Considering my Case For Reality project is all about striving to develop a valuable resource for students who want to defend serious fact-based science against frauds using pseudo-science masquerading as fact - a formal consideration of Critical Thinking & Reading Skills is a must.
The way towards success is by studying and learning to recognize the patterns of deceptive rhetoric. That way you become prepared for those tricks and find yourself ready poised with effective responses.
Don't ignore the lies, use those lies to your advantage. Namely by intelligently and confidently coming right back with the counter-story, the one that explains the facts in a way that makes clear why said claim is a fraud, and why the facts make more sense anyways. Remember there's always an audience to consider, so try making a teaching moment out of every interaction.
Replace misinformation with honest information and evidence along with a narrative of the story behind the science, enabling people to form a better understanding. Easier said than done, but unless we are changing minds we are losing.
Consider the philosophy of Jiu-Jitsu, which besides being about the mental discipline of a warrior, is a philosophy about winning by yielding to an opponent's force, instead of trying to oppose force with force.
Rather than playing by the contrarian script, why not develop some intellectual rhetorical jiu-jitsu skills.
It starts with sharp Critical Thinking and Reading Skills, and for developing that we have clearly defined strategies. Below I share from five sources;
Critical Reading and Reading Strategy
The Foundation For Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
The SQ3R Method of Studying
Francis Pleasant Robinson - RememberEverything.org
21 Century Middle School Guide Student’s Guide to Study Skills
Critical Thinking on the Internet
