Intellectual blind spots

I am constantly amazed at the way information distorts as it makes it's way through the spoken word, internet and even written in old fashion book form. Recently I read a blog entry from a scientists documenting a fossil of a octopus from appx 65 million years ago. He goes on to show the changes over the evolution of the specimen. Much like the shark the form and function have pretty much peaked in it's environment but after highlighting the parts that have changed it was clear what has changed. However, after a couple of days another entry from a journalist took the information from and came up to her own conclusions minus biology degree or equilvalant study. He was of course not surprised. However, I find this is common on all levels of society and I am guilty of it myself. I am trying to look at things a bit more openly because of it but even if someone takes great pains to clearly and emphatically state the facts, someone can always come along and say the completely wrong thing using the same facts but twisting them slightly. What makes one opinion better or more weighted than the other. I would take a scientist's opinion over a blogger any time. Anything that is based on evidence and or science over superstition as well. So we have a lot of people as well as some scientists who have intellectual blind spots to reasoning and logical thinking. They aren't helping critical thinking nor scientifically challenaging hypothisis. I don't have the strength or patience to debate their arguements when they have the hocus pocus magic card to pull out at any time to explain something.