How confident are you can, quickly, learn enough about a topic ...

[haele]

15. Frame of reference and experiance helps learning. Of course, casual use of the internet...

...is not a good tool by itself. Context is everything when you find snippets of information on the internet.

But, as an engineer should be able to understand the scientific methodology behind any subject to make his/her opinion, someone with a native understanding and experience with development of relationships or motivations should be able to understand most historical situations and/or social issues.
As opinions are ultimately based off personal understanding, any source of information where you have confidence on the validity of the source can be used to add to or change an existing opinion.

Like any library, the internet does have references that can be used in the formation of opinion. It all depends on whether or not the information you find has artifacts or evidence associated with it that can be verified, and whether or not you already have a background that is associated with the subject that allows you to understand what you are reading.

One finds just as much dreck that can send any true believer off in the direction of fanaticism in the main public library as one finds on the internet. Bullies and iconoclasts have always cherry-picked available information to bolster their preconceptions and personal world-views.

Of course, I could be wrong...

Haele