Attraction” 6. For “Located Within” leave blank or fill in “Earth” OR “Northern and Western Hemisphere”, etc. 7. Add more details if so inclined, pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico. 8. Add some photo-ops. 9. Submit.*

*Feel free to submit as many times as you like, anywhere you like within the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a small protest, but hopefully one that will annoy Google, Drump, and Melon. Especially if a lot of people do this. You can also apply this method to Denali.

Please let me know if you have anything that deserves to be added to this list. Obviously, fascists DNE.

The WINS

This section is dedicated to the good news - to knowing that every little thing we do to push back matters.

Women win court ruling blocking Trump’s order to house trans women in men’s prisons

Trump's transphobic order is now blocked nationwide, thanks to three trans inmates and an LGBTQ+ advocacy org. A district judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to forcibly de-transition and house transgender female inmates in male jails and prisons, calling Trump’s order a violation of Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The judge’s order is the second recent legal ruling in favor of trans inmates who oppose Trump’s order, and it applies to all trans inmates nationwide, The Hill reported.

House Dem Proposes Bill Named After Musk Ending Federal Contracts for Special Government Employees

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wash.) introduced a bill Wednesday named Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy (ELON MUSK) Act seeking to ban special government employees from obtaining federal contracts.  “Elon Musk gets more than $20 billion in contracts from the US government and bought his way into a new role in the government where he can direct even more money to himself. Enough,” Pocan wrote in a post on the social platform X, which Musk owns.  ”My new bill, the ELON MUSK Act, will end this grift!” Here's hoping, Mark. Here's hoping.

[disparatemind]

Including SS's of the pertinent info to save/keep for future reference:

THIS IS FUCKING IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE MANDATORY READING/REBLOGGING

I am blatantly anti-conservative and I fully own that bias, but I don't want to spread misinformation because I refuse to check primary sources.

Do your due diligence.

[gingericywolf]

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a species of porpoise endemic to the northen end of the Gulf of California. They are the smallest living cetacean. It is extremely endangerf as it is estimated than there are as few as around 10 left. They are exposed to alteration and pollution of their habitat, but mostly their decline is because of bycatch in nets set out for Totoaba fishing.

The Totoaba or Totuava (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a marine fish endemic to the Gulf of California. Once abundant it is now classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to human threats and illegal fishing.

-

This was the last of the sketches prepared during the Vulnerable Animals Week 2023 and finally reaching completion, the prompt for the day was free and I decided to depict these two species as their conservation is strongly intertwined and the vaquita may become extinct or functionally so within the next years, the small amount of individuals left making the estabilshment of a future healthy population very difficult.

Painting Process

[nagan-t]

verifying source credibilty: the CRAAP test

this is mostly a problem i see in CDD system-oriented discord servers, but i'm sure it exists on sysblr as well.

carrds are not credible sources. tumblr posts are not credible sources. did-research.org is not a medical website.

instead, for research and information related to systems specifically, it would be ideal to look at peer-reviewed journal articles.

but you can't stop there. you also have to consider the relevance of the article you're referencing, who the authors and publisher are, and whether or not the information even holds up to more recent studies. this is where the CRAAP test comes in.

C - Currency When was the information published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated? Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well? Are the links functional?

R - Relevance Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question? Who is the intended audience? Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)? Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use? Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

A - Authority Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations? Is the author qualified to write on the topic? Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address? Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?

.ac.uk = Academic institutions in the UK .com = Commercial sites .edu = Educational institutions .gov = Government .nhs.uk = Health information services in the UK .org = Non-profit organizations .mil = Military .net = Network.

A - Accuracy Where does the information come from? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been reviewed or refereed? Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge? Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion? Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?

P - Purpose What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade? Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear? Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective and impartial? Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

keep in mind this test doesn't at all look at whether or not methods for conducting experiments or studies are effective and valid, but at some point i'd also like to make a post about verifying credibility for academic studies specifically.

next time someone asks for sources don't give them a carrd amen 🙏

[pirates-and-candles]

I was doing some research, as one does, and I came across a website that was so wrong in the opinions of this shitty article I read that I went to their contact form and wrote them a hate letter. These schmucks claim to be about well-researched and accurate articles when the sources on this article either were irrelevant, went nowhere, or refuted their claim. I'm seeing red. This is so fuckign stupid. These dumbasses had a .org in their url, so remember your craaps test for source verification i guess.

[the-indigo-symphony]

It really is concerning that I've now seen multiple "call-outs" based on information that not only isn't given a proper source, but based on what I can figure out, may be sourced from bad actors impersonating and spreading lies about the victim(s) of these call-outs in question. Please remember to always verify if your sources are trustworthy by asking questions such as:

Is this information up-to-date? Was it posted recently enough to probably still be accurate, or has enough time passed that we may have discovered new information on the subject that contradicts or elaborates on this?

