Are ideas opinions? or are they just related.
Not sure but every post that has ever been in OLO surely is an opinion.
Has any one else noted we are not seeing many posters.
And just maybe it is one of the most talked about subjects that is driving posters away.
In my opinion politics.
Along with the fact we all are less than happy with our current crop of leaders, on both sides we are bored.
Opinions can be formed after we touch smell look over a subject or by just glancing at it.
And they all have value without differences we would be an uninteresting mob.

Belly:"Opinions can be formed after we touch smell look over a subject or by just glancing at it."

And there's the rub, I think. Most people rarely examine their assumptions and freely express opinions based on them as though they were the product of deep thought. Putting those opinions up for others with different assumptions to examine can be uncomfortable and confronting, especially if those others are able to support their views with rational arguments.

I have to say that I don't resile from any of the views I've put here. I try not to respond on threads whioch are discussing things I don't know much about, but I certainly read them and learn.

There is a certain clique of posters who've left recently, including Morgan, Severin, foxy, pynchme and a few others. I can't see that the forum is poorer for their absence. Debate is rarely improved by the contribution of hecklers.

Belly,
My compliments on changing your opinion about Labors policy on 'illegals'. Not that you need compliments as in my opinion you come from the old school whereby honesty and integrity were taught. It is normal for you to change your opinion when evidence dictates it.

Mind you I do not share your opinion of the writings of oug and there may be many other issues we differ on.

For example, in my opinion, if the Libs had a half decent leader, certaily not Turnbull, they would have won the past election hands down. The only thing I give Abbott credit for is that he prevented us from now having a Carbon tax and his scepticism of human induced global warming.

I would be interested in hearing your opinion as to how to stop the boats from comming. That would save the people from drowning.

I miss foxy and in fact each of them to some extent.
C J Morgan has every right to be different.
Banjo I have not changed my mind my party has changed its direction.
We will forever, yes ever, have boat people problems here and in the west generally.
If we spent half the wests costs in fighting in Afghanistan on promoting a better life we would stop a great deal.
Your claim remains uncharitable that we drown boat people.
At best it is biased comment.
I challenge the view we all form opinions based on little evidence or research, I read every bit I can on subjects.
The very driving force that makes us human seems to be inquisitiveness we look for answerers and question much.
Opinions can and often are a stage in thought process, it is true, think about it, we hate admitting we got it wrong.
In a day a month or year or tens of years the life in some near country's could explode and current boat people numbers would look tiny in compositions with what may come.
A government, any shade, must understand in this matter too many voters who are quite bigoted on the issue will change voting intentions.

and others have to waste time trying to decipher them [Banjo]

Simple for you Banjo, why do you bother reading One Under God's contributions? Wasting time you state. Something more profound undoubtedly relating to your psychological make-up. Its a positive in actual fact that you bother trying to decipher OUG's philosophies. Just for the record, I enjoy OUG's intelligence, wit and writing styles. Enjoy your week Banjo.

WAU thanks for the support here.
Bazz is no fool, but has over looked some evidence.
OUG has made great efforts and great improvements, English I think,was not his first Language.
No intention to write in code seems to exist.
I believe we judge on measures that are not of value in finding the real person.
Or the real place that person lives in.
We give lip service to the idea all views have value, but it is a fact, they do.
I can point to many *credit managers* people who took others ideas and branded them their own.
The thread confirms we do hold our views tighter than others, we do indeed see it near impossible to say I got that wrong.