... and then follow them.

I'll admit that we're not exactly sticklers on the rules at all times (especially if a good discussion starts), but the number of questions and top-level comments that are just in flagrant violation of the rules is getting out of control.

This is not some extension of /r/politics (we don't want that level of name calling or personal attacks and we have nothing to do with that sub) or whatever sub you go to for circle-jerking to your political affiliations (we're not here to explain "our" side of things). We're here to ask honest, real questions. We're here to try and offer good-faith, fact-based answers. We strongly suggest using sources for your answers. The fact that you can drop into pretty much any question and not see a single source linked in discussions betrays this goal.

Finally, perhaps a perfect response would be one that answers the question but also makes it difficult for the person replying to even guess which side of the issue you come down on. Just give the facts as best as you can. Let what those mean devolve in the replies to that answer and other subs.