I read a great article today from one of my favorite writers, Caitlin Johnstone. We don't share the same political beliefs, but her ability to call bullshit is what makes me like her so much. Her article "The Healthy Way to Hold a Conspiracy Theory," is something I talk to people about a lot. (Article linked below).
We hold onto our beliefs so tight that we refuse to see other perspectives and no amount of evidence will pull us away from what we believe. We stay in our tunnels and only read or watch the views we believe in. I would say that I am guilty of this as well, I do not watch any MSMBS whatsoever. But I also read people like Johnstone, because she is so good at calling out the hypocrisy of the empire.
The thing I tell people who I have discussions with about religion, politics, identity politics, Russiagate, or pretty much anything else, it's best to live in a state of wonderment. For example, I was a big supporter of the grassroots movement Black Lives Matter. I then learned they received millions from George Soros and I noticed how much media attention they got. I now look at them with a discerning eye, because you cannot be a grassroots movement when you get millions from a psychopath, and the MSMBS doesn't give any attention to movements that will really effect change.
Allow your beliefs to be swayed by new information, but also don't be so soft that anyone can sway you by yelling nonsense. Look at many sources of information and remember the world is not black and white. A life of wonderment, to allow yourself to be curious and surprised seems a lot more fun.
Johnstone Article:
https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/the-healthy-way-to-hold-a-conspiracy-theory-947c6462e061