“No, he’s definitely alive”. “He can’t still be alive – he must be at least 100 years old by now”. “I can’t believe he is dead. I only saw him on telly last month”.
“Dead or Alive?” used to be a fun segment filler on many radio stations in the past. Radio presenters would throw out a quick question to listeners to get them to phone in with their responses as to whether well-known celebrities are still with us or whether they are pushing up the daisies.
It used to spark interesting arguments amongst friends. But that was in the good old days before the internet.
News and opinion
These days, a similar phone-in would probably last for no more than a few seconds. That is roughly the length of time it would take for us to consult the all-knowing Google.
The internet, it has to be said, has changed our lives appreciably. Being able to connect to the World Wide Web has, for many, become as important as a regular supply of gas, running water, and uninterrupted electricity.
Especially so in the past few months, as we rely on the internet for our work, lessons, and even exercise regimes. Zoom yoga lessons, anyone?
The internet is now the prime source of information for many people. We rely on it for news, for opinions and even for recommendations.
How many of us, I wonder, will seek out the opinions of strangers on the internet before we try out a new restaurant or a new holiday destination? Lots of us, I suspect.
For some inexplicable reason, we are quite prepared to trust the assessment of someone we don’t know. We have no idea as to whether they have a vested interest, a stakeholder interest or a financial interest in providing their opinion. But we still take it as gospel.
Fluffy cat
I remember taking a trip to Bali several years ago. I booked the excursion through a reputable travel agency. The first inkling I had that something could be amiss was when a furry creature scuttled across the dining room floor. Was it a fluffy cat? No, it was a scruffy rat.
But guess what? When I checked on the internet later on, the hotel had a string of glowing recommendations.
It would seem that believing the things we read on the internet has become quite commonplace these days. But it is important for us to differentiate between fact and opinion.
Facts are indisputable. They can be checked and verified. If I said the Straits Times Index rose from 2,582 points at the turn of the Millennium to 3,276 points 14 years later, those facts can be checked in an instant. And if I said Jardine Matheson was the best-performing company within the index during that time – thate fact can also be tested.
An opinion, on the other hand, is based on a belief or view. It cannot be substantiated. Nor can it be corroborated. For example, if I said DBS is Singapore’s best company, then that would only be my opinion. There might be good reasons for me to make the assertion. But not everyone might agree with them.
A revelation
I am, it has to be said, an unapologetic income investor. But there are many who may prefer other styles of investing such as growth or value.
There are also some investors who utilise a mix of styles. Or those who change their styles as their life goals change. And that is perfectly okay.
If you are new to investing, it is more than possible that you may not know precisely, or even vaguely, the type of investor you are. That, too, is perfectly understandable. It took me years to find out “Who I really was”. But once I did, it was a revelation. It made me a better investor.
Almost immediately, I was comfortable with the stocks that I selected for my portfolio. I could, quite simply, sleep well at night, knowing that when stock markets fall, I can buy more of what I like at a better price. And if prices go up, then I just buy a little less.
That, by the way, is a fact, rather than an opinion.
Want to know what stocks we like for our portfolio? See for yourself now. Simply CLICK HERE to scoop up a FREE copy of our special report. As a bonus, we also highlight 6 blue chips stocks trading at a 10-year low. But you will want to hurry – this free report is available for a brief time only.
Click here to like and follow us on Facebook and here for our Telegram group.
Disclaimer: David Kuo does not own any of the companies mentioned.
