My way isn't necessarily the best way mind you.* I just like
   keeping a clear head so I can deal with issues at the time I
   need to. Example: I have a lot of friends online and I have
   family in person. Many of them are news hounds.* They love
   staying up to date. Some have personal causes, personal
   missions, things that are important to them. Now, how do *we*
   find out about the news? The media.* They scour the world and
   decide what will get people to view their news channel or buy
   their newspapers.* Therefore, they pick the stories that will
   cause the largest emotional impact in us and that is what we
   find out about, because advertisers pay for the news, nearly all
   of it. Just how it is. Now we have the news.* We don't hear
   everything that's going on, because we can't.* Brainspace too
   small, media too limited. Within my online friends and family,
   the news filters through their brains, their opinions, their
   feelings.* They don't tell me everything they see, because I
   don't ask. But - if they feel it is *really important* for me to
   know, they'll tell me. Since my friendships/family is valuable
   to me, what's important to them, is important to me. So I
   listen. Then I research.* First I learn more about their
   opinion. Then I look for at least one opposing position, but
   preferably I look for three or more perspectives. Typically I
   only find two - theirs and their "opposite"; and sometimes the
   opposing position is *very very difficult* to find.* Two isn't
   usually enough, but if it's what I have to go with, then that's
   what I go with. With multiple opinions in hand, I think through
   the history of similar situations.* I try to go as far back in
   history as i can, with the little I know. I take in to account
   cultural differences, misunderstandings of language (the one for
   Islam and Muslim is an interesting mistake Westerners make and
   leads to great misunderstandings), etc. Then I form an opinion.
   Once I've formed an opinion, I keep listening to whoever is
   talking to revise my opinion if it's mistaken, but at least I
   have something to contribute, because my friends will talk about
   it and I like being friendly. I often take the opposite point of
   view, if there were only two choices.* I try to find a 3rd point
   of view when I can, if not more though. I do this to engage in
   conversation , so that they can really have a chance to think
   critically about their position.* I will know enough about a
   different opinion to be intelligent, give a decent debate and
   sometimes in the end, change my opinion to theirs. I do this,
   because people like debating things they're passionate about.
   And those that like to express an opinion and then RUN... I go,
   "No - no no no no, you wait a minute here.* I listened to you;
   listen to ANOTHER opinion that's not the same as yours". In the
   end, I just want to make my coffee, eat, poop, take a nap. But
   I'll debate.** I give friends what they want sometimes
   agreement, but usually a challenge so they can figure out if
   they *really* believe something or if they're just parroting,
   because I believe that unchallenged opinions shared by many only
   leads to trouble.* Every time.