I also spend more time arguing on the Internet than it's healthy.No, It’s Not Your Opinion. You’re Just Wrong
I spend far more time arguing on the Internet than can possibly be healthy, and the word I’ve come to loath more than any other is “opinion”. Opinion, or worse “belief”, has become the shield of every poorly-conceived notion that worms its way onto social media.
There’s a common conception that an opinion cannot be wrong. My dad said it. Hell, everyone’s dad probably said it and in the strictest terms it is true. However, before you crouch behind your Shield of Opinion you need to ask yourself two questions.
1. Is this actually an opinion?
2. If it is an opinion how informed is it and why do I hold it?
I’ll help you with the first part. An opinion is a preference for or judgment of something. My favorite color is black. I think mint tastes awful. Doctor Who is the best television show. These are all opinions. They may be unique to me alone or massively shared across the general population but they all have one thing in common; they cannot be verified outside the fact that I believe them.
There’s nothing wrong with an opinion on those things. The problem comes from people whose opinions are actually misconceptions. If you think vaccines cause autism you are expressing something factually wrong, not an opinion. The fact that you may still believe that vaccines cause autism does not move your misconception into the realm of valid opinion. Nor does the fact that many other share this opinion give it any more validity.
[...]
Opinions
- YMix
- Posts: 4631
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:53 am
- Location: Department of Congruity - Report any outliers here
Opinions
“There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country’s so innocent? Take a look at what we’ve done, too.” - Donald J. Trump, President of the USA
The Kushner sh*t is greasy - Stevie B.
The Kushner sh*t is greasy - Stevie B.
- Heracleum Persicum
- Posts: 11571
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm
Re: Opinions
YMix wrote:I also spend more time arguing on the Internet than it's healthy.No, It’s Not Your Opinion. You’re Just Wrong
I spend far more time arguing on the Internet than can possibly be healthy, and the word I’ve come to loath more than any other is “opinion”. Opinion, or worse “belief”, has become the shield of every poorly-conceived notion that worms its way onto social media.
There’s a common conception that an opinion cannot be wrong. My dad said it. Hell, everyone’s dad probably said it and in the strictest terms it is true. However, before you crouch behind your Shield of Opinion you need to ask yourself two questions.
1. Is this actually an opinion?
2. If it is an opinion how informed is it and why do I hold it?
I’ll help you with the first part. An opinion is a preference for or judgment of something. My favorite color is black. I think mint tastes awful. Doctor Who is the best television show. These are all opinions. They may be unique to me alone or massively shared across the general population but they all have one thing in common; they cannot be verified outside the fact that I believe them.
There’s nothing wrong with an opinion on those things. The problem comes from people whose opinions are actually misconceptions. If you think vaccines cause autism you are expressing something factually wrong, not an opinion. The fact that you may still believe that vaccines cause autism does not move your misconception into the realm of valid opinion. Nor does the fact that many other share this opinion give it any more validity.
[...]
seconded
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- Nonc Hilaire
- Posts: 6168
- Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:28 am
Re: Opinions
No, you don't!YMix wrote:I also spend more time arguing on the Internet than it's healthy.No, It’s Not Your Opinion. You’re Just Wrong
I spend far more time arguing on the Internet than can possibly be healthy, and the word I’ve come to loath more than any other is “opinion”. Opinion, or worse “belief”, has become the shield of every poorly-conceived notion that worms its way onto social media.
There’s a common conception that an opinion cannot be wrong. My dad said it. Hell, everyone’s dad probably said it and in the strictest terms it is true. However, before you crouch behind your Shield of Opinion you need to ask yourself two questions.
1. Is this actually an opinion?
2. If it is an opinion how informed is it and why do I hold it?
I’ll help you with the first part. An opinion is a preference for or judgment of something. My favorite color is black. I think mint tastes awful. Doctor Who is the best television show. These are all opinions. They may be unique to me alone or massively shared across the general population but they all have one thing in common; they cannot be verified outside the fact that I believe them.
There’s nothing wrong with an opinion on those things. The problem comes from people whose opinions are actually misconceptions. If you think vaccines cause autism you are expressing something factually wrong, not an opinion. The fact that you may still believe that vaccines cause autism does not move your misconception into the realm of valid opinion. Nor does the fact that many other share this opinion give it any more validity.
[...]
