Distinguishing Fact from Opinion.

[Robittybob1]

That doesn't apply in this case.

Are you looking at just a specific case?  I was looking at it more from a moderators POV, assessing whether is it fact or opinion or is it just plain factually incorrect .

[Mr Gray]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569143/Madeleine-McCann-Possible-translation-errors.html

this is the best I can find at the moment but I seem to remember there was an article in the mail that was more precise...will keep looking

[Robittybob1]

My opinion is that the statements themselves are facts. I know they are because I can see and read them.

Others, including you, assert that their contents aren't factual, but I have seen no evidence which confirms that.

People's opinions concerning misinterpretations and faulty translations are not, in my opinion, supported by any evidence.

Statements - I was thinking all you can say about a statement is that "Witness x states"  Whatever a person states could be a truth or a lie.  So it is not a fact as such IMO.

[Robittybob1]

So where does Rebelo make the statement claimed ?

The claim "that Rebelo admitted that there could be mistakes in the translations?" Is factually incorrect based on that article.   It is not an opinion but a "factually incorrect" statement.

[G-Unit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569143/Madeleine-McCann-Possible-translation-errors.html

this is the best I can find at the moment but I seem to remember there was an article in the mail that was more precise...will keep looking

I appreciate your effort Davel, thank you. I don't think you'll find anything which quotes Rebelo, but good luck.

[G-Unit]

Statements - I was thinking all you can say about a statement is that "Witness x states"  Whatever a person states could be a truth or a lie.  So it is not a fact as such IMO.

It's a fact that statements exist. What is said in them may or may not be factual.

[Mr Gray]

It's a fact that statements exist. What is said in them may or may not be factual.

Correct.... And the signature on the mccAns statement  shows they have seen it.... But not that they understand  it.... That's how uk law works... I would think Portugal is similar

[G-Unit]

Correct.... And the signature on the mccAns statement  shows they have seen it.... But not that they understand  it.... That's how uk law works... I would think Portugal is similar

I think you are wrong. In both countries a witness signing a statement means they are ratifying it in my opinion.

ratify
ˈratɪfʌɪ/Submit
verb
sign or give formal consent to (a treaty, contract, or agreement), making it officially valid.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ratify&oq=ratify&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3564j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

What a signature means in the UK;

Witness statements must:

Start with the name of the case and the claim number;
State the full name and address of the witness;
Set out the witness's evidence clearly in numbered paragraphs on numbered pages;
End with this paragraph:  'I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true.' and
be signed by the witness and dated.

[Robittybob1]

It's a fact that statements exist. What is said in them may or may not be factual.

that is similar to what I said. 

[slartibartfast]

Statements - I was thinking all you can say about a statement is that "Witness x states"  Whatever a person states could be a truth or a lie.  So it is not a fact as such IMO.

If you say A said X and have proof that A said X then that is fact. You are not saying X is a fact.

[Robittybob1]

If you say A said X and have proof that A said X then that is fact. You are not saying X is a fact.

If A = Kate McCann most of the people on social media will agree X is not a fact (based on personal experience).    But I tend to the opinion they are wrong.

[Alice Purjorick]

We seem to be on a hiding to nothing here.
Four pages and no consensus on what is an easy task.

Opinion: a belief or feeling held that cannot be proven.
Fact: a statement that can be proven to be true or false.
Being argumentative by nature I can see why supporters "do" opinion rather than fact.

Thought for the day:
Were there a contract that was simply to pluck silver bars from a tree and flog them down the local market this forum would probably lose money at it.

[Mr Gray]

We seem to be on a hiding to nothing here.
Four pages and no consensus on what is an easy task.

Opinion: a belief or feeling held that cannot be proven.
Fact: a statement that can be proven to be true or false.
Being argumentative by nature I can see why supporters "do" opinion rather than fact.

Thought for the day:
Were there a contract that was simply to pluck silver bars from a tree and flog them down the local market this forum would probably lose money at it.

A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true..... But proved to whose, satisfaction and what level of proof
It's not as, simple as you think

[G-Unit]

If A = Kate McCann most of the people on social media will agree X is not a fact (based on personal experience).    But I tend to the opinion they are wrong.

If someone says something it's a fact that they said it. What they actually said can be a true fact, a lie, an opinion or a mistake.

[Alice Purjorick]

A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true..... But proved to whose, satisfaction and what level of proof
It's not as, simple as you think

You make my point for me vis a vis plucking silver bars from trees then losing money at it.