The basis for assumptions

To get an accurate picture of what the reality looks like is hard or probably impossible. But to get as close as possible it is important that the information you gather is based on facts. It's not always easy to know what is fact, and to make it even harder, things that are fact today may not be facts tomorrow if new information arises. So how do we know what information to trust or what sources that are reliable?

It is my opinion that the information that we base our reality upon is many times controlled by our emotions and values. When we choose what "facts" that seem right to us, when we interpret the information and when we put it together with what we already know, most people do this by following their emotions and their values. If information clashes too strongly with those emotions and values, it might be easier to rely on other information. This is something that probably happens to all of us, although some people have probably learned how to keep their emotions out of it a lot better than others.

Being critical is very important, but also very hard. Especially if the thing that you should be critical against comes from somewhere or someone that you respect, admire or have positive feelings towards. When you review information from trusted sources, you should always ask yourself whether the information seems to be plausible, even if it is factually substantiated.

To make sure that you are not being led by someone else's agenda, or blinded by your commitment or emotions in regards to your own agenda, it is important to obtain information from various sources and various media. Being open minded to others opinions and other peoples version of something is another vital part of keeping yourself free from bias.

It is easy to state the things that gets you closer to an accurate picture of reality:

- Keeping your emotions at bay

- Choosing information that is based on facts

- Being critical

- Obtaining information from various sources

- Being open minded to other versions of "the truth"

However, it is not always that we remember to do this. A part of a strong community is the willingness to ask questions while listening to others opinions and making choices thereafter.

I love debate, or rather, I love intelligent debate. What I mean with that is that it often is very counter productive to be debating someone that is highly emotional, angry and upset, non factual and not open to new information. Such an individual has usually made up his mind even before the debate starts and is unlikely to change or compromise on it, regardless of how compelling your arguments against it are.

Debate is what keeps us true to our words and true to each other. I am always open to other peoples opinions and welcome new information that will bring me closer to the accurate picture of reality.