That's Your Opinion and You're Entitled To It Unless You Have No Evidence

by TastyJack Friday, August 19, 2016 0 comments

You know what I don't get?

People that use the line "Well that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it" (and other such variations such as "Well that's my opinion and just as you're entitled to yours, I'm entitled to mine.") to 'defend' opinions they have. It's most commonly employed to justify hate speech, racist comments and generally comments that should never have been comments in the first place.

When used correctly, the phrase makes sense. Everyone is allowed to say the sun rises in the West and sets in the East. What it doesn't mean however, is "because-its-my-opinion-I-believe-it-to-be-true-and-so-should-you."

Yeah absolutely, people can say that all that they want, but realise to most people, it just sounds like they don't have anything to back up your opinions and you're forced to say something that's off-topic.

We're probably not arguing about our right to freedom of speech. No one is questioning anyone's right to speak about what they want. But it doesn't mean what they have to say has any merit. Just because something is coming out of someones mouth, doesn't give it any weight. Evidence, arguments and how these aspects are delivered gives actual weight to opinions. Not the fact that it was said.

People are allowed to say what they want, but if all people say things and say "Well that's my opinion," I'm just going to ignore the fact it was said at all.

LIFE UPDATE

So I graduated from Uni woo. Good work me. I'm not going to lie, I miss uni lyfe.

But Jackson, what did you learn from your uni lyfe experience? A lot of things, but my self reflection piece usually goes on too long and no one reads them anyway so another time.

Thank you to everyone who made it great and all the friends I made on the way. I hope uni won't be the one thing that held us together in the last 6 years and we'll at least be able to find other things in common.

BUT JACKSON WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IN THE MONTH SINCE YOU GRADUATED?

Nothing. Just chilling. Professional 3k Bounty Hunter Hero Player for hire.

BUT JACKSON WHAT ARE  YOUR LONG TERM PLANS?

None. I don't know what I'm doing at the moment but I'm sure it'll be okay.

~TastyJack~