Opinions

We all have them, and are usually quite willing to express them. We use opinions to choose our friends, or to judge others, or to aid us in making decisions.

On any number of websites you can find a forum for people to express their opinions: local sites such as this, national and international news sites, and various blogging sites; newspapers and magazines; radio and tv call-in shows.

Some, like SooToday, allow registered users to post as often as they wish, with only minimal intervention by a Moderator. Others, usually mainstream media sites like the CBC or the BBC, allow readers to submit comments for review and selection prior to posting them, and often edit for length and libel.

Whatever the forum, it seems that there are an awful lot of people who like to share their opinions.

Some have an opinion on almost everything (yes, myself included!), while others only offer their opinion on particular topics or issues.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when we encounter people who do not share our opinions, should it?

And yet, for some, this does seem to be the case.

The thing I find odd is what I perceive as the blurred distinction between opinion and fact.

I often read people quoting various well-known commentators in support of their own opinions. While I agree that it is encouraging to find others, especially notable commentators, who agree with one’s own opinions, that in and of itself does not necessarily make that opinion “fact.”

Often people will preface their opinions with the phrase “everyone knows…” or “everyone says….” Well, I don’t know anyone who has ever asked “everyone” before making such a proclamation.

Usually a more accurate statement would be “everyone I know says…” or, even more likely, “everyone I know who agrees with me says….”

Interestingly, the people who quote notable commentators in support of their own opinions just as quickly dismiss those who quote commentators who disagree with them. Let’s face it, there are a lot of opinions out there, and a lot of people espousing them; we can all find some well-known commentator with whom we agree, and plenty with whom we disagree.

What a boring place the world would be if we all agreed!

(If we all agreed, would we have the number of political parties we do?)
The important thing to remember is not who’s right and who’s wrong, for opinions are subjective, and therefore can be neither.

For example: let’s say I agree with the policies implemented by the Conservative government of Stephen Harper, and the benefits I see these bringing to the Canadian economy. There will be any number of people willing to denounce my opinion, claiming that Harper is leading the country along the path to ruin.

Of those who disagree with me, some will support the Liberals, while others the NDP.

Since we have never had an NDP federal government, we cannot know what to expect should they rise to power. We have, however, had successions of Conservative and Liberal governments over the country’s 140-year history. We, as a country, have experienced both good and bad economic times under both parties, so it is not possible, really, to say that one is better than the other.

Still, people do cling firmly to a political ideology, and it is their opinion that one party is preferable to the others.

As another example: I believe the Harry Potter series are terrific books, both for children and adults; others do not agree.

Some believe they are fine books for children, but that adults should read more “grown up” books. Still others believe that these books are works of evil and ought not to be permitted to even exist.

We all have our opinions and, for our own situations and in our own perspectives, they are perfectly valid, even though we may not agree with each other.

Interestingly, people’s opinions often do change over time. Usually this change is quite a gradual evolution, although occasionally some people will have an epiphany of sorts, a particular experience that causes them to re-think their position.

Whatever the case, gradual or sudden, steadfast or gradually evolving, it is important – in my opinion – to respect each other’s opinions. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with each other in everything, or in anything.

It’s the wisdom found in that age-old saying: we can agree to disagree.

It is also important to remember that we have the freedom to disagree. Not only that, but we have the freedom to disagree publicly. There are many places in this world where this is not the case: Myanmar (Burma) comes readily to mind, as do a half-dozen or so other countries.

I do sometimes wonder if it is possible to have too much freedom, as have others before me. The novel Lord of the Flies is an exploration into just such a situation: boys who, stranded on a remote island, have all the freedom they could ever wish for. Where did it get them?

We see celebrities who, it would appear, believe that their wealth and social status somehow gives them a great deal of freedom. Where did it get them?

Perhaps the answer is in reminding ourselves that freedom does not exist in isolation, that freedom goes hand-in-hand with responsibility.

Part of that sense of responsibility must, therefore, include allowing others the freedom of their opinions, and showing them the same respect we demand for ourselves.

But… that’s just my opinion.