I am a huge advocate for lifelong learning. I think it’s important to continuously develop oneself, learn new things, and gain new skills.
While I am currently enrolled in a formal learning program, finishing my Bachelors in Business, I don’t think formal learning programs are always the best way to learn. They certainly don’t hurt, and employers recognize formal programs, not informal learning, so it will pay off in the long run, but after I finish my degree in August I have every intention to continue to learn.
Aside from perhaps going back to get my Masters in a few years, most of my post-college learning will be informal.
While lots of what I’ve learned from school has certainly be absorbed (after all, teachers DO love to drive things into your head), It’s amazing how much I’ve been absorbing without even knowing that I’ve been learning things.
One thing I love about blogging is the sharing of knowledge. There’s just so much out there and I read all of my favorite blogs by choice, so I absorb a lot of information while reading them that I may not if I were reading a textbook. My instructors always reprimand us for using blogs as sources when doing a paper, because they consider blogs unreliable.
While certainly some of them are, I like to give my blogger peers more credit than that.
I’ve been blogging for almost two years now, and have been reading other people’s blogs for about that amount of time. I think I’ve learned a lot, and that was proven recently.
Since I’m currently doing my final courses of my degree, we have a major field test (MFT) that we have to do, which ranks the university that I go to against other universities in North America (and other universities against each other). The MFT is done by all business school students and is a tool for comparison.
Much of the test is finance centered, despite there being several other focuses that one can study in business (Marketing, Human Resources, Accounting, etc). I had one finance class, which I am taking right now, so my previous learning has been almost non existent in the formal sense of the word.
We were warned to begin with that most students would likely pass but not by much, unless they were finance or accounting majors. When I took the test last week, it did prove to be very finance centered.
I got my mark back for the test last week. I didn’t study at all prior to the test (what? It didn’t affect my mark 
) and I learned that I got one of the best marks in my class – what would translate to a B+ if it translated over to marks.
I definitely attribute my success on this test to the blogs I read on financial topics. While I don’t really care what I got on the test, I love that my grade clearly reflects, to me, the quality of information that bloggers know and share.
Do you trust the information given to you by bloggers?
Many bloggers are quite intelligent and are considered experts in their respective fields.
So, yes, there are several I trust and try to learn from when I can.
Of course, there are also complete whack-jobs out there spouting off pure opinion and false data.
You just have to be diligent and question everything you read online. If something looks odd- see if you can find the info somewhere else online (or offline if necessary).
Congrats on your test!
I love the information given by bloggers. I like to read about real life experiences rather than learning straight out of a textbook. Of course you have to be able to trust the blogger, but I have found many blogs that I trust and learn from.
There is validity from formal learning also but it’s easier to relate with a blogger.
I know what you mean, Daisy. Informal learning in so great, that is why *if* my kids are watching TV, I always ask them to watch something educational.
I have learned a ton from reading PF blogs.. They have a knack for taking complex topics and breaking it down into easy to understand concepts and anecdoes.
Generally I would say I do trust the information from bloggers. Of course some are more credible than others, but I am also able to pick and choose which ones I believe and which ones I don’t.
I do trust the information. I would like to think that bloggers research their information or at least disclose the extent of their knowledge.
I do tend to trust bloggers information as well. What I love about blogs is you can have every level and shade of differences between them that you can simply glean things from them that will work for “you” and follow the ones that suit your individual style more.
I don’t feel that many bloggers are out there to intentionally mislead people, so yes I would generally trust their information. But like most things in this world I do my own fact checks if I get that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Generally, yeah, I trust the information I read in blogs. If I’ve chosen to subscribe to a given blog, I have an inherent trust in the blogger. If the blogger then goes on to cite sources and/or give sound examples (even anecdotal) to back up their statements, that garners more of my trust. Then, if multiple bloggers seem to come to the same conclusion, hot dog – I believe it!
There are some bloggers that I do trust more than others. This is based on my own experience with their content, amount of citation (honestly), and how long I’ve been reading them (easier to trust someone I’ve “known” longer).
Something that I like is the breadth of knowledge share, the random tidbits to pick up that you wouldn’t know otherwise. Also the different perspectives on things, and having the opportunity to learn about/from people with very different backgrounds or situations than your own.
I take all info with a grain of salt, mostly because blog are just opinions. I tend to think of them as nuggets of wisdom. I take tiny pieces of info and try to apply them and see if they work. But it’s amazing just how much learning can be done through the interwebz.
That awesome feeling when you didn’t study and still passed with flying colours. I trust most of the stuff I hear from bloggers
, I’ve learned a lot from them over the years too. Sometimes I like to double check the facts on Google just to make sure though.
I would like to think that bloggers are either experts in their field or at least source out the information they present or use personal experience with examples.
