James_Rose's Blog

My dad used to say “don’t believe anything you hear, and only believe half of what you see.”  (…and yes, I do realize he was probably quoting something he heard)  But there is merit to the phrase, wherever it comes from.  We skeptical reporters try and independently confirm EVERYTHING we hear, or at least tell you who said it.   

That leads me to the next part of the quote… “…only believe half of what you see.”  This part is a really big deal!  Especially if based on “your” eye witness testimony puts someone in jail for decades!   I hope you take the opportunity to check out my story on police photo lineups.  It will show you first hand how what you think you saw… may not really be what (or who) you saw at all. 

Thirteen people in Dallas County alone in the last six years have been cleared by DNA evidence, meaning the “eye witnesses” who said these people committed a crime, in fact DID NOT.   You have to give the Dallas Police Department credit in trying something new with sequential photo lineups.  At least it’s a step in the right direction.   And that reminds me of something else my dad used to say “, lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.”