The Pros of ProCon

When I first looked at this website I was overwhelmed by all the links. However, looking through the website I realized that more links meant more information. It's clear from the beginning that the makers of this website are transparent about their work. Wouldn't you be pleased to know that each of their "standard sites" takes over 1,500 hours to build? It sounds thorough enough for me. As you scroll down the front page you see all updates from the past 30 days. Having information that readily available to you is a plus, but knowing the information is recent is even better.

The first issue I clicked on was "Euthanasia." Again, the website is transparent about their methods. They include an editor's note that says, "We do not recommend or refer specific physicians, organizations, or other experts on end-of-life issues." The pros and cons from the experts are easy to follow because of the two-column layout. It also seems to me that the amount of information on each side is relatively balanced. I like the idea of having "Top 10 Pros and Cons," because I feel like when people are arguing they eventually scrounge for ideas that don't carry a significant amount of weight for the issue.

Definitions, diseases, legal issues, moral questions, etc. are listed on many of the issues' main pages. I think this is a great way to encourage people to educate themselves. The information is so easy to find it's hard not to inform yourself.

The line between a pro and a con can be blurry. For each of the Top 10 Pros and Cons only one of each are listed. There is no way of telling whether the information given on one side is as powerful as the information given on the other. Overall though, I feel like this is a great tool to help citizens take initiative. It helps turn the uninterested public into a more interested public. People who may feel too ashamed to ask controversial questions can find answers for themselves confidentially. ProCon.org is great example of unbiased information--truly committed to the well-being of its audience.