"Why would someone write an article like this if they didn't have an agenda?" Errr, to start a discussion? You don't have to have agendas to have reasoned int

"Why would someone write an article like this if they didn't have an agenda?" Errr, to start a discussion? You don't have to have agendas to have reasoned intellectual discussions. "Every author has biases, whether or not they are conscious or overt." This is such a throw away line i'm not sure why you added it. "The better approach is to use your critical thinking skills and avoid ad hominem judgments about the author." In theory, yes, but honestly, i find it's not worth my time when i know it means he's likely leaving out info, etc, instead of trying to present stuff in a reasonable way. I tend to see others do the same. I don't think you will change this (see, as an example, the viewpoints of the entire populace on pretty much anything, and the way they treat information presented by people they feel have agendas). You can argue till you are blue in the face that this is not what should happen, but it won't change that it does :)