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”
Teresa of Ávila
Teresa of Ávila
- YMix
- Posts: 4631
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:53 am
- Location: Department of Congruity - Report any outliers here
Re: Opinions
That's, like, your opinion, dude.Nonc Hilaire wrote:No, you don't!
“There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country’s so innocent? Take a look at what we’ve done, too.” - Donald J. Trump, President of the USA
The Kushner sh*t is greasy - Stevie B.
The Kushner sh*t is greasy - Stevie B.
- Nonc Hilaire
- Posts: 6168
- Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:28 am
Re: Opinions
YMix wrote:That's, like, your opinion, dude.Nonc Hilaire wrote:No, you don't!
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”
Teresa of Ávila
Teresa of Ávila
Re: Opinions
Ymix, if you downsize Mr.P's feeding schedule things might be alright.
Deep down I'm very superficial
Re: Opinions
i think the problem with 'facts' is they are only relevant in terms of 'priorities'
this is the reason opinions are just opinions and most facts can be short circuited via another fact from a different perspective.
all the folks ive met who get all caught up in facts really cant get their heads around the 'fact' that not all people share their fears and priorities - its like arguing with a smothering mother.
well, thats my opinion anyway
this is the reason opinions are just opinions and most facts can be short circuited via another fact from a different perspective.
all the folks ive met who get all caught up in facts really cant get their heads around the 'fact' that not all people share their fears and priorities - its like arguing with a smothering mother.
well, thats my opinion anyway
ultracrepidarian
- YMix
- Posts: 4631
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:53 am
- Location: Department of Congruity - Report any outliers here
Re: Opinions
Mr. P. is high on his own righteousness.Parodite wrote:Ymix, if you downsize Mr.P's feeding schedule things might be alright.
“There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country’s so innocent? Take a look at what we’ve done, too.” - Donald J. Trump, President of the USA
The Kushner sh*t is greasy - Stevie B.
The Kushner sh*t is greasy - Stevie B.
Re: Opinions
It's a religious thing.YMix wrote:Mr. P. is high on his own righteousness.Parodite wrote:Ymix, if you downsize Mr.P's feeding schedule things might be alright.
Deep down I'm very superficial
Re: Opinions
Being one's own god is a rather common form of monotheism......Parodite wrote:It's a religious thing.YMix wrote:Mr. P. is high on his own righteousness.Parodite wrote:Ymix, if you downsize Mr.P's feeding schedule things might be alright.
Re: Opinions
Everyone had opinions. The only ones I see that don’t have them are in the morgue.
Opinions emerge from our intentions and difficulties with them arise when we become identified with them. There just our own fabrications, constructs of thought, after all.
To sort that out, we have to have to time and space to contemplate and clarify our intentions. That is why extended breaks from on line posting are sometimes necessary.
Opinions emerge from our intentions and difficulties with them arise when we become identified with them. There just our own fabrications, constructs of thought, after all.
To sort that out, we have to have to time and space to contemplate and clarify our intentions. That is why extended breaks from on line posting are sometimes necessary.
Re: Opinions
YMix,YMix wrote:
I’ll help you with the first part. An opinion is a preference for or judgment of something. My favorite color is black. I think mint tastes awful. Doctor Who is the best television show. These are all opinions. They may be unique to me alone or massively shared across the general population but they all have one thing in common; they cannot be verified outside the fact that I believe them.
There is some interesting philosophy in there.
I'm not sure that "My favorite color is black" is an opinion. However, "Doctor Who is the best television show" does sound like an opinion.
Alex.
Re: Opinions
{adenoidal voice}black isnt a colour, black is the absence of colour{/adenoidal voice}
ultracrepidarian
Re: Opinions
(emotional Merikan voice) "Other colors are racist!" (emotional Merikan voice)noddy wrote:{adenoidal voice}black isnt a colour, black is the absence of colour{/adenoidal voice}
- NapLajoieonSteroids
- Posts: 8390
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:04 pm
Re: Opinions
Then you aren't looking hard enough. The dead are so opinionated, they still turn up to vote!kmich wrote:Everyone had opinions. The only ones I see that don’t have them are in the morgue.
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- Posts: 16973
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:35 am
Re: Opinions
No it's not. Self righteousness is an identifier of leftists.Parodite wrote:It's a religious thing.YMix wrote:Mr. P. is high on his own righteousness.Parodite wrote:Ymix, if you downsize Mr.P's feeding schedule things might be alright.
progressives
Censorship isn't necessary