How we work
We teach people to recognise tricks, not who to vote for. Here is where our examples come from, who prepares the texts, how we use AI, how we are funded and what we do when we get something wrong.
Where the examples come from and why they are made up
We made up every example on the site based on what warnings from the Czech police, banks and the Czech Trade Inspection describe. We change names, numbers and addresses so that the example harms no one and can't be passed around as a real message. When an example is based on a message from a reader, we say so right next to it.
Text message from an unknown number
Your parcel is awaiting a payment of EUR 1.99 (note 1). Pay within 24 hours (note 2) or it will be returned (note 3): parcel-track.delivery-info.example (note 4)
- note 1, “EUR 1.99”: Small sum: it doesn't feel risky
- note 2, “within 24 hours”: Deadline: no time left to check
- note 3, “or it will be returned”: Threat: fear beats caution
- note 4, “parcel-track.delivery-info.example”: The address only imitates a carrier
The label above an example always says where it comes from. The red pencil marks the trick and the number leads to the explanation.
Who the editorial team is
The ThinkCritical.eu editorial team (Kriticky.cz in Czech) is led by founder Pavel Cinkeis, MBA, MPA. We prepare texts, examples and translations with the help of artificial intelligence tools. What gets published is decided and approved by a human.
How we check
- Key claims should have a linked source. For courses, you will find the main sources on the course page; for articles and tricks we are gradually adding them to the “How we prepared this” box.
- We only move the “checked” date after a real check.
- Until someone has gone through a text again against its sources, we only show “updated” and the date of the last edit. “Checked” with the month of the check appears once the check has happened.
We teach people to recognise tricks, not who to vote for
We analyse mechanisms, not parties or politicians. Every political example must pass the party-swap test: if we swap the parties in the example, it must work just the same.
How we are funded
Most courses are free. Paid courses, gift vouchers and training for organisations pay for running the site. There are no ads on the site and we don't sell your data.
The site is operated by FENDR s.r.o., company ID 07899653, Nerudova 390, 472 01 Doksy, Česká republika. It is the company of the founder, Pavel Cinkeis, who is also its managing director. Entry in the Czech business register (ARES) ↗
For customers in countries other than the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the operator's partner and representative is Prudentia Capital OÜ (Ahtri tn 12, 15551 Tallinn, Estonia).
Corrections
Every correction that changes the meaning of a text is recorded here with a date: what was wrong and what is correct now.
So far we haven't corrected anything that would change the meaning of a text.
Found a mistake? Write to us at mysli@kriticky.cz, or use the “Report a mistake” link at the end of each lesson.