What's the Source of That Information?

A story comes to your ears. You see something online. How valid is the source of the information? We've all heard that joke. "I saw it on the Internet, it must be true." You can take any position you like these days, and find someone who will not only validate it, but be ready to fight for it.

To actually think is a difficult thing. To sift through the shifting sands, looking for the magic bottle that contains the real message, takes more patience than most people have.

With critical thinking, however, it becomes necessary to do that hard work. In order to have a truly original idea or a position that is worth defending, you must find out the source of the information and test it for reliability. then comes the real work, of not only understanding the matter, but of looking for positive and creative ways to consider it.

There are times when that can be extremely difficult. There may be an injustice that has gone on for far too long. A tragedy, a life cut short, a disaster. What can be the meaning of this?

Having real and accurate information is the only way to truly think creatively. Far too often, people simply react to disturbing events and hide behind points of view that others have created rather than make the effort to consider things from more than one angle. Looking at things written or presented by people you disagree with can give you fresh insights into something and make you think that maybe you didn't understand it so well, after all.

Check your facts, read people you disagree with. Then when you do take a position, you will have the knowledge of how to defend it properly. Your ideas will be sound. You may or may not ever change someone else's mind. At least you will know and understand your own.