Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Beale
Historians attempt to interpret and draw conclusions from incomplete data, the proviso being that you must acknowledge that this is what you are doing.
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I have to disagree with the above, Nick. Pseudo-historians may attempt to do the above; I would suggest real historians do not do that. I don't claim to be any kind of historian - I just gathered information over the decades and presented it. Aside from actual facts, that's all you can do.
Once someone attempts to interpret and draw conclusions from incomplete data, then they are entering the realm of speculation, and leaving themselves open to getting things wrong. The classic example of such a thing is something I have mentioned on social media several times to illustrate my point. Why did Rubensdörffer attack Croydon, not Kenley, in the early evening of 15th August 1940. People can speculate until the cows come home, but only Rubensdörffer knows why, and he perished in the aftermath of the raid.