Who posted it? Do they have the experience and/or qualifications to know what they're talking about? Can I verify that they are who they say they are? Are they sharing this information second- or third-hand? Are the publisher and author the same? If not, could the relationship between the publisher and author have influenced the text? Have the author and/or publisher published reliable information in the past? Have they published unreliable information in the past? Do they make a habit of either? What patterns can you find in their texts?

Does this sound realistic? If not, am I willing to accept it if I find enough evidence to confirm things really are that strange? If so, am I jumping on the bandwagon too quick due to my emotions (ex. an accusation against someone gets you too angry to stop and think if it's true)? Should I take a step back and revisit this later with fresh eyes? Can this be corroborated by other sources?

Why was this posted? Was it just to share this information? Was it to get people united against a specific, designated enemy? Was it to warn others about something? Was it for a project? Was posting it part of someone's job? What was the base of the information – a social media post? An experiment? A personal experience?

What biases may be present in it? What assumptions does the author make? Does any of it feel like an overreaction, or like someone jumped to conclusions? Am I meant to take it seriously? Is it a joke, or something taken out of context? How would I feel about it if this were in a different context? What is the actual context?

If all this seems like too much for you, don't worry – the base of all this is the CRAAP test, which is a method of determining if information or a source is trustworthy and reliable in what it says. These are simply some of the questions to ask that go along with CRAAP; you don't have to ask every single one of them, but you should at least consider some of them.

Again, please remember to verify your sources. Unfortunately, you never know when some information you come across is going to be false – I mean, hey, can you confirm I'm telling the truth about what the CRAAP test is? If not, you should probably go check by looking it up and using some of the very questions I've listed above to confirm the sources you find are reliable! Good luck out there, and if nothing else, make sure someone doesn't have a known record of being impersonated before you take any claims about them at face value.

[ladyiristheenchantress]

Iris's guide to researching magic

Hello friends! I have been inspired by a witchy discussion and wanted to showcase something significant so This week let’s explore: how to research and study magic! First of all, congrats on continuing on your spiritual and witchy journey! You may have a lot of questions so let me show you how to get started

This first part is on how to formulate your question. If your using traditional means like google, bing, or a library database the first thing you need to do is understand how to formulate your question to get tailored results! Some things may require a language diffrence so using words like “metaphysical” “intentions” or “magical” in your search is going to be awesome! Another factor is keeping it short and sweet So, let’s say you want to know what Quartz does, if you put that phrase into Google your going to get information on LCD screens. Instead, try “Metaphysical properties of Quartz” When you're searching for concepts try looking up historical first! This can help you get used to the language they use to get tailored results An example is: you wouldn’t search “pagan religion” because you’ll get too many resources being thrown at you at once, instead try “how many pagan religions are there?” And you’ll get specialized terms and religions to look at.

The next part is general safety and making sure you are getting accurate Information from a trusted source! Using the CRAAP test can help you evaluate information based on currency, reliability, Authority, Audience, and Purpose! This can help you decipher the intentions of an article or book, like are they trying to sell a product? Push an agenda? This also can help you verify an author! Before reading do a quick search on the author to verify they are not an extremist.

Now, here is the final and one of the most difficult parts. You are going to find good and relevant information however they may conflict. There will never be a universal truth but there may be a culturally accepted truth, as you read don’t disregard conflicting opinions weigh what they are saying against each other and double-check that information! You can find where something is rooted in by checking if it’s historical, influential, or personal! Another rule of thumb to keep in mind is stay away from appropriation. Check out this great culture and religion guide for more information and especially be aware of harmful and cult-like rhetoric that is non-inclusive. Finally, something I need to mention is even if a source appropriate you have the potential to still learn from it, it just depends on how. There are degrees as to what you can and cannot use! An example is: Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck. She appropriated the system of chakras when she is actually using the system of energy centers! (For more information on the appropriation of chakras click here) You can still use all the info about the herbs but you may have the change some language or add some context in your mind. It’s a shame but almost 99% of books and resources written before 2017 appropriate to some level, being aware of how to catch it and what info you can use vs info you have to totally disregard is important. Example of changing language: The word —> what the author usually means Smudging —> cleansing Chakras —> energy centers Chi —> life force Karma —> cosmic Justice Somethings you just can’t mentally replace because the author is fully appropriating, like listing dream catchers, using awful terms like slurs or outdated language, or actively discouraging people to decolonize their practice these resources are the ones you should put down and let others know to be aware of Some lovely research ideas: Witchy and spiritual research Ideas Resources: Tips and tricks for new witches - The Mori Witch Beginners Guide to Spirituality - Kate Truong What should beginners be researching? - @serpentandthreads Being careful on witchblr and what constitutes being a beginner - cinnsmoondtone How can I practice without appropriation?

I hope you all enjoyed!! if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Tip Jar