Sometimes it’s best to have the professionals come in and guest post on topics that you think they can best explain.I tend to do this on my blog.It’s like hiring the plumber to do the plumbing because you know you shouldn’t be doing it.
Do I trust all bloggers? I always do my own homework when I’m spending money but for the most part yes.I think it’s up to the reader to make informed decisions and if that means calling a professional then so be it.
I’m not a professional advisor and I let everyone know that.I give my opinion and show what I do to save money in my budget. I use lots of tips and my own financial numbers. If people chose to use my info that’s great but I always advise speaking to a professional.
Great Post!
Cheers,
Mr.CBB
Having followed blogs more in the past 6 months than I ever have in my life, I certainly have come to respect the thoughts of other bloggers. I don’t think you can be full of crap and be successful.
Maybe you can…but everybody I follow seems to know what they’re talking about!
Congrats on not having to study too and getting a good grade. That’s awesome!
I enjoy the information given from other bloggers because most offer a different perspective.
I love reading PF blogs and “Mom” blogs because I enjoy hearing the differences in people’s perspectives on these topics. Sometimes you learn something new!
As a kid, I remember my very successful cousin buying all the (New York) Sunday newspapers. In those days there were about six (6) papers. I remember I asked why? He said if you read a lot you will be successful. I took what he said to heart and read more than ever from a lot of different sources including the internet, blogging, books, magazines and newspapers.
I trust bloggers but if I ever have to make an important details vision I make sure to do a little research as well. Sometimes they will miss small things that don’t effect most but do effect me.
I’m with Lance, I love that so many bloggers out there are covering a huge range of subjects, but for the more important areas, I’m probably using that more as a starting point for additional research. It not a lack of trust so much as it is my desire to know the ins and outs a bit better. I think the best thing out there in the blogosphere is simply the number of posts and articles on topics I really didn’t know existed, or at least didn’t bother thinking about.
That’s a great example of how valuable blogs are. I certainly trust bloggers (most), but I am still critical of everything that is written, making sure to evaluate each point on its own merit.
Trust, yes. I have my master’s, and I have to say I’ve learned more from the PF community in the last few months than I have in quite some time. The difference is book-knowledge vs. real-world street smarts, I think…
You definitely have to be careful when obtaining facts online. I always consider the experience and credentials of the author. That’s not to say that you must have a background on the area you are writing about – just take that into consideration.
First, allow me to congratulate you on passing the MFT test, as well as getting one of the best marks in your class.
Second, while your instructors are correct in cautioning you about using blogs as sources for your term papers, it’s not fair for them to assume that blogs are entirely unreliable. What many people fail to realize is that many bloggers are highly trained and experienced experts in their niches. In fact, a large number of them hold advanced degrees in business and science, and many more are medical doctors and licensed attorneys.
Instead, I would suggest that when using blogs for written school assignments that it’s best first to consider the source before using it.
Yes, I do. If I was going to do something major, like get a mortgage, or choose and investment, I’d definitely do some more research, but I think bloggers are a great resource!
Great post! My answer is: it depends. If you never were in debt, don’t teach me how to get out of debt because no matter what you say, I know – you never experienced it, you simply don’t know how it feels to be in debt at the first place. Makes sense?
I wouldn’t be blogging if i thought I had no impact on readers. Good blogs do inspire, uplift, and educate. Over the last several years blogs and the Internet at large has helped educate. I see it in my life. You can focus on the interests to your hearts content. When you have the worlds knowledge at your fingertips, how powerful is that? Plus it’s fun.
In my experience, there are bloggers of all stripes out there — some who are highly informed and insightful, some who are not, and some in the middle. I approach blogs with an open mind, and if I decide that I think that the author has something insighful to say, I continue to read his/her blog. If not, I usually just knock that one off my reading list.
I trust most bloggers; if I read something that doesn’t make sense I’ll verify from another source, or just not use the info. But even though I have an MBA, I find a LOT of finance bloggers know their stuff!
I agree with Paula’s answer wholeheartedly. It sounds like your professors have an incomplete perspective of blogging. Some bloggers are first-class subject matter experts, often with more experience and credentials that some of the faculty members. To discount their opinions based on the medium they choose to deliver it is utterly ridiculous. However, there are others who write about how to same money on soap. You get the point.
It’s so important to never be done learning. I could not love the blog world more and I always get upset when I read articles about how blogs are a dying art or going away, or “no one reads blogs anymore.” HELLO, YES WE DO.
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I believe in following the “trust, but verify” method.
When I come across some information that is new to me, unless the blog screams “whack job” to me, I trust that the blogger is correct, but do a little more research on the topic before I take it as fact.
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I think there are definitely some blogs out there that have some really great information, and can be great sources. I think a lot depends on what you’re looking for, though; if I’m looking for a recipe, or tips on getting organized, or ideas to save money I’m very happy to turn to blogs for advice. For a serious health problem probably not so much.
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