Oh there’s so many. Maybe you could ask a more specific question or bring up a real scenario or topic.
Here’s one tip: Be flexible and try to understand groups you don’t like. E.g. don’t just reject everything the moment you see it’s woke or commie. Try to recognize that all large groups have lots of errors (and some good points). It’s often worthwhile to try to understand all popular relevant positions with some sympathy for what they’re right about in addition to seeing some flaws. Try not to be biased towards popularity, and you can do this with some unpopular positions too, but not all of them because there are too many. You can try to include the popular stuff in what you’re familiar with without being biased to think it’s true.
For example, in scenarios where it’s hard to find better arguments, even when you ask people for them or look them up, what are some ways to find those better arguments? I think you talked about finding some better arguments for nutrition? But was that luck? Did you just happen to find it, or is that strategy repeatable?
Also, any other concrete strategies you think are important. I remember you writing to another member here and you said "If you’re concerned about something, you should at least do minimal research, not just post it anyway with no research. Why avoid doing any research? Minimal research, like a google search, a wikipedia check and an AI query, is fast and easy (I mean doing all 3, not just 1). " Even though it may seem simple, that kind of concrete example was helpful. I think part of it was because you made the strategies explicit.
edit*: the quote of you is from the comment/discuss section of Breaking Projects into Parts in June 2025 (8th or 9th comment)
Nutrition is a big topic which many people consider important and interesting. There is a lot written about it and there’s even scientific research.
If you look into a topic like that enough, you can expect to find some stuff that’s better than the popular well known stuff. It’s not guaranteed but it probably exists. How quickly you can find it – or finding it when you weren’t looking – involves more luck.
Topics are often connected and good material on one topic can lead to provide better leads on other topics. E.g. Ayn Rand had a Thomas Szasz book on her bookshelf and that fact is documented somewhere and if you look at books she had you’re more likely to find something good than with random books or NYT recommendations.
Silent Spring can connect to nutrition. Interest in pesticides on our food can lead to interest in the quality of the food itself. Interest in exercise is another topic that can lead to interest in nutrition. If you find a particularly smart person who talks about exercise, then they might have some good nutrition recommendations (either sources or actual claims like “don’t each spinach because oxalate” which, if you look them up, will lead you to sources).