Reply #31: The question was directed at Hoyt, actually

[Euromutt]

But since you asked, I try to avoid "common sense and my own best judgment of what's right and what's wrong" and rely primarily on empirical evidence and reasoned argument, and above all, not assuming as fact things for which I have no evidence. That's not to say I don't make assumptions, surmises and inferences from time to time, especially when the evidence is incomplete, but I try to remember to make it clear when I'm doing so and point out that any such surmises are provisional, contingent on better evidence being presented.