[bsd44]

I agree, this is probably the best approach. Stop, breathe, apply critical thinking and give it some time to process the information and see how it fits into the big picture. You need to detach yourself emotionally from the issue you're trying to observe and evaluate (aka don't choose sides, it's not a football match). And as ever; if in doubt, go against the majority. That's your safest bet. The average person is more or less an idiot (I don't mean this as an insult, I'm not sure how to explain it in just a few words).

[willismichael]

> The average person is more or less an idiot

No insult taken. Upon observing this same phenomenon, I am forced to conclude that I must also be more or less an idiot.

[tragictrash]

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

I am also an idiot.

[Beltiras]

I am not an idiot. I may occasionally be ill informed resulting in sub optimal decisions or advice. Which is kind of the point of the question. How do you evaluate information? Do you trust Big Media? Do you trust grainy videos from the war zones? So you trust the declaration of the leaders at war?

I don't think there's a clear cut answer to any of these questions. Your truth will be a mix of your prejudices and the incoming information.