Thursday, October 6, 2016

Opinion vs. Argument/Theory


OPINION

A belief, judgment, or perspective resting on grounds insufficient to produce a engaged discussion; a personal view, attitude, or appraisal lacking evidentiary support, whether abstract or concrete.

ARGUMENT/THEORY

A belief, judgment, or perspective with reasons to support and rally against a proposition, proposal, or case; a proposed explanation with conjectural status and subject to experimentation, but based on believed, judged, or perceived factual statements or ideas.

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I am not forgetting the other definition of the word “argument,” choosing to spotlight the version of the word combating my most loathed word in the entire English language: opinion. People have a right to their opinions but not to express them, especially if they incite ignorance or expect others to regard them seriously or adopt them as their own views. I am not referring to pedestrian “likes and dislikes,” because frankly, I could not care less why someone enjoys the flavor vanilla more than the flavor chocolate; however, if someone cannot explain why he/she enjoys or utilizes or remains loyal to certain forms of entertainment or systems of living or regular purchases (just to name a few categories) but still feels the need to express these preferences, I find this lacking, a waste of time (simply because how would someone know what options to choose to ensure maximum enjoyment, efficiency, or value, as well as the time I allow myself to listen), and extremely unproductive.

When someone utters the detestable phrase, “Well, that’s just my opinion,” I cringe, border depression, and grow a few days older in an instant, because this phrase simply acknowledges the person is not willing to focus on a defense of their belief, judgement, or perspective, and expects you to accept their ridiculous utterances without evaluation, which is more repugnant than the word itself. 

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