Skeptic Project

I'm just coming from a discussion between a Marxist turned Social Market Economy-proponent and good ol' CJ and I was curious whether my way of arriving at new points of view is typical.

I've grown into a kind of a contrarian mindset, as positive change will naturally require you to think differently, look for new solutions, yada yada.

Thus, if something sparks my interest, I usually try to get my hands on the primary books on the topic, form a hypothesis and either test it (in business projects) or start a debate and have my position destroyed by the opposition, until I find something that withstands the fierce attacks of whoever has the pleasure of arguing against me.

I remember trying that tactic on TZM, with no success whatsoever, on regular boards with mild success and now I'm in more sophisticated circles debating economic issues (Hint: I still get my ass handed to me >50% of the time).

Other options at my disposal would include quietly obsessing in my dark chamber of science, making youtube movies and sticking if them even if proven wrong or channeling Hitler.

Joke aside, I know that we have some ex-CTers and ex-TZMers here, who probably have changed their method of arriving at a reasonable standpoint; how do you go about finding an opinion on a topic you know little/nothing about and don't have a single, trustworthy intellectual authority (or any, for that matter) to consult?

I throw yarrow sticks into the air and look at the patterns they make on the ground, then I look into my I ching and read the passage that relates to them, then I look at my astrology charts for the day, then I check the zeitgeist boards and ask the members what my opinion should be on my findings.