Dear Banjo,

Thank You.

Informed citizens should have opinions.

The problem is that on some issues expertise or
training is necessary for an opinion to have weight.

It's important to gather knowledge from appropriate places.
In medicine, in science, one can't just have an opinion
without an evidence base.

But in a culture that tells us everyone's opinion matters
some mistake this idea as meaning that everyone's opinion
matters ALL the time, even if it is uninformed or
misinformed.

Of course critical thinking and questioning of what we are
told is important. But an important part of thinking for
oneself is having intellectual humility in knowing
when we don't have enough knowledge on a topic.

Knowledge is often created "by communities of inquiry it's
done by teams, it's done by groups of people and it's done
in conversation." And making sure that your opinion is
properly grounded does have a moral dimension to it.

Perhaps the most worrying opinions are those of people who
actually don't care about whether their opinions are
properly grounded. They care only about being believed and
winning the argument. (or an election - as we saw with Donald
Trump). And that can have devastating effects.

Foxy says: "Some people are more interested in proving themselves
right then in getting the best outcome".

Hell's Bells. She is so far gone that she is blithely unaware that she is describing herself! As long as people keep posting, she will continue trying to justify herself and her nonsense.

As for that other idiot calling everyone old blokes, he is an old bloke himself - he's been 68 for a good while, who knows what he is now. But the only thing young and immature about him is his addled mind. Perhaps he has already reached his second childhood.

Josephus,

I'll repeat what I've written previously:

No matter what our opinions are we'll never be
able to make everyone agree with us and it would
be wrong to try that - although it's never stopped
people from trying - whether it comes from religion,
atheism, science, philosophy, politics, economics,
academic subjects, professions, trades, or even the
media.

And of course our opinions are important to us because
they are ours. And if your opinion differs from mine
I need to understand your reasons and evidence before
revising my own options which are based on my own
experience. Likewise your opinions are more important
to you which is as it should be - for exactly the
same reasons.

Opinions are always personal relevant to our lives and
very little bears much fruit by us trying to impose
our opinions upon others. Or by personal attacks and
insults. Objective facts can be debated, reasoned,
tested and revised. Opinions are not facts - and until
they are verified - they should not be treated as such.

Informed citizens should have opinions. But as I stated
earlier - the problem is that on some issues expertise
training or life experience is necessary for an opinion to
have weight.

ttbn,

Why the continued vitriol?

Opinions don't change facts. But facts should
effect opinions and do, if we're rational.

I don't mind differences of opinion. I do mind
misinformation.

Try being informed instead of just opinionated.

.

To all & sundry,

.

Some may take comfort in this, at least … for the time being :

http://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/07/09/did-trump-damage-american-democracy/

.

Dear Banjo,

Thank You for the link.

It is comforting to read.

Well worth it.