One of the easiest ways to start a war online is to push someone’s political or religious buttons. As the holy trinity of things “you’re not supposed to talk about,” politics, religion and money are instant, sure-fire ways to ruffle someone’s feathers. So if you’re going to write about politics, be smart about it.

A long time ago in a media world far, far away, there was this thing called “journalism.” In this world, journalists and reporters had time to thoroughly research their stories, find leads, and crack mysteries. There were ethics, there were morals, and there were deadlines.

Unfortunately, today’s world doesn’t allow for the time and energy it takes to not only find out factual information, but it’s now a rush to get instantaneous, immediate coverage. While many people many postulate what the problems are with today’s media, in my humble opinion, it really comes down to time. When you have to “produce” an article or blog post “instantaneously,” your content will suffer. Period. And if your content doesn’t suffer, the delivery most assuredly will.

What I recommend, if anyone is going to do any political blogging or writing, is that you do take the time. Not only is your reputation on the line, you are talking about something that is larger than you–and that can be a pretty powerful experience. There are media watchdogs that exist to help you make smarter decisions, places like Think Progress, Game Politics, AMERICAblog, and Media Matters, might be good places for you to start.

Remember that when you write for a newspaper, you’re writing in an upside-down triangle, with the most important snippets appearing up top. That hasn’t changed since ye days of olde, just the content.

I should also mention, that a good way to prove your point is to take the passion out of your writing, and save it for the gym. In a world where everyone is screaming, no one is listening. So attract your audience, but don’t run them over with your car. If you are writing an article to prove a point, remember this: Not everyone will agree with you. Period. It-will-never-happen. The best you can do is present your case, so isn’t it worth it to spend a little bit of time doing some research before writing your mind?