When discussing a controversial topic, one side or the other (or sometimes both) may claim their ideas are backed by common sense.

Of course we should ban this or that, it’s a common sense move to prevent violence.

Of course we should act this way during wartime, it’s common sense that this is how things operate.

Of course we should sacrifice such-and-such for greater security, it’s common sense that if we don’t, we’ll be in constant danger.

Of course, in the midst of such a discussion, we often forget that what is common sense to one person is tomfoolery to another.

Banning anything has repercussions. Acts committed during wartime still reflect upon those who commit them. Sacrificing anything for security has the potential to escalate, resulting in greater losses than if we had lacked security of any kind.

Especially in today’s echo-chamber-like media climate, where frequently all we hear are voices which agree with our own standpoints, it’s important we not impulsively leap to conclusions over what is ‘known to be right’ and what is ‘known to be wrong.’

To do so is to assume edict over absolute morality, which is absurd when there is no clear black and white.

When it comes to questions of right and wrong, one man’s common sense is another’s foolishness. Remember this, and discussions with those who think differently than you will bear far more fruit.

Update: February 20, 2017

This is a difficult concept to explain when so many of us are brought up being told our opinions are equal to demonstrable facts, and when we’re patted on the heads by media entities trapped within our filter bubbles every time we utter anything, be it brilliant or nonsense.