Note from the author: We lost this post in early 2024. We originally published this post in 2019. Since then, it became one of our top-viewed posts. With the way things have changed and evolved since then, we have an idea as to why this post meant a lot to our community. Throughout the coming months, we’ll continue to restore our previously published work, but we’re so happy to start that process with this post. Enjoy and be well.

Whether you follow me online or not, you’ll soon learn that I am passionate about human rights issues. Well, I’m passionate about solving these issues. I have a lot to share because writing is my ultimate outlet for discerning my feelings about anything. I often share what I’ve discovered because I believe my voice holds value.

And I believe your voice is important, too. You don’t have to be a legislator to have an important voice and use it. If you’re a citizen, you get to have a voice.

But with all the information we can access on our phones, it’s become really difficult to discern reality from “alternative fact.” So whether you’re new to this or you consider yourself a lifelong learner, here are some guidelines I use to formulate my own opinions, interact with other people, and ultimately seek solutions to life’s many problems.

1. Get your news from multiple reliable resources

Twitter, Reddit, Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook are good places to know that something has happened but it should not be your only destination. Reliable websites should share information as-is without a spin or ulterior motive. Here are just a few helpful websites:

• Snopes
• AllSides
• FactCheck.org
• PolitiFact
• ProPublica
• The Washington Post’s Fact Checker
• The_Factivists
• Ground News

2. Value primary resources

A primary resource is essentially a person speaking strictly for themselves or giving an account of their own experience. A secondary resource is someone’s interpretation of the events or a person’s character.

We must scrutinize secondary resources to ensure their intentions are pure and ethical. For example, if I want to know what the Democratic Party stands for, I would talk to the average Democrat; I wouldn’t necessarily talk to a Republican or Independent—especially an individual who strongly disagrees with Democrats. The same goes for any person or organization. Secondary resources still hold value but the point is to prioritize information that is as direct as possible.

Even if you don’t agree with certain groups or individuals, your position or argument is still stronger if you at least understand how they describe themselves first without anyone’s spin on it.

3. Avoid resources with biased language

A news article should be able to clearly get right to the point. The moment they use euphemisms, slurs, nicknames, or any other indication of bias, this resource might not be good enough.

These examples of bias often indicate that they’re not just reporting on an incident; they’re also skewing the lens and appealing to your emotions to convince you to feel a certain way about the issue. Note that sometimes biases may hide in the form of passive tense (e.g. “The people were attacked” to avoid naming the attacker) or by not even sharing the full story.

4. Back up your claim or perspective with multiple sources.

If you can find at least three good resources that confirm a fact (and they also have resources to support their claims), then you can likely trust what they’re saying. As I previously mentioned, we may get incomplete stories in our newsfeeds—sometimes because the story is developing or it benefits someone else that we’re left in the dark on certain details. If you can find sources that back up what you know, you’ve put in the work to discern what’s public knowledge without immediately drawing (possibly ignorant) conclusions.

5. Diversify your following

As you know, the U.S. is made of many different kinds of people. You’re more likely to find and read more primary resources if you follow many different kinds of people.

I’d recommend following local journalists, LGBTQT+ folks, people of other faiths, people of different races, scientists, all kinds of religious leaders, atheists, activists, folks with all kinds of disabilities, poor people, parents, local politicians, and more. Let these people speak for themselves rather than let other groups speak for them.

You’re essentially gathering experiences and perspectives that could qualify as primary resources.

6. Ask questions and come ready to learn

If you approach your social media use with meekness and humility, you can attract people who want to help you understand a topic or debate. I’m speaking from experience—people want to be heard and seen. Ask them for resources to read on your own time. You have the time you need to “catch up”—no matter how ignorant or behind you may feel.

Social media can and should be a place where we exchange information, ideas, and experiences. It does not have to be hostile. Feel free to stop a conversation if it becomes less of an exchange of ideas and more of an exchange of personal attacks.

7. Analyze the true intention

Even if someone has a blue check next to their name, it doesn’t always mean they’re a good resource. How do you feel when you interact with them? What does your intuition tell you? Consider what the person wants you to feel or how they want you to react. Are they purposefully using triggering, divisive, or pessimistic language? Do they want you to distrust or hate other groups of people? Or, do they want you to find common ground, use your agency to help your community, or see you as a valuable human being?

Note: some people use blunt language that may hurt your feelings or make you feel uncomfortable. Just because someone is yelling or direct doesn’t necessarily indicate that they’re mean or untrustworthy. I’d recommend looking up the term tone policing to ensure you look past the tone and analyze the argument.

8. Be willing to unlearn some things

As a human being, you are allowed to change your mind or shift your worldview as many times as you want. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or you’re wishy-washy.

We believe in growth and change. It may mean giving up false information or assumptions. It’s not a fun or short process, but it’s invaluable work. You’ll likely be perceptive to more factual information as well as be more exposed to viable solutions.

An example would be wondering how to celebrate Columbus Day or Thanksgiving after truly learning about the mass genocide of Native Americans. It’s certainly not fun to realize that Columbus and other early historical figures did a lot of terrible, immoral things. Many states choose to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead; this is an appropriate way to unlearn some things, grow, and make the cultural shifts that too many people once thought were impossible.

Some of these things you’ll unlearn will be stereotypes or assumptions that you learned from people close to you. Even if these people are good and honorable, they will not be experts in someone else’s experiences. Letting things go means believing primary sources and giving more scrutiny to other types of sources.

9. Set healthy boundaries

Part of being open to all kinds of viewpoints means setting boundaries. Otherwise, it’ll feel like drinking from a firehose. It can be detrimental to your mental health if you’re exposed to the news 24/7. Commit to an hour of research a day, for example. If you find harmful resources, block them or unfollow them so you spend your time reading unbiased, constructive information.

Also, don’t engage with every person online. There are accounts and bots whose sole purpose is to sow seeds of discontent, malice, and hate. Bots are getting trickier with time, so it’s understandable if they “trick” you. These platforms do not deserve your time because they are not interested in meaningful discussion. Their motive is to upset average folks and they “win” when you take the bait and argue with them. They cannot be reasoned with, so spend your energy on folks who want to learn from you and with you.

If you feel strongly about something, it’s not your responsibility to prove to everyone that you are right. It’s more important to know what you believe in your heart no matter what naysayers will say. This will mean bowing out of fruitless arguments and not having the last word. It can be a real day-ruiner but you don’t have to “win” every battle to win the war.

The truth always wins in the end, and sometimes, it helps to sit back and admire your hard work. The truth isn’t always pretty but I personally would rather know the truth than be kept away from it. And my efforts mean that those who tried to keep me docile and ignorant actually failed.

10. Value the free press

The moment we lose the freedom of the press or freedom of speech, we are really in trouble. The press is not perfect because it’s conducted and owned by imperfect people, to put it mildly. However, I’d rather see extreme news sources like Breitbart exist rather than no news sources at all. I’d rather see a range of political beliefs than only have sanctioned media or propaganda.

Do not always gravitate towards people who say “you can’t believe the news” because it’s very likely that the news is exposing them for who they are, or exposing them to uncomfortable feelings. Besides, if they don’t trust the news, where are they getting their information and have they properly vetted those sources? It’s unlikely that they are following the other guidelines listed here, so wish them a good day and move on if needed.

11. Refresh yourself on logical fallacies

Often, people hide behind logical fallacies to protect the information they wish was true. For example, if I met a mean Republican, it would be unfair and untrue for me to say “all Republicans are mean.” It’s unfair because that statement is hyperbolic and a major assumption. I haven’t literally met every Republican and I didn’t consult any data or research to make that unfair statement.

Here’s a list of all fallacies. Avoid using them and avoid people who rely on them.

A distant cousin of logical fallacies is “whataboutism.” Essentially when someone responds with “Well, what about ___?” they are steering the conversation away. That’s a red herring, which is a type of logical fallacy. Resist the urge to give in to that distraction and stick with the issue or topic at hand, or discontinue the conversation if it isn’t going anywhere.

In my experience, if someone is hiding behind logical fallacies, they’re putting the burden of research and the mental load of world-changing onto someone else. “Well, XYZ is the problem.” They’ve shut down and wish we’d do the same.

Just like every voice is inherently valuable, think about the work we could accomplish if everyone did this mental work on their own and as a community. If we shed our ignorance together (as hard as that can be), we’d have a fighting chance of protecting each other’s rights and solving these deeply-rooted issues.

12. Avoid hot takes

A hot take may remind you of the phrase “hot off the press.” That’s because a hot take is your initial, fresh response to a news headline. We see explosive news stories every day—every hour. Follow the other guidelines listed here before solidifying your opinion. We almost always need to wait for more information to avoid claiming something we may regret.

We have instant access to other people’s opinions but that doesn’t mean we have to offer an instant opinion, either. Your analysis of a problem will be more logical if you ponder all the information and calmly form an opinion.

More importantly: if you share a hot take and realize you weren’t completely correct, please share that correction and apologize. We need to see more genuine apologies online. It’s okay to admit that you jumped the gun as long as you establish the real truth, too.

13. Have hope in something

If you want to be perpetually miserable, then follow pessimistic folks who tell you that your work or voice doesn’t matter. Keep following people who shrug and say that things are “too complicated” and we won’t see change in our lifetimes. If someone dissuades you from learning or taking action, they likely want you to feel immobilized so they can continue to push their agenda undeterred.

If there is a problem, there is always a solution. There’s always a way out. Some problems are more complicated than others but it’s worth it to try. Part of solving human rights issues is to take steps towards a better future.

Have hope that you can make a difference, even if your actions aren’t public or grandiose. I see it every day—people use their voices and actions to lift up other people. You are creating ripples that will affect everyone around you.

I strongly urge you to avoid people who only share information to dim your shine or make you feel insignificant. Who benefits from your silence? Always ponder the motives behind every statement.

So there you have it! This is my go-to list of guidelines for fearlessly seeking the truth. Do you have more ideas that I should add? What has especially helped you? I’d love to hear your input in the comments or on social media.