My personal anecdote is very different, but people may find it interesting (like I did yours). My background is electric utilities. My degree is electrical engineering, and I've worked for utilities for about twelve years. I used to get in long arguments on reddit over the electric system. What I found was some people had passionate opinions but little personal understanding to support those opinions. This was true on all sides, including those I agreed with. So now when I look at debates like GMOs, I refrain from jumping to any conclusion. My opinion isn't useful. I don't understand GMOs, and nothing short of a degree in biology will let me understand them. In the meantime, I need to and do look to the science and scientists to summarize it and raise flags if necessary and dispel myths where appropriate.