Posted by Bob301 at 24-117-214-81.cpe.cableone.net on October 20, 2003 at 04:15:43:
In Reply to: There is no wrong or right when it comes to posted by nastypup on October 20, 2003 at 02:04:14:
: : So now that the religion issue has died down, what else is there to talk about? I know it's late, but some of us are wired and eager to discuss (no more debating). Here's a topic. Is it wrong to like Clerks TAS more than all of the other Kevin Smith works?
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: opinions. To each his/her own. If everyone liked all of the same things, this existence would be very boring.
A lot of people have this idea that opinions can't be inherently right or rong, because they are opinions. This stems from the way we treat opinions- quasi-beliefs ith al of the benefits and none of the restrictions. We have this unspoken agreement that opinions are completely subjective, that everyone is entitled o have whatever damn opinion they want, and that no opinion is better than any elses. This is like beliefs (mostly religious, but applies to other beliefs as well) in that we say everyone is entitled to them, and how we say no opinion is better than anyone elses. Unlike most beliefs, opinions need not be backed up by any facts whatsoever (most beliefs, even religion, include facts that strengthen those beliefs). However, this is bullcrap. All opinions are not equal, you can't go around believing whatever the hell you want, and some opinions are WRONG.
For instance, there are those whose opinion is the Holocaust wasn't so bad. This is wrong.
There are those whose opinion it is that Americans have never been to the moon. This opinion is held by those unqualified to make the judgements- they don't count as much as, say, astronauts, astronomers, people who built the rockets, people who saw the launches IN PERSON, etc.
Some people have the opinion that one race is inherently superior to another, or all tohers. This is not based in fact whatsoever, and therefore is a bad opinion. Bad, as in not right, incorrect, worthless, without merit, not deserving of consideration.
To reiterate: opinions are not without qualifications. Opinions should net be treated with reverence, some people are just wrong and should be told so. All opinions are certainly not equal, and opinions can be